Tag: mental health

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What is a Sound Bath or Sound Wave Therapy?

Is it wet? Is it loud?

Sound Bath

A Sound Bath is literally a bath of sound. No water, no nudity, rubber duckie optional. But do we call it “wall of sound?” No. Because it’s pleasant sound, musical tones, not at all random or noisy. Like a warm bath as opposed to being soaked with a bucket of cold water.

During a Sound Bath, many different instruments may be used, including singing bowls, gongs, chimes, bells, and flutes. A Sound Bath is frequently a group event, though it is just as effective, or more so, when personalized in an individual setting.

Sound Wave Therapy

This type of therapy is most frequently done using tuning forks or singing bowls. This can be very fine-tuned to an individual and their needs. The bowl or fork may be brought close to your body, or even allowed to come into contact with your body, depending on the instrument used and your needs.

How Does Sound Bath or Sound Wave Therapy Work?

Let’s talk science first, then tradition.

The Science:

First, you’ll need to understand that sound is a form of energy. Sound energy travels through air and other media in a wave pattern. The distance between the waves (frequency), and their height (amplitude), determine what sound you hear.

Your brain also produces energy that can be measured in waves. These waves change as you become anxious, peaceful, angry, loving, or thoughtful. These waves can be translated to sound, using their frequency and amplitude.

Since we know what a peaceful brain “sounds” like, we know what sounds or musical notes match the frequency of those brain waves. We also know that the brain is deeply affected by sound; hearing just a few notes of a song can shift your emotions on a dime!

Your skilled Sound Wave Therapist uses this knowledge to bring your brain away from anxiety, stress, and overwhelm to a place of calm, confidence, and deep peace. For a deeper dive on the science of sound waves and the body, check out this easy-to-read article by a for-real scientist: The Physics and Biophysics of Sound Healing

The Tradition:

In the traditional medical philosophy of some areas, the idea of “chakras” was, and remains, a major part of healing. A person has seven chakras, or centers of life energy, in the body. Each chakra represents specific types of energy. For example, your “root chakra” is at the base of your spine, and when that energy is balanced, you feel more grounded and secure. The study of chakras is much, much deeper than that, but we just need the surface info today.

Each of these chakras was assigned a sound, a musical note that seemed to represent that energy. The sounds are thought to bring balance to the chakras when used in this way.

As so frequently happens as science progresses, many of the traditional thoughts actually jive with it! While some people have broken with tradition when it comes to the order in which the notes are played, the frequency of those notes has not changed. Super fascinating, even if your path doesn’t include that tradition!

Can Sound Baths or Sound Wave Therapy Give Me Specific Thoughts, or Be Used To Make Me Behave a Certain Way?

Absolutely not! No. It is not possible to implant thoughts in someone’s brain via sound wave therapy. You are not hypnotized. There is not a note that makes people feel angry, happy, or free. This therapy functions by helping to modulate physical waves of energy to bring them back to a state of “normal.” While you may experience deep emotion, some of which might be anger or sadness, this comes from within. This is your emotion coming up and out as you process it. And that is excellent! Don’t worry, your practitioner will have tissues handy, and will use their knowledge to focus on the area in question to help you through.

The More you Know…

Now that you know what Sound Baths and Sound Wave Therapy actually are, keep learning!

How to Find a Sound Therapy Practitioner

How to Prepare for Your Sound Therapy Appointment

What to Expect at Your Sound Therapy Appointment

What to Expect After Your Sound Therapy Appointment

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Aromatherapy: What to Expect During Your Appointment

Is it like going to the doctor’s? Will I have to use crystals and read tarot cards to understand what they are telling me?

Let’s learn things!

The Setting

This article assumes that you have sought an aromatherapist for help with one or more specific issues. This is different from those times when your massage therapist or yoga instructor diffuses some oils to enhance that one experience.

This appointment may happen in your home, at the home of your aromatherapy professional, or in an office or treatment room setting. These settings will vary greatly! As with any profession, the individuals who practice aromatherapy have a broad range of other interests and tastes. This is not a good indicator of their education or abilities. You can find highly educated and professional aromatherapists inside brightly-decorated yurts, and sales-based professionals wearing lab coats in crisp-looking offices. This is a good reason to call and ask questions ahead of time!

First Things First

You’ll have a conversation. This is the bones of the actual appointment. As you are talking about your problems, your aromatherapist is mentally narrowing down the plants that might function to support your goals. They will likely ask some questions about your scent preferences as well, in order to avoid what you dislike when possible.

