The spa industry offers multi-faceted services that range from traditional wax treatments to complete holistic skin care; however, gone are the days when clients just want a facial or massage. They now expect services that provide them with multilevel results, combining luxury, beauty, and a therapeutic approach to the mind and body connection. These days, professionals want to be on the forefront of offering services that leave clients with the tools to integrate a restorative spa experience into their daily life, complementing the mental and physical connection with an emphasis on skin care. Reiki is a treatment that offers just that.
Reiki is a service for clients who are looking for a multisensory experience that focuses on health and wellness. Reiki translates to universal life force energy, similar to qi or prana – terms often used in yoga, acupuncture, and Chinese medicine. As a natural, Japanese healing and holistic system, anyone can receive a reiki session and most people can become certified to perform reiki.
Once clients are exposed to the benefits of reiki, they will leave feeling renewed and eager to come back for more than just products and routine services. While there are many different versions of reiki practices available, each with their unique essential benefits, Usui Shiki Ryoho is the most traditional form of reiki. Developed by Dr. Mikao Usui, reiki is gaining popularity and is being used, not only in spa settings, but also in many hospitals and clinics across America. The amazing thing about reiki is that it can be done anytime, anywhere, and is an excellent support to spa, medical, or holistic services.

ENERGY WITHIN THE BODY

Chakra translates to “wheel” in Sanskrit and has been identified as energy centers in the body that store energy as well as give and receive energy. Reiki harnesses the body’s energy and attempts to distribute it in various points, encouraging the connection of mind, body, and spirit. When chakras are stagnant, have blockages, or are out of balance, reiki can help bring calm back in the entire system.
The chakras connect directly to the body, mind, and energy so when they are restored, clients feel invigorated on all levels. Reiki can be used to support surgery, illness, anxiety, and insomnia, to name a few benefits, but is also recommended as a complement to medical care, therapy, or spa services.
The reiki practitioner or reiki master (the title depends on the level of reiki earned) may use traditional Usui reiki, where just the laying of hands is used in various, specific positions on the body, or the reiki practitioner may add elements like mantras, symbols, and guided imagery. Clients remain fully clothed for the service and practitioners may sometimes use aromatherapy, sound therapy – like singing bowls, tuning forks, or chimes – and chakra balancing crystals to support the sensory experience. The full reiki service usually takes about an hour, but can also be condensed into a 15-minute add-on that can be added to a menu as a chakra tune-up or reiki boost.

REIKI CERTIFICATIONS

To become reiki-certified, professionals can find reiki master instructors online who offer classes in their region. The training varies in length from one weekend to several months, depending on the style of reiki being taught and the level of reiki training the professional wants to achieve. Reiki level one teaches the basics of energy flow and how to use reiki as self-treatment. Reiki level two teaches distance, or remote reiki, and advanced training on how to perform reiki on others. Reiki level three is master level reiki and teaches how to use crystals to support reiki sessions, including the reiki crystal grid. Professionals may be able to learn the basics of reiki in one weekend and be certified to perform reiki, but to truly develop skills and become a seasoned reiki practitioner, they should devote more than a weekend of training. It is important to be diligent in research before signing up to take a reiki class, to ensure finding the best fit. Look for a teacher who recommends a minimum of two months’ time between each reiki level attunement and level of reiki training or who offers apprenticeships and additional training once certified, to help develop reiki skills.