Here, find out some of the many ways Reiki can augment the work you do with your hands.

Reiki is a Japanese term that, translated, means “universal life force energy.” It’s taking the energy that’s around us and focusing it with our intention. When we’re giving massage and we can bring Reiki forward, it brings another level of healing, comfort and relaxation into the massage. While the client is getting massaged, they’re also receiving energy coming through to enhance everything that you’re giving them in their treatment.

While many massage therapy sessions have the goal of increasing relaxation, adding Reiki can help the client achieve relaxation on a much deeper level. Including Reiki in a massage has the potential to make any modality more effective, especially craniosacral work and Thai massage. My clients have said, ‘There’s something about your massage. I’ve never felt so comfortable and at ease and gone into a meditative-like state.’ I truly believe the Reiki energy adds something to the session.

If a person has something going on with a physical imbalance, Reiki can bring in the energy to help speed healing, increasing the energy for whatever that person requires to be balanced, whether it’s body, mind or spirit.

Including Reiki in a massage therapy session can extend the benefits of the massage long after the client leaves the session room. People who have chronic pain, like fibromyalgia or neuropathy, where they are constantly feeling pain, burning or itching, say that the relief of their symptoms lasts for days after receiving a massage with the addition of Reiki.

From a purely business standpoint, learning Reiki is easy on your body and can give you something else to offer on your menu of services, either on its own or as an add-on to massage. You can let clients know that you’re tuned to Reiki if they’re open to receiving that, that they can receive more benefits than just a traditional massage.

I incorporate it into all the other modalities I’m certified in, including myofascial and craniosacral therapy. A lot of times I will administer various modalities in one session, depending on what their needs are. Reiki comes through in almost every treatment that I give, especially craniosacral.

In addition to practicing it, I also teach Reiki. My massage therapy students have told me how draining giving massage therapy can be for them. In my classes I emphasize that Reiki is a practice that positively affects both the client and the practitioner.

The energy that comes forward in a session actually comes through you, then through you to the person you’re administering the massage to. It doesn’t deplete your energy when you’re giving the therapy; you actually come out more revitalized than when you went into the session. It can definitely assist you in not feeling so drained by people depleting your energy; you’re more of a clear, open channel taking in that universal life force energy instead.

Susan Cossette, BCTMB, is the owner of Health and Healing Zone in Appleton, Wisconsin. She is National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork-approved continuing education provider who teaches Reiki, sound healing, foot reflexology, and several massage therapy modalities.

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