Testing

Unless your aromatherapist is also a licensed medical professional, there will be no medical tests. However, there are some tests that can help determine which oils may help you. Here are two of the most common:

Sniff, Smell, or Scent Tests: These tests are usually best used to help transient issues, such as headache, anxiety, and sleeplessness. Your aromatherapy professional will offer several oils that might help. When you are experiencing your issue, you sniff the oils. You then make note of any oils that smell particularly good, or positive, and any that seem to make the issue worse, or smell particularly bad. Your aromatherapist can use this information to help determine sensitivities to specific compounds, or your receptiveness to others. This test may be used during your appointment as well, but is most effectively used when symptoms are present.

Muscle Tests: Your aromatherapist can test the impact of an oil on your body using your own strength. They’ll ask you to pinch, press, or push their hands or arms. They will then introduce a specific oil, and ask you to do it again. After a few minutes, a different oil may be introduced. Your brain’s response as shown in your precise abilities to make the requested movement can indicate the use of one oil over another.

Within the realm of aromatherapy, muscle testing is very different from Kinesiology, or muscle tests used to diagnose illness. Kinesiology is hotly debated and unproven. When used in aromatherapy, these tests are considered gentle indicators, not end results!

Recommendations

Your aromatherapist will make recommendations based on their knowledge of your needs. Most will offer to blend what you need; take them up on that offer. While you may be able to mix drops from suggested oils, blending is part of their training. They’ll know how best to balance the aroma in diffused blends, which oils will help mask less pleasant-smelling oils, and what substitutions will bring down the cost, as necessary. If you need a special blend, your aromatherapist may need additional time to blend it. This may mean that you return the next day to pick it up, or that it will be shipped to you directly.

You will also receive suggestions about how best to use your oils. This is especially important if you have weighed the risk, and have chosen to ingest essential oils. Whatever the case, do not use your oils other than as suggested without inquiring about the safety and efficacy of doing so.

Complementary Practices

It is true that some people who are into aromatherapy are also into crystals, tarot, auras, and the like. If you are also someone who enjoys those things, that’s great! If you aren’t, that’s great, too!

Aromatherapy is completely independent from those practices. While crossover exists, it shows only an interest in alternative healing on the part of the practitioner. You need not choose to participate in these other modalities when you choose aromatherapy. Most of the time, there will be no chanting, no waving smoke around the room, and no psychic insight. Aromatherapy is actually quite clinical in nature, while the peripheral items simply shift the experience.

More on Aromatherapy

What is Aromatherapy

How to Find an Expert Aromatherapist

How to Prepare for Your Aromatherapy Appointment

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Aromatherapy: Prepare for Your Appointment

Do you need to prepare for your aromatherapy appointment? How would you go about doing that?

Hold a Gripe Session

Maybe you do this all by yourself, so that your complaints don’t drag someone else down. Maybe you have an understanding partner or friend willing to give you some space and help out. Either way:

Write down some of the things that have been bothering you. This might include high stress, anxiety, sleeplessness, lack of energy, pain, and other general issues. This helps your aromatherapist choose oils that won’t make those conditions worse, even if they are not the issues you are looking to alleviate. Take this list with you to your appointment.

Gather Your Prescriptions and Supplements

Whether or not you choose to use aromatherapy to support medical diagnoses, this is important! Some essential oils have known interactions with certain drugs. Even if you are hoping to get better sleep, your aromatherapist should be aware of any potential for interaction. Take this list with you to your appointment.

Supplements such as vitamins and herbs can also have interactions or cause problems if they are mixed with certain oils.

In both cases, any issues can be mitigated by adapting the specific oil used, the way that oils is introduced to the body, or using the oil and medication at different times. Please see “How to Find an Expert Aromatherapist” if you do not feel this is happening in your situation!

Make It Medical

Unless your aromatherapist is also a licensed doctor or physician’s assistant, they cannot diagnose or treat medical issues. However, they do need to know about your medical issues! Write them down, and take that list with you, too.

This includes, but is not limited to, chronic diagnoses such as diabetes, heart disease, or autoimmune illness. It includes pregnancy, though that’s not really “medical,” and/or the desire to become pregnant. Your medical list should include diagnosed mental illness, in addition to any general complaints you may have.

Even if you are not on medication, this information is vital to your healing. Essential oils absolutely have the power to shift bodily function. Some of the compounds they contain are used in medicine today! Your condition could be changed in an unexpected way if you do not make them aware of it.

