Dr. Mikao Usui introduced reiki in the early 20th century; some practitioners trace the methods they use to ancient Tibet and India. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine considers the lineage begun by Usui to be the traditional one, but others have arisen that incorporate other methods. Practitioners in all lineages use visualization, laying of hands and sometimes sound as healing methods. As with starting any new treatments, consult your doctor first.
Traditional Reiki
"Reiki" is a Japanese word composed of two parts: rei, or universal wisdom and ki, or life force. Practitioners who use Dr. Usui's method, and those taught by Chujiro Hayashi, one of his students, as well as Hawayo Takata, one of Hayashi's students who introduced reiki to the West, lay hands on the client while channeling healing energy through meditation and visualization. Reiki cannot be self-taught but is passed from teacher to student through an attunement, a process that activates the flow of healing energy in the student. You become a reiki master, empowered to teach others, by completing the highest of three levels of training.
Non-Traditional Reiki
MedIndia lists 8 reiki methods beyond the one developed by Dr. Usui. Most combine Usui reiki with healing and visualization methods gleaned from the yogic and tantric traditions of India and Tibet. For example, Shamballa reiki, developed by reiki master John Armitage, combines Usui methods with those of Shamballa, an ancient healing tradition. Practitioners of Karuna reiki, developed by William Lee Rand, use sound and visualization to effect what they believe is a deeper healing than possible with the traditional Usui method. Gendai, or modern reiki, developed by Dr. Hiroshi Doi, draws on Buddhist healing principles.
Benefits of Reiki
MayoClinic.com notes that conventional doctors tend to be conservative about recommending complementary alternative medical methods, partly because many lack training in these methods and partly because research into their effectiveness is inconclusive. Nevertheless, a 2007 National Health survey revealed that 1.2 million Americans had used an energy healing therapy like reiki. Although many claims about the efficacy of reiki are unsubstantiated, in a session you are likely to experience a deep state of relaxation which, in itself, can alleviate many stress-related conditions. The practitioner's role in such a session is to support your relaxation and help you focus on healing.
Becoming a Reiki Practitioner
While you need no license or credentials to become a reiki practitioner, you do need to receive an attunement from an experience teacher or reiki master. The requirements vary according to the type of reiki you wish to practice, but most involve several hours of classwork before you receive initiation into the practice. Progressing to higher degrees is a gradual process, and it may take years before you become a reiki master. Since the NCCAM cautions patients against using reiki as a substitute for proven conventional therapies, many practitioners supplement their reiki certification by holding prior qualifications as health care professionals.
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