From the MASSAGE Magazine article, "Energetic Skin Care," by Jon Canas, in the February 2010 issue. Article summary: Massage therapists are among the relatively few people who have an intuitive knowledge that the body is not simply matter (solids and fluids), but energy as well. Of course, we are not talking here about the energy released by the myriad of chemical activities going on in the body at any given time; we are talking about vital energy, what Hindus call prana and Chinese people call chi. This subtle and intelligent energy is central to Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine.

by Karina Braun

I believe reiki is truly a gift for both therapist and client. I have been performing massage and Reiki for more than a decade, and when the two are combined together there are many benefits for giver and receiver. Reiki allows me, as the therapist, to work more effortlessly. Since reiki energy comes from universal life force, I simply channel the energy from universal source through my hands and then to the client. Once the energy flows to the client, it goes right to where the blockage is and works to unblock it. I find the client’s muscles release faster and

Reiki combined with massage has truly helped me in many ways. When I utilize reiki, it benefits me because it does not drain my own energy reserve. It makes me pay attention to grounding and lets the energy flow through me instead of using my own energy reserve and draining my own energy. It makes me take responsibility for my own health and self-care. I use reiki hand positions on myself to clear each chakra. Since energy tends to block at the joints, I use reiki on my shoulder, elbow and wrist joints.

Reiki increases the effectiveness of any type of massage therapy you use. Reiki plus massage therapy treats the client holistically on all levels instead of just physically. I feel that treating a client holistically is the way of the future and brings more peace into each client’s life and into the world, which is certainly wanted and needed.

Karina Braun is author of Creating Peace with Your Hands. For more information, visit www.igetintouch.com.

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