Don’t Forget Fido, Junior, and Grandma

The pets and people who live in your home may be affected by diffused oils, or those you use topically. Take a minute to add these household members to your list, just in case. Again, this can help guide your aromatherapist as they choose oils that will help you, but not harm your precious kitty.

That’s Really It!

There’s not much you need to do to prepare. Just go with an open mind, and be honest. That’s the best way to get the most from your experience!

For More on Aromatherapy:

Check out What is Aromatherapy?

Finding an Expert Aromatherapist

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Aromatherapy: Find an Expert Aromatherapist

There are a lot of people who use the term “aromatherapist” to describe what they do. Learn how to find one who really knows how to help!

Types of Aromatherapy Education

Traditional aromatherapists may have no formal training – the kind that results in a certificate. These individuals are likely to be highly educated on which oils to use for what maladies, and probably know of more than one oil to treat common ailments. A traditional aromatherapist may use products from several brands, and have their own philosophy related to the ingestion of essential oils. Sometimes, these individuals will ask a fee for their knowledge, other times they are just the wise person in your tribe.

Sales-based aromatherapists have been trained by a specific company to sell essential oils. They have been issued a certificate, and have received some formal training. They likely limit their practice to a single brand, and are unlikely to know much about oils not carried by that brand. They may or may not have an understanding of how the oils function, and are unlikely to be able to suggest oils for very specific needs. These individuals may also have a very hard stance on the ingestion of essential oils, pro or con, based on the philosophy of the brand. These individuals are highly unlikely to charge a professional fee for your visit, but are likely to offer high-priced oils.

Independently Certified aromatherapists have undergone formal training through an organization that is not in the business of selling the oils themselves. These individuals are likely to be able to explain how and why certain oils work for specific ailments. They may have developed a philosophy on ingesting oils that is based on a risk-versus-benefit model, rather than a staunch stance expected to work for every client. An independently certified aromatherapist may also have an understanding of the basic chemistry of oils, and some knowledge of their potential to interact with other foods or medications. They will very likely charge a fee for their professional services, as well as for any blends they create for you.

Which is Right for Me?

That depends on what is wrong with you! OK, there’s nothing “wrong” about you, probably, but your choice will depend on your level of need. If you’re interested in diffusing some nice-smelling oils that might help you be calm or feel an energy boost, any of the above will be perfect!

If you are interested in addressing a specific need or ailment, if you are on medication for a diagnosed condition, or if you don’t feel you respond to essential oils suggested by your friendly MLM oil salesperson*, you may wish to seek out someone who has been differently trained to work with these specific situations.

How Do I Find an Aromatherapist?

You probably have a friend on social media, or within your real-life group, who sells essential oils or knows who does. If you’d like to try out some lavender to see if it helps you sleep, just post that to Facebook and pick someone who answers. Or ask about it at church. Trust me, they’re out there.

If you’re looking for a traditional or independent aromatherapist, you may have to dig a little more deeply. Traditional aromatherapists are usually also herbalists, midwives, acupuncturists, or have jobs in other alternative healing methods. They may work at spas, massage therapy offices, or from their homes. Traditional aromatherapists may be more difficult to find – you might ask someone you know who takes herbal supplements, or enjoys alternative methods of healing. Independently Certified aromatherapy professionals may be found in the same way. Certified aromatherapists may also be found using the various registries available from the educating institutions, like these, but it is important to remember that not all professional aromatherapists choose to pay to maintain these associations:

National Association of Holistic Aromatherapists

International Federation of Professional Aromatherapists

How Do I Know?

Ahhh… This is the good stuff. In order to really know if an aromatherapist is the right one for you, you’ll need to ask some questions of them. It’s OK! They likely understand that this is a normal part of the process, and should not feel threatened to answer your inquiries.

It is acceptable to ask directly about their education and where they get their information. Ask specifically about your needs, and their experience with those issues or similar ones. Definitely inquire about their philosophy on ingesting oils, and more importantly, why they take that stance (For an independent analysis on the safety of ingesting essential oils, check out this no-nonsense article!). Most important, listen to their answers! Those responses should come from the person, and not be parroted information from a brochure or corporate memo, no matter where they were trained!

Most Important

There are two “most important” issues.

First, you should feel comfortable with your aromatherapist. You should feel secure that their knowledge matches your needs.

