Linda Leighton, Practitioner and Teacher of Natural Therapies Linda Leighton availability for work Biography of Linda Leighton Contact details for Linda Leighton Aromatherapy Massage Reflexology Indian Head Massage Reiki Yoga Courses, Talks and Workshops "What is Reiki?"
Reiki is a Japanese word meaning Universal Life Energy, the vital force that flows through all matter, that is activated and directed through the hands of a practitioner for healing. It is based on an ancient Tibetan method of natural healing rediscovered by Dr Mikao Usui, who lived in Japan in the last century. Reiki is not a religion and in no way contradicts any reigious beliefs.

"How Does it work?"
The Reiki therapist channels the life energy or life force through their hands into the patient's body, enhancing its natural ability to heal itself. Reiki works on all levels of the person's being, reaching the cause as well as physical symptoms. All illness and disease come about because the natural flow of the life force is impared in some way. Reiki helps to reinstate and balance the flow of the life force through the body. It is then easier to take up the task of living life as we would desire. Attitude change, tiredness recedes and goals no longer seem impossible or so far away.

"What is disease?"
Disease is disruption in the physical, emotional and mental body of a person, caused by a blockage within their energy field. The energy field is the vehicle within us that allows the life force to flow, constantly building and maintaining our health and well-being. It is said that blockages are caused by circumstances that we are exposed to within our daily life. The illness or disease that we manifest as a result of the blockage will be the product of our genes and character traits, however. That is why two people with the same blockage or illness may manifest differing physical symptoms. Reiki treats the blockage not the illness.

"The treatment"
Reiki is a simple, powerful process. The treatment and frequency are tailored to the patient's needs and condition. In most cases, the treatment lasts for about an hour and is carried out on a healing couch. The patient remains fully dressed while the therapist goes through a set healing format. Reiki carries a few contra-indications, though the therapist may refuse treatment to a woman in the early stages of pregnancy. Sex, age and condition are of no concern to the therapist as the patient's body controls the healing process, taking from the treatment only the amount of life energy it requires in any one session. The first treatment includes a consultation when the therapist assesses the relevant situations and circumstances of the patient. This takes about a half hour.

"The experience"
You will feel a pleasant sensation of warmth or, occasionally, of coldness in the area being treated. As treatment progresses, stress is released and a feeling of well-being is usually experienced. Chronic illnesses usually respond well to Reiki, though in these cases, some slight discomfort may be experienced in the beginning.

As the Reiki sessions progress, the low level of energy usually associated with illness or disease rises until it reaches a level where the life energy becomes self-supporting. When this happens, recovery becomes easy to see. The patient's physical symptoms improve and the will to get better is strengthened. Motivation becomes the patient's best weapon for recovery.

Many patients become so relaxed that, within five minutes of the treatment starting, they are fast asleep.

"Reiki training"
Reiki is an enigma to many people for it seems to go against much of what we have been led to believe. A frequently asked question is, How can you teach something like healing in a weekend? The fact is that we are all healers and, as children, usually very good ones. As we grow up, however, our thinking and emotions get in the way and our healing ability diminishes. With Reiki training, the channels within you are rearranged in such a way that the healing ability does not pass through your thinking and emotions but passes to the patient pure and unchanged.

Those who undertake Reiki training go through an 'attunement' process. The natural healing ability that we all possess is realigned to give us a greater conscious control over its use.

The effect is that the life force passes through the therapist without being impared by their mental or emotional state. There is a two-fold advantage to the Reiki therapist; firstly by giving self-healing to the therapist's own energy field and, secondly, by breaking down past emotional situations and conditionaing gently but firmly.