What is Reiki, Anyway?

Sorry, I can't give you a definitive answer to that question! Reiki is still a bit of a mystery to me, although the results I see in myself and my clients show that it is very real.

In simple terms, Reiki is a form of energy work that utilizes the energies that surround us -- you know, that energy that keeps you alive with every inhale. These energies are harnessed and brought to the body for healing at a cellular level.

But all you really need to know, anyway, is that a Reiki session is probably the most relaxing, calming thing you'll ever experience! It is a great stress reliever, calming the body and mind so that the natural healing abilities of your body can do their work efficiently.

Imagine this: You lie comfortably on your back, wearing your street clothes and sock-footed. If it's chilly (hard to imagine during this heat wave but it will happen!) you are covered with a nice blanket. You may detect the aroma of lavender in the air. You close your eyes and the session begins. Sometimes you feel a gentle touch of the hands, sometimes you don't, but mostly you don't care because after a few minutes you are in a state of calm and relaxation that you didn't think was possible!

So, what is Reiki? It is a comfy, non-invasive stress relieving modality that makes you feel better. Way better. Ahhhhhhh.

Peaceful You

Modern Life: A series of events we struggle to get to, rush to finish, and despair of ever completing. Our frenzy feeds on competition as we race to see who can accomplish the most without actually having to be checked into the hospital for nervous exhaustion!

Let's change this scenario; shift, dream, visualize, wonder, wish:

In the midst of Life’s hullaballoo, you are an oasis of calm. You see the busyness surrounding you, but you are not caught up in the whirlpool. You are able to think, to respond, and to act from a space of quiet thought and wisdom.

Does this even seem possible? Can you imagine yourself calm while all around you rushes and strains? Try it out. Find your Peaceful Breath and breathe it. Even if your moment of calm lasts for half of one breath, that is enough for a start. 

Breathe again. and again. and again. Funny how something you do unconsciously and constantly can take on a new timbre when you become aware of it. Watch your breath flow; listen to it, feel it. 

Become an oasis of calm for a moment. 

Peace.

The &*!#$% Scenic Route Again

I was driving with my daughter recently, and twice I uttered an expletive (I know! I could hardly believe it myself!).  The second time I added some mutterings about being mad at myself for being so absentminded and stupid.  My lovely child looked at me and said, "Mom, it's not like you to talk bad abut yourself."  So I took a deep breath, and stopped talking. It would have been nice if I'd been able to give myself a pep talk, but it had been one of those days and saying nothing seemed the best course.

We all have "those days", when nothing you do turns out the way you want it to, or when it seems like everything you touch turns to lead instead of gold.  I was lucky someone who loved me was around to pull me up short and remind me that trash-talking myself would not make anything better. So often we continue to berate ourselves until we've dug ourselves in so deep it's hard to climb up again, and we begin to believe our own negative propaganda.

I should listen to my own advice more often, because I am famous in my house for saying things like, "Sweetie, you can do that mad or you can do it happy." It's so easy to moan and kvetch about something or someone, but that just drags you down into a ditch, and it gets damp and lonely in there. Be your own best friend and remind yourself that you are great, and terrific, and even though you make mistakes, you are still perfect. Because if being perfect meant never making mistakes, perfection would be undesirable -- after all, making mistakes, taking missteps, and trying new things are what teach us, and we all want to continue to learn.

So I will continue to learn that even though I forget where I'm going and have to make several u-turns on the road, I am gaining knowledge about the byways and seeing neighborhoods I never knew existed.  The scenic route! Perfect.

Breathe Away Annoyance

Think of those trivial events that pester you during a normal day, the things that cause you to give a little huff of annoyance.  Like the lady in front of you at the store who is sure she has a penny somewhere in the bottom of her purse.   Or the child who insists on zipping his own jacket when you’re in a hurry.  Even the toaster that takes too long to pop out your breakfast.  I’ve discovered something about these things:  They are often resolved in the space of one or two long, deep breaths.

Try it.  Use your ujjayi if you have it*. Maybe the two-year-old and his zipper need three breaths, and make ‘em long and deep.  Result:  You’ve taken a nourishing lungful of fresh oxygen and energizing prana, you’ve avoided sending bad vibes through your system, and you have saved yourself a moment of unnecessary stress! Mindful breathing will relax your body and mind, and not only will you feel better at the end of the day, but so will everyone else around you – I can practically see those waves of calm emanating from you already!

Om shanti. Peace.

*See yogajournal.com for a description of the ujjayi breath; better yet, come to one of my classes and I’ll teach it to you!