Fertility

Reiki 101: Everything you need to know about the growing wellness trend

Eloise Edington | 17 Feb 2023

Words by Annabel Preston

From meditation to crystals, there is an unbelievable selection of treatments to explore in the world of wellness. But one that you may not have come across is reiki (pronounced ray-key). Whether as an emotional release or a rebalancing tool, the practice is also thought to be a powerful device for those on their fertility journey. Understandably, some of you may take a little more convincing than others, so we have put together our own reiki holistic handbook for you to explore.

The phrase itself comes from the Japanese word (Rei) which means “higher power” and (Ki) which means “energy”. Whilst it sounds pretty spiritual, reiki actually has no religious ties whatsoever. In fact, because it has been so successful as a treatment, it is commonly offered as an alternative therapy by the NHS in the UK as well as major hospitals in the USA such as Mayo Clinic.

But what is reiki? And what purpose does it serve for women specifically? Well read on because we’ve got your back.

What actually is Reiki?

In short, reiki is a form of energy healing. The theory is that energy should flow freely throughout the body and when there is a blockage it can lead us into emotional or physical complications. Practitioners, who are also referred to as reiki masters, aim to shift this energy and restore the flow through your whole being.

If you decide to give it a go, a session will probably involve you lying on a massage table roughly 60 minutes whilst the reiki master’s hand lightly hover over various parts of your body. During this time, it is said that the healer is transferring energy and will experience warm, tingling hands. Once this sensation has ended, they will move on.

Chakras

Before we delve deeper into the possibilities of reiki, we do need to do a little bit of homework on chakras. There are seven main chakras (see below) which are all very important to the practice of reiki. These energy points are described as spinning wheels that should be kept aligned to maintain our physical and emotional wellbeing.

Reiki and fertility

Reiki has been used for centuries to help boost fertility and a growing number swear by it today. The chakra that is most important in terms of fertility is the sacral chakra. As we have learnt, reiki is all about combating feelings of anxiety. Fertility struggles can be a huge force behind such feelings, making conception all the more challenging. For both men and women, reiki can be a useful tool to help shift that anxious energy along and unblock those feelings of worry.

Emotional release

At times, we could all do with some emotional release. Whether you are coping with flurrying hormones, a stressful patch at work or you are just prone to absorbing the negative emotions of others, reiki healing might just be your knight in shining armour.

It is often said that your baby feels what you feel. Whether this is true or not, it is always vital for you to look after yourself both mentally and physically whatever stage of your fertility journey. So, if you are feeling a bit fragile or overwhelmed, consulting a reiki healer can help release the emotions and cleanse the energy that is being directed around your body.

Learning Reiki is one of the most liberating and empowering things you will ever do for yourself.

Sarah Parker Thomas, Spiritual Reiki: Channel Your Intuitive Abilities For Energy Healing

Staying balanced

With emotions and hormones running riot, staying balanced is easier said than done. Incorporating reiki at the early stages of your pregnancy journey can really help you to maintain your equilibrium. This is, of course, super beneficial for your mental wellbeing, but it will also promote good health for the body and womb for your baby to be.

Strengthening bonds

One of the key reasons why reiki has been such a wellness trend is due to its holistic nature. Rather than focussing on one problem or area, the practice seeks to restore the body as a whole.

Mothers who have undergone sessions with a reiki healer during pregnancy have reported that they can actually feel the baby responding to the treatment through their movements. Whilst this has no medical or scientific meaning, having a reiki session with your healer can offer a safe and relaxing way to connect with your baby to be.

But the process can also help you to reconnect with yourself. Living in an age where we are always travelling at 100 miles per hour, it can be difficult to find the time or, ironically, the energy to just stop and look inwards. A quick trip to a reiki healer can offer you that moment to exhale and come back to the present.

Some other benefits of reiki include: