Is natural energy healing the secret to relieving stress for good? I tried Reiki for the first time - with surprising results
- Reiki is a Japanese healing technique designed to boost positive life energy
- FEMAIL's Alice Murphy trialled three treatments to see if she felt any different
- She reported increased feelings of energy, relaxation and mental clarity
In the digital age of social media and instant gratification, we are all switched on, all of the time.
Maintaining a healthy work life balance, exercise routine and diet plan is a full time job in itself, so much so that a growing number of people are turning to alternative therapies for relaxation, mindfulness and a deeper sense of happiness.
Reiki, a natural energy healing technique, is fast becoming the go-to treatment for anyone looking to improve their health and well-being.
I visited Canadian practitioner Andy Quan at his Surry Hills studio for three sessions over the space of two months to find out what Reiki is all about and what benefits, if any, I would feel.
Reiki, a natural energy healing technique, is fast becoming the go-to treatment for anyone looking to improve their health and well being (pictured, Andy's Reiki studio in Surry Hills)
I suffered from varying degrees of anxiety and a series of panic attacks in my late teens and early 20s, but this stabilised in the last three years as I became better able to cope with the pressures of adult life.
But since moving from Dublin to Sydney in earlier this year, a new job, new apartment and new life all brought some added stress to my plate, so I was more than open to trying out this alternative, non-invasive treatment which I'd heard so much about.
My first session was scheduled for a Tuesday afternoon at 2pm.
FEMAIL journalist Alice Murphy decided to try the natural energy healing for the first time to see if she would notice any difference (stock image)
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Andy Quan (pictured) is a Canadian reiki practitioner based in Sydney's Surry Hills
I cycled from the office and chatted about the concept of Reiki with Andy over some comforting Genmaicha tea, which he serves to clients before every session.
Andy invited me to lie on the treatment bed and close my eyes, and turned on some contemporary classical music which instantly put me at my ease.
Reiki is all about the promotion of positive energy through the hands of a therapist hovering over you, and within the first ten minutes I noticed an distinct magnetic sensation in my hands and feet which I'd never felt before.
When it was over, I sat up feeling as though I'd just enjoyed a very restful night's sleep.
While I felt slightly weak on the cycle back to work, once I sat at my desk I noticed myself better able to concentrate than normal (as my mind is usually racing).
I had more energy and a sense of clarity in my mind, but I wondered if this had less to do with my first foray into Japanese healing and more with taking an hour long lie down away from my computer screen?
Just over two weeks later, I was back on the bike for my second round of reiki, this time for a 10am morning slot.
In the days after my first treatment, I made notes to remind myself that I felt more alert and better able to wake for work.
Andy and I had a quick chat about how I'd been since we last saw each other, drank more Genmaicha and started our session.
I felt more alert and aware of my surroundings during this visit, with a distinct sense of calm that allowed me to quieten my mind to focus on thoughts more deeply.
Even though nothing physical had changed, I felt more grounded for days afterwards.
Reiki has been linked to improved relaxation, stress management and overall mental outlook (pictured, Andy at work during a session with a client)
My last trip to Andy's studio was another afternoon 10am slot, almost two months after our first meeting.
Of my three treatments, I got most benefit from the last and told Andy I felt refreshed and energised immediately afterwards.
A head cold I'd felt coming on the night before seemed to clear during the session, and my energy levels were higher than usual ten days on.
I started my Reiki journey with an open mind, a small amount of personal stress and a pen and paper.
Looking back through my diary, I seemed to have gradually gained a lot of energy since my first session - so much so, that I have started going to the gym before work for the first time in my life.
Reiki doesn't claim to heal all ills, and I don't believe it does, but it does provide time out to reflect, relax and refresh from the frenzy of modern life.
Couldn't we all do with some of that?
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