Second, you should see an improvement in your issues. If you do not, your aromatherapist should be able to do some tests and make some adjustments based on your responses, so that different oils with the same compounds can be used. This improvement may not be immediate. If you are using aromatherapy to support medical treatments or for more general use, this may not apply as readily. Again, this may come down to feelings – do you feel like your medical therapy is working better since you added aromatherapy?

Once you find the right aromatherapist for your needs, what’s next? Find out in the rest of the Aromatherapy series!

*MLM salespeople are not scammers. Scammers are scammers. MLM salespeople have not fallen victim to a pyramid scheme. They are normal people who believe in a product or brand, and choose to be in business for themselves as an ambassador for that brand. They can be very knowledgeable, helpful, and friendly. For more on the real truth about Multi-Level Marketing companies and essential oils, please click over here: Choosing Quality Essential Oils: To MLM or Not to MLM

For More on Aromatherapy:

“What is Aromatherapy?”

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What is Aromatherapy?

It seems simple. It’s “aroma” therapy, so it’s about smelling things. Right? If it would surprise you to know that even a person with no sense of smell can benefit from aromatherapy, read on! Of course, there are other reasons to keep reading, so don’t let any lack of surprise stop you.

Definitions

Aromatherapy is the therapeutic use of plant-derived, aromatic essential oils to promote physical and psychological well-being. Aromatherapy uses the chemical compounds from plants to boost specific brain functions, stimulate hormone production, lower bacterial loads, and encourage functions like digestion and detox.

Essential “oils” separating from the water during steam distillation.

Essential oils are not oils, really. They are the non-water-soluble compounds found in the plant, not including woods and fibers. For more extensive information on what essential oils are, exactly, check out these articles:

Essential Oil Terms and Definitions

Essential Oils: The Truth About Labeling

How Does Aromatherapy Work?

When used at its best, aromatherapy works in a way that is similar to other medications! Through both modern science and traditional observation, people have discovered that certain compounds help to resolve certain maladies.

These compounds can enter the body in many ways! They do not have to enter through the nose, and you do not have to smell them. There is much dispute over the safest and best ways to introduce essential oils to your body. Most common is by inhalation, but when done with a knowledgeable professional, both topical use and ingestion may be options. This is a much-debated topic, so more information can be found here:

Essential Oil Safety: Ingesting Essential Oils

Why is it Called Aromatherapy if You Don’t Have to Smell It?

Most of the compounds that are extracted from the plant in making an essential oil are the compounds that you smell when you sniff that plant. Since plants and their extracts have been used for centuries, it was first thought that smelling the aroma was what did the trick. Now, we know better, but the term sticks. Since those oils generally do have distinct odors, it isn’t an inaccurate description.

Who Can Benefit From Aromatherapy?

While current laws prevent most aromatherapists from diagnosing or treating disease, they might suggest specific oils to help you meet your goals. These goals might include all kinds of mental and emotional wellness. They might include boosting the immune system, or aiding brain function for clarity. Aromatherapy can be used to assist someone in losing weight, easing the symptoms of an illness, or in lifting physical pain from illness and injury.

Is Aromatherapy Safe?

Of course! Or not at all. Essential oils are kind of like modern prescription medication – safe if it’s right for you, potentially deadly if used improperly.

To be clear, it’s not easy to die from essential oils. It’s remotely possible, with a probability of something less than that of being eaten by a bear in Manhattan. But safety is an important issue. The possibility of injury or death is higher if you are on medications or have maladies that are not disclosed to your aromatherapist. That risk also increases when you are using the oils without training, or are connected with an aromatherapist who doesn’t have proper knowledge.

Learn More!

Coming up, we’ll discuss how to find a well-educated aromatherapist, how to prepare yourself to use aromatherapy successfully, what to expect during an appointment with your aromatherapist, and what to expect after that appointment.

If you haven’t already, please join us on Facebook in the Wild Wellness Discussion Group by Prayana Coaching! There, you can get answers and feedback from the whole group, participate in wellness challenges, and find support on your wellness journey!

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Reiki: What to Expect After Your Session

Now What?

You’ve learned what Reiki is. You chose a practitioner, prepared as much as you chose, and experienced a peaceful time. What’s supposed to happen now?

You may notice any, all, or none of the following. It is not necessarily an indication that Reiki isn’t working for you, or that you’re not with the right Reiki healer. Each of us comes to the table with different needs. More subtle shifts in energy will likely be more noticeable than larger ones, in a twist no one expects! But note any of these – it will help both you and your practitioner to be prepared or know where to focus for next time.

