| What is Reiki?
 Reiki (ray-key) is an ancient, healing therapy of gentle touch based on the belief that there exists a vital energy within and around the body; when this vital energy is in balance, health and well-being abound. The practice of Reiki balances and strengthens the functions and health of the physical body, enhances relaxation and self-awareness, and nourishes the spirit.In a typical whole-body Reiki treatment, the practitioner asks the recipient to lie down, usually on a massage table, and relax. Loose, comfortable clothing is usually worn during the treatment. The practitioner might take a few moments to enter a calm or meditative state of mind and mentally prepare for the treatment,[ which is usually carried out without any unnecessary talking.
The treatment proceeds with the practitioner placing his hands on the recipient in various positions. However, some practitioners use a non-touching technique, where the hands are held a few centimetres away from the recipient's body, for some or all of the positions. The hands are usually kept still for 3 to 5 minutes before moving to the next position. Overall, the hand positions usually give a general coverage of the head, the front and back of the torso, the knees and feet. Between 12 and 20 positions are used, with the whole treatment lasting 45 to 90 minutes.
Some practitioners use a fixed set of hand positions. Others use their intuition to guide them as to where treatment is needed, sometimes starting the treatment with a scan of the recipient to find such areas. The intuitive approach might also lead to individual positions being treated for much shorter or longer periods of time.
It is reported that the recipient often feels warmth or tingling in the area being treated, even when a non-touching approach is being used. A state of deep relaxation, combined with a general feeling of well-being, is usually the most noticeable immediate effect of the treatment, although emotional releases can also occur. As the Reiki treatment is said to be stimulating natural healing processes, instantaneous "cures" of specific health problems are not usually observed. A series of three or more treatments, typically at intervals of 1 to 7 days, is usually recommended if a chronic condition is being addressed. Regular treatments, on an on-going basis, can be used with the aim of maintaining well-being. The interval between such treatments is typically in the range of 1 to 4 weeks, except in the case of self-treatment when a daily practice is common.
Cancer Connection offers free Reiki sessions on the first and third Thursdays of every month. There is a 6:00pm time slot, and a 7:00pm time slot. Please call (512) 342-0233 to schedule an appointment with our volunteer Reiki practioner, David Bandas.
Cancer Connection will also be offering a Reiki I Class to our volunteers, including healthcare professionals and any caregiver who may wish to learn this healing art. After the training, participants will be fully able to treat themselves and others. The times and dates for the traning will be: Sat. & Sun, Feb. 23-24, 9:30am – 3:30pm both days. For more information, call Emmett Skiles at 342-0233, or e-mail Emmett@theCancerConnection.org.
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