Published: Wednesday, 10th February, 2010 4:30pm

Restore your natural energy flow with reiki

One of the most relaxing treatments that is sure to leave you feeling rested and fill you with energy the following day is Reiki, a Japanese form of stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing.

Using life force energy, channelled through the practitioner, Reiki helps to promote a positive mind and a healthy body, the perfect treat for the end of a busy week!

With this in mind I put myself in the capable hands of Angela Killion, a Reiki, practitioner since 2003. Angela works in The Little House of Avalon mainly on Saturdays and at Circle of Life on Mondays.

Making my way to The Little House of Avalon just outside Dysart it was easy to leave the stresses of a busy working week behind as I reached the idyllic retreat nestled in the countryside away from all the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Greeted by Angela, she immediately put me at ease, bringing me to a room bathed in natural sunlight and briefly explaining how Reiki works.

As I lay back on the bed wrapped up in a blanket, Angela began the treatment. It's a little difficult to explain exactly how Reiki works, but essentially Angela began at my head, first placing her hands on my temples and then at the back of my head. She repeated this at various points of the body and essentially channelled life force energy through herself to me, which realigned my chakras, promoted healing and filled me with positive energy. While there are many chakras, Reiki practitioners generally concentrate with the major seven chakras, which are located throughout the body, next to a hormonal/endocrine gland. By concentrating on these areas, the energy goes to the relevant organs connected to these glands.

The whole experience was extremely relaxing as I listened to gentle instrumental music in the background and drifted in and out of sleep. As Angela was working on my knees I could feel quite an intense heat, and asked her about this after the treatment. Angela explained that, while she doesn't feel this, other clients have said this to her and explained that the heat is the energy flowing. She explained that people generally feel either heat or cold during Reiki, but with her clients tend to feel heat.

When she had completed the treatment Angela used some euphoric rescue oil, which she rubbed into my forehead above my third eye (the centre of the forehead above your two actual eyes), which she explained would close off my chakras and leave me feeling relaxed.

She explained to me that my mind was obviously quite busy and as a result she had concentrated on my solar plexus throughout the treatment. Angela also commented on how cold my feet were, explaining that this was a sign that all of my energy was flowing in the top half of my body and wasn't quite reaching my feet.

Immediately after the treatment I felt completely relaxed and, truth be told, a little sleepy. It was an early Friday night for me as come 11 o'clock I could barely keep my eyes open, but what a sleep! I woke the following morning feeling completely energised and full of the joys.

So what then are the benefits of this treatment? Reiki is a very simple process, but usually produces quite profound effects. It is a natural method of healing. The main purpose of Reiki practice is not only to heal diseases, but also to promote a positive mind and healthy body so that people can experience joy in life.

The great thing about Reiki is that one does not have to be ill to experience the benefits. You can use it as a preventive measure eg like getting top-ups of energy for your body. Reiki is a powerful yet gentle energy and each Reiki session is different, even with the same person as each time you receive Reiki the healing energy may flow to another part of your body. The energy flows through to the area in the body that requires it.

Reiki benefits your physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health and is definitely a treatment I'd recommend, either purely for relaxation or to quieten a busy mind.

Angela Killion is a level two, or advanced, Reiki practitioner, which allows her to practice Reiki on a professional basis. She is currently studying to become a level three practitioner, which will allow her to teach Reiki. She is available at appointments at The Little House of Avalon and Circle of Life and you can contact her for an appointment on 086 8215219. Angela is also a life coach.

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