You May Feel Sleepy

This is maybe the most common easily-noted effect of Reiki treatments. Many people prefer to schedule their appointments for a time when they are able to go home and sleep or nap immediately afterward.

You May Feel Energized

In a previous article, I briefly discussed that your Reiki experience will be personalized to your needs. In some cases, an individual opens emotional or physical healing that has them leaving the table feeling lighter, more capable, or stronger.

This is not a result of the Reiki itself. If Reiki just gave people physical energy, it would be far more popular than coffee. It isn’t. No practitioner can just personalize their practice to give you some pep. But when a client is able to release heavy emotions, or find a great reduction in physical pain, they may feel a surge of energy. Yay!

You May Feel Thirsty

Reiki can boost the body’s natural digestion and detox. In order to detox, your organs need water. Ideally, they need it all the time! As your body is aligned to a place where it wants to eliminate waste, your thirst is telling you to help it do that job.

Don’t make your body tell you this. Just drink plenty of water before and after your Reiki session.

You May Feel Empowered

If you have come to your session full of stressors and questions, you may find some clarity with Reiki. Use this carefully! Don’t make any major decisions, like quitting a job or moving cross-country, for a day or two after your session.

You May Feel Healed

Be careful! I mean, yay! For real, Reiki is amazing and some people have shown dramatic improvement in physical ailments after receiving Reiki. This is the goal! But there’s a “but” …

Minor issues such as a strained muscle or tension headache might, in fact, be rendered healed after Reiki. When it comes to more serious ailments, however, please take a beat before making decisions.

Before you stop taking any medication on the basis that you feel better, please check with the doctor who prescribed the medication. You may wish to have testing completed, or to ease off the medication slowly to avoid detrimental side effects. Before you go ahead and do some kickboxing with your torn rotator cuff, make sure it IS good and doesn’t just FEEL good right now.

Reiki is healing. It is just important to remember that, as with any medicine or healing modality, you sometimes want to make sure things are OK rather than just making that assumption.

See More on Reiki

If you haven’t already, be sure to check out:

“What is Reiki?”

“Finding a Reiki Practitioner“

“Prepare For Your Reiki Session“

“What to Expect During Your Reiki Healing Session.“

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Reiki: What to Expect During Your Session

When You Arrive

Many Reiki practitioners operate from their own homes, or travel to your home. This is perfectly fine, but may change the exact parameters of how the welcome occurs. 

If you are in a setting like a spa, chiropractor’s office, or dedicated Reiki studio, you should expect to be greeted warmly. These spaces are not always calm and serene! Don’t worry – in most of these spaces, you will be shown to a private room similar to those used for massage or other therapies. 

Beginning Your Experience

Your comfort is important, so your practitioner will likely ask about the room temperature and lighting. You may be offered aromatherapy, crystals, or other supporting services, if these options were not discussed during your initial consultation or when you made the appointment. Not all Reiki practitioners incorporate these paths within their practice; if they might be important to you, make it one of the questions you ask before you set your appointment!

Your practitioner will also review any specific issues you would like to address. They’ll briefly cover their process, so that you know what to expect within their personalized practice. 

Do I Undress?

Nope! Some Reiki practitioners will offer clients a moment to remove belts, and any jewelry that might be uncomfortable. Many will remind individuals who wear bras and pantyhose that those items may be best removed – if doing so will make the client more comfortable. If the client chooses to remove any items of clothing, the practitioner will step out of the room and provide time for that to happen. 

Beyond those minor things, Reiki is performed while everyone has clothes on. (Some spaces and organizations offer nude Reiki. These may include family-friendly nude campgrounds and adults-only resorts. Seek this only according to your comfort level.)

Now What?

In most cases, you will lie on a table similar to, or exactly like, a massage table or doctor’s exam table. Reiki can be performed with the client in any position, so if your experience needs to differ from that, you can experience just as much peace and healing. This article is focused on a typical in-office experience. 

Your practitioner will spend a few moments in prayer or meditation, either silently to themselves, or aloud with you. They may recite a poem or prayer to open the session.

Hands Off?

At this point, most practitioners will begin, either at your head or your feet. Most will use very light touches as they work to transfer and balance energy. This will not be the touch you might feel during a massage; there is no manipulation of muscles or manual movement of your body. Most practitioners will lift their hands away from the body when they reach sensitive areas, such as the genitals, breasts, and neck. If there are any places on your body that you would prefer not to have touched, please feel free to speak up! Your practitioner wants to know!

