Got Questions about Reiki? Three Answers to Common Questions


We have been students and practitioners of Reiki (ray – key) for over 20 years. Although we were not looking for a healing practice – a chance encounter and a referral – brought us this complementary therapy.  Reiki has not only enhanced our physical wellbeing but enhanced our emotional and spiritual way of life. It has changed our lives for the better!

Sunset by Karl Robb 2022

“The difficulty is describing Reiki. It’s like describing a sunset.”

Karl usually says the preceding line when someone asks him to describe reiki. Reiki is a practice with ancient roots.  There are many different forms of reiki. This form of reiki was developed in Japan over a hundred years ago by a physician. The lineage of reiki we practice is call Jin Kei Do which includes the practices of: Qigong (movement meditation), mindfulness meditation, and reiki self-treatment. The reiki self-treatment is developing the skill of harnessing universal lifeforce energy, bringing the energy into our bodies to help promote self-healing, calmness, and inner peace.

When we injure ourselves with an abrasion on our skin, our skin eventually, over time, heals itself. Self-healing is innate – all of us have the capacity to self-heal. The practice of reiki simply provides a protocols and practices to enhance and increase our ability to help ourselves. As we move through life with mental, emotional, and physical stress, our natural energy can become depleted. Reiki is one of many energy practices to allow us to increase our personal energy and empower our bodies to heal.

How can Reiki help me?

Much like how living with Parkinson’s is different for each person – the experience of reiki is different for everyone. Reiki can be effective for balancing one’s personal energy, reducing fatigue, lowering anxiety, improve sleep, reducing pain, and can improve a variety of other physical, mental, or emotional challenges.

Reiki has improved all aspects of our lives. Karl has seen reiki help curb the intensity of his dyskinesias, lower his stress, give him peace and calming, improved his confidence, and provided him with a greater understanding of who he is and what he can achieve. With reiki, Angela has seen reductions in anxiety, stress, anger, and headaches. She has experienced increases in her calmness, focus, and clarity of thought.

Has Reiki been scientifically studied?

Although there have been some research studies of reiki, many have been conducted without the research standard of double-blinding and without a strict protocol to enable reproduction of the study. What few studies have been completed are usually dependent on anecdotal evidence or self-reporting, which has provided inconclusive results. Despite these challenges, reiki has become a therapy that has been incorporated into integrative medicine clinics that many universities and hospitals that have been established in recent years. Locally, George Washington Center for Integrative Medicine and Johns Hopkins have reiki incorporated into their hospital’s programs. Even some Veteran’s Affairs medical centers offer reiki treatments to veterans.

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Energy 101 from Daily OM


Sharing this excellent article from Daily Om sharing insights about the energy all around us and within us!! I particularly like this excerpt from the article:

“We may even intuitively tune into the energy of a situation we are facing when making a decision about how to proceed. With careful practice and meditation, we can learn to sense the energy within other living things and ourselves.”

Source: DailyOM – The Power Within

photo of a magnolia flower

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Happy Spring! Sharing a post from A Soft Voice In A Noisy World – Karl Robb


In hoping Spring is on it’s way, Karl shares with his readers some of the items that help him improve his day!

Enjoy!

Source: Happy Spring! | A Soft Voice In A Noisy World

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Mindfulness Meditation Training Lowers Biomarkers of Stress Response in Anxiety Disorder | Georgetown University Medical Center | Georgetown University


A fascinating research article on how mindfulness meditation impacted those patients with an anxiety disorder.

GUMC researchers found that anxiety disorder patients had sharply reduced stress-hormone and inflammatory responses to a stressful situation after taking a mindfulness meditation course—whereas patients who took a non-meditation stress management course had worsened responses.

Source: Mindfulness Meditation Training Lowers Biomarkers of Stress Response in Anxiety Disorder | Georgetown University Medical Center | Georgetown University

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Want to be more civically active this year? Start with yourself. – The Washington Post


I found this article to be helpful for myself as I considered the feelings of the end of one administration and beginning of a new administration.

“As we move into uncharted sociopolitical waters, it’s important to understand that sharing your beliefs and advocating for yourself and others requires self-knowledge and self-care.”

Source: Want to be more civically active this year? Start with yourself. – The Washington Post

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DailyOM – Blessing Our Bodies


Posting this excellent article from the Daily Om. Body scans can be extremely helpful when you are looking for some information about how your body, mind or spirit feels.

As the living vehicles for our spirits, our bodies deserve loving attention and care. We can positively affect our health, prevent illness, and heal injuries by regularly focusing our mental and spiritual energy on the workings of our bodies. This can be done by performing a body scan on yourself.

Source: DailyOM – Blessing Our Bodies

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Instructions not Included When it Comes to Caregiving: By Dr. De Leon


Sharing Dr. De Leon’s sage words of wisdom about her experiences in caregiving. As we start November, which is National Family Caregivers Month, I thought I would share Dr. De Leon’s post with you.

-Angela 🙂

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Don’t dwell on the disease. Value the moments, the pearls of wisdom, their smile, their humor.” St. Elizabeth      Caregiving is not for the faint of heart. I have had to be the caregiv…

Source: Instructions not Included When it Comes to Caregiving: By Dr. De Leon

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Trying to understand stress as it relates to Parkinson’s disease. | A Soft Voice In A Noisy World


One of Karl’s recent posts regarding stress and Parkinson’s disease.

If you are a frequent reader of this blog or have read my book, you know that I talk a great deal about the impact that I believe stress plays on Parkinson’s disease and the related symptoms of the…

Source: Trying to understand stress as it relates to Parkinson’s disease. | A Soft Voice In A Noisy World

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The Power of Calm


Seeking peace and serenity can only add to your health. The more that we know about what brings us peace and calmness, the closer we are to finding balance.

Source: The Power of Calm

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When Your Partner is Diagnosed with Parkinson’s: A Caregiver’s Story


I was recently asked to answer some questions about being a caregiver for eCareDiary.com.

Not only do I comment on being a Parkinson’s disease carepartner/caregiver but I also share some comments about Reiki in my life.  I hope you enjoy the article – here’s the link:

When Your Partner is Diagnosed with Parkinson’s: A Caregiver’s Story

Source: When Your Partner is Diagnosed with Parkinson’s: A Caregiver’s Story

 

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