In some places, it is not legal to perform Reiki with your hands touching the client unless you have a massage therapy license or similar. Practitioners in these areas may choose to use an alternate method, completing the entire session without touch. While this can be more challenging for the practitioner, it is perfectly valid Reiki and will have the same impact as otherwise. If it is important to you to have one style or the other, feel free to ask!

During This Time

You may be silent. You may speak. You may sneeze, cough, cry, feel angry, or fall asleep. You may experience any of a full range of human emotions and needs. You may need to use the restroom. This is OK! You are a human, and you are expected to have emotions and needs. You are not a disruption to the session, and it is your needs that are paramount during this time!  Your practitioner can get started again when you are ready. 

Your practitioner may also speak. They may ask you questions about what you are feeling, or check in to make sure you are comfortable. Depending on your needs, they may help you to turn over, or adjust your headrest. Other than that, you are free to meditate, sleep, or whatever you like!

What Does Reiki Feel Like?

Reiki Feels different to different people. As your energy shifts and balances, you may feel warmth in one or more areas of your body. You may feel deep emotions, and should feel safe to do so. Some clients feel very mild physical tingling. Many clients feel only deep peace. 

As your practitioner works using Universal Energy to help you heal, there are almost an infinite number of sensations or feelings that you may experience. If anything feels uncomfortable, if you experience something you don’t understand, or if you feel any pain that did not exist prior to your session, know that you always have the authority to stop! Ask what’s happening, ask your practitioner to move to another place on your body, or stop the practice for a few moments to chat. It is your session!

As Your Session Ends

Your session itself will likely end several minutes before your “end time.” This is because a short discussion to help clear any emotions or issues that have arisen is often a necessary part of Reiki. If you removed a belt or bra, you will be given an opportunity to get your outfit back in the order you chose that morning. You should be offered some water, and time to adjust before you’re expected to make your way out into the real world. 

If your path might include additional appointments, you’ll likely be offered the opportunity to make your next appointment. If you’d like to return, it’s a good idea to go ahead and schedule! Your practitioner may work in several locations, so an appointment when one is convenient for you is best made early. 

Up Next:

Reiki: What to Expect After Your Session

Also see: “What Is Reiki?”

 “Reiki: Finding a Practitioner”

 “Reiki: Prepare for Your Healing Session”

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Reiki: Prepare for Your Healing Session

There really isn’t anything you have to do prior to your session. We’re here to discuss some of the ways that you may prepare to get the most from Reiki. Many clients are only able to do a couple of these things, while others rush in still anxious from their workday without having given any of them a thought. That’s OK! Your Reiki will still work!

If you have the time and inclination, consider some of these beneficial ways to prepare:

Eat Something

If you are hungry, your focus is likely to be on food! Your attention is not necessary in order for Reiki to be effectively performed. But you are likely to get more from the experience if you feel as comfortable as possible. Most humans do not feel comfortable when they are hungry!

Drink Something

Preferably, drink water. Reiki can encourage your body to eliminate waste more efficiently, and you need to be hydrated for that to happen. You will likely be offered water after your session, but it’s relatively important to go hydrated.

Reiki will not stop working because you had a Pepsi instead, but maybe have a water.

Meditate or Pray

Depending on your spiritual or religious path, meditation may take many forms. You might pray for a peaceful and successful session. You might use a repeated mantra, listen to guided meditation, or take an intentional walk. The idea is to take some time to connect with your spiritual side, and with any energy, spirit, deity, or entity that helps you to feel the potential for healing.

Give Yourself Time

Allow yourself a little extra time so that you can ignore the slow car in front of you, catch the next bus, or take that far-away parking space. You may also be asked to fill out some paperwork prior to your first session, so be sure to allow for a little extra time that day!

Dress Comfortably

Reiki is performed while everyone has clothes on, unless it is performed during a massage or other procedure where it would be normal to disrobe. You may or may not be given an opportunity to remove belts, uncomfortable bras, jewelry, or binding clothing. If you are able, just go comfy!

Know Your Needs

If you haven’t had an opportunity to talk to your practitioner in advance, you will likely be given that opportunity before they begin. It’s really part of the session! It can be helpful if you are able to express your reasons for seeking Reiki healing. Your practitioner will be able to tailor their practice to specifically address certain needs.

Things you might tell your practitioner include:

  • Specific emotional issues
  • Injuries, stiffness, pain, or tension in any area
  • Recent surgeries or medical procedures
  • Concerns you may have, even if they have not been diagnosed by a medical doctor

Up Next

We’ll look at what happens during an actual Reiki session in Reiki: What to Expect

If you haven’t checked out our other articles on Reiki, be sure to click back for “What is Reiki” and “How to Find a Reiki Practitioner.”

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What Is Reiki?

Pronounced “RAY key”, Reiki is a form of alternative healing. It is part of the family of techniques which are sometimes referred to as “energy healing”. The specific system of Reiki was developed by a monk in Japan during the mid 1800’s. However, the idea that healing energy can be transferred through one person to help heal another is much older than that, dating back to Biblical times and even before.

This energy can be thought of in many ways. Some view the Universal Energy as being their idea of God. Some believe it is a gift that comes from a specific God, as in the laying on of hands in a Christian service. Others view it as a physical, cosmic energy literally created by the expansion of the universe. 

Is Reiki a Religion?

No. Reiki is performed by practitioners of many religious and spiritual belief systems, including atheists. It is seen as a form of spiritual healing by some, and may be incorporated into someone’s personal religious path, but it does not have the markers of a religion itself. There is no required belief in anything – not even in Reiki! Skeptics welcome!

Reiki practice can optionally include some terminology and ideas which stem from Buddhist and Hindu practices. However, this is not a religious ceremony, nor is Reiki a part of either religious path. It is an entirely separate practice.

“Energy Healing”, Huh? Sounds Like a Scam.

No kidding! It totally does, especially when you’re used to very intense physical medicine, like surgical procedures and actual pills that kill the bad bugs to make you better. I was a total skeptic the first few times I tried Reiki, too! But when it worked for me, I had to try to figure it out. I understand a placebo effect, but for that to happen, you have to actually think you’re doing something that might actually, work, at least somewhere in that brain. I totally did not expect to feel anything, much less have my anxiety mitigated for several days after.

Oh, you’re the kind of person who likes to see some evidence, rather than taking my word for it? Yeah, that makes sense.

From the National Institutes of Health (NIH):

Reiki is a safe, gentle, and profoundly  relaxing healing modality… This review has found  reasonably strong evidence for Reiki being more effective than placebo,  suggesting that Reiki attunement leads to a quantifiable increase in  healing ability. Reiki is better than placebo in  activating the parasympathetic nervous system, as measured by reduced  heart rate, reduced blood pressure, and increased heart rate  variability. For patients with chronic health conditions, Reiki has been  found to be more effective than placebo for reducing pain, anxiety, and  depression, and for improving self-esteem and quality of life

From PsychCentral, by Deborah Bier, PhD:

Reiki is becoming an increasingly accepted  presence in hospitals and clinics… It is seen as an effective and cost-reducing  method to improve health outcomes and quality of care. Hospital staff,  such as physicians and nurses, are adding Reiki treatments to their  work. Scientific validation of Reiki’s effectiveness have helped bring  this method to the mainstream, where it is able to aid patients in all  realms, including those with mental health challenges.

Is Reiki Medicine?

For the purposes of legal definitions in the United States, no, Reiki is not medicine. One does not need a medical license to practice Reiki. Reiki practitioners do not diagnose disease or prescribe medications.

A Reiki practitioner may ask about physical or mental concerns. They may sense a different energy in some part of your body, and suggest you could have something going on there. This is to help you check in with your body, and notice for yourself whether there might be reason to seek medical attention. In other words, if a practitioner suggests they felt an different energy in your abdominal area, you might think “Yes, I have wicked gas right now.” You might also think, “Oh, maybe I should grab that pregnancy test”, or “Shoot, I was supposed to have had that follow-up with the gastroenterologist.” They’re not telling you that you’re sick, but that your body seems to need some kind of attention in that area.

Is Reiki Alternative Medicine?

In short, yes. If you consider medicine in terms of “allopathic” vs “everything else”, then Reiki is part of “everything else”. Allopathic medicine is what we think of as “modern medicine”, including the part before it got so modern. Surgery, medication, germ theory, Grey’s Anatomy, etc.

Alternative medicine is usually everything else. Chiropractic care, massage therapy, herbalism, homeopathy, Ayurveda, acupuncture, and many others can be considered “alternative”. But many people like to think of most of these as Health Care, rather than “medicine”. Yes, they may help you in the same ways as medicine, but thinking of them all as different paths for different purposes helps keep them separate.

Medicine will help you set a broken bone. Chiropractic care may help keep your body from getting other aches and pains while you’re favoring the broken leg. Good nutrition may help the bone knit together more quickly, careful yoga will help keep the blood flowing to the areas that need it, and Reiki can help with the pain and potentially speed healing. They’re different, and a person may make use of any or all of these methods to stay well, or to heal.

Up Next

Check out this excellent article on how to Find a Professional Reiki Practitioner

As Always

I am not a doctor (sorry dad!) I do not diagnose or treat illness. As an herbalist, I may make recommendations about which foods, herbs, and plants may best help you in your desired healing, but it is always recommended that you check with your doctor or pharmacist before you make any change to your medication, exercise, or diet routines. Don’t take chances with your wellness.

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Use Music to Modulate Negative Emotions

Most people have used music to modulate emotion. Specific songs or musical works may help you feel calm, evoke joy, or bring deep peace. Many people also listen to music that matches their negative emotion, hoping to let out the anger or find empathy in their despair. But does it work? Or can listening to angry music just make you more angry? Turns out, there’s more than one right answer!

How We Listen

When it comes to using music to modulate negative emotions, there are three types of listening. The way that you listen can make a big difference in how the listening impacts your emotions! Take a look at these three ways individuals use that sweet combination of melody, harmony, and rhythm as they attempt to work through sadness, anxiety, depression, and anger:

Solace

“Solace” is when you use music that matches your emotional state. This is listening to sad songs when you’re feeling sad, and “just need a good cry”. You may listen to songs about depression when you are depressed, so that you feel less alone or better understood. This type of listening may help you feel supported, accepted, and slightly more in control of your emotions.

Diversion

“Diversion” is what happens when you’re sad, but listen to happy music to help pull you out of a funk. Some people with anxiety successfully use this type of listening to assist in pulling themselves out of particularly bad moments or anxiety attacks. This type of listening may look a lot like playing your favorite song or songs over and over until you feel better.

Discharge

“Discharge” is listening to music that matches your emotion, in hopes of better letting go of that emotion. This may look like an angry person cranking up some Nine Inch Nails, Nirvana, or Linkin Park. It may look like a sad person drowning themselves in break-up songs, but wallowing rather than becoming empowered like one would if they were listening for Solace.

The Study

Frontiers in Human Neuroscience published a study called “Maladaptive and adaptive emotion regulation through music: a behavioral and neuroimaging study of males and females”. Based on research by a research team at the Center for Interdisciplinary Music Research at the University of Jyväskylä, the University of Helsinki, and Aalto University in Finland. The team sought to discover whether the effects of music on a person could be both positive and negative. More specifically, they wanted to know whether music could actually harm a person’s mental health.

The researchers in this study didn’t just look at each participant’s mental health and music habits — they also looked at each participant’s neurological response to music. The researchers used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), a brain imaging technique that uses blood flow to determine which areas of the brain are active. During the brain scan, the participants listened to clips of happy, sad and fearful-sounding music. I’m not going to go into detail about what parts of the brain show which things – it is all available in the linked study. But the team found something surprising!

The Findings

What did they find? The answer is sometimes “yes”! Listening to music CAN be harmful to a person’s mental health. No, this doesn’t mean your nay saying relative was right, and that rock-n-roll music will lead to the downfall of society. It doesn’t even mean that specific music is always bad for all people.

What they found was that the way in which you listen is what really matters. There was also a clear deviation between male participants and female. According to the study, men (but not women) who used the “Discharge” method of listening had higher levels of anxiety and neuroticism than women, or than participants who listened differently. In other words, venting negative emotions through music doesn’t help modulate the negative emotions. Surprisingly, it may make them worse!

How to Listen

If you’re attempting to use music as a resolution for negative emotions, or to work through them, listen carefully. As you listen ask yourself how you’re feeling, and how you think you’ll feel after this song. Or the next one. Is this music helping you to express emotion, or to feel safe and grounded? Or is this music simply feeding your rage or anxiety? Only you can know, but listening appropriately may be vital as you use music to heal. Even if you don’t intentionally turn on the playlist, check in with yourself when a song comes on the radio or Sirius. If the goal is emotional wellness, you might choose to leave the Nine Inch Nails for when you’re feeling a little less open to negative emotions.