Sometimes We Need to Be Still: Why Reiki Is Part of My Wellness Practice
If you know me, you know I talk a lot about movement. I believe in strength training, walking, and taking care of our bodies so they can carry us through our lives as strongly and independently as possible. But I also believe there are times when what we need most is to stop - to be still, quiet some of the noise around us, and reconnect with ourselves. That is one of the reasons Reiki has become such an important part of both my own wellness philosophy and the work I do with others.
What Exactly Is Reiki?
This is probably one of the questions I get asked most often. Reiki is a gentle Japanese energy practice used to promote relaxation and a sense of well-being. During a session, you remain fully clothed while I place my hands lightly on or just above different areas of your body. And here’s the part I really want you to know you don’t have to do anything.
There is nothing to accomplish or figure out. You don’t need to meditate correctly, clear your mind, or even understand exactly how Reiki works. You simply get to receive. For people who spend so much of their lives taking care of everyone and everything else, that can feel pretty wonderful.
What Does Reiki Feel Like?
Everyone experiences Reiki differently. Some people feel warmth or tingling. Some become so relaxed they fall asleep. Some notice emotions or thoughts coming up. Others don’t experience anything particularly dramatic; they simply leave feeling calmer, more relaxed, or more grounded. There is no “right” Reiki experience, and I think that’s important because we already put enough pressure on ourselves to do things the right way. Reiki doesn’t need to become another one of them.
Reiki has also found its way into some healthcare settings as a complementary practice for people navigating experiences such as cancer treatment, surgical procedures, and chronic illness. Research into Reiki is still developing, and I never present it as a replacement for medical care or mental health treatment. I see it as another tool we can use alongside appropriate care to support relaxation, stress management, and an overall sense of well-being.
Recently, I worked with a client who was recovering from a surgical procedure and experiencing residual pain, headaches, depleted energy, and disrupted sleep. All of this was contributing to increased anxiety and worry, as well as decreased confidence in her ability to return to feeling like herself. After one Reiki session, she reported that her headaches had subsided, she slept soundly, her pain had decreased, and her energy had improved. Perhaps just as importantly, she felt hopeful again and some of her worry began to ease.
Every person is different, and every experience with Reiki is different as well. I would never promise someone a particular result. But over the years, clients have shared with me that they have experienced things such as reduced pain, improved sleep, greater relaxation, and renewed energy following their Reiki sessions.
This work matters. Not because I believe Reiki is a cure for everything, but because helping someone feel a little more comfortable in their body, a little more rested, a little less overwhelmed, or simply more like themselves matters.
Why I Became a Reiki Master
My work in health and wellness has taken several different forms over the years. I’m a health and wellness coach, personal trainer, massage therapist, and Reiki Master. At first glance, those things might seem pretty different from one another, but to me, they’re all connected. Each one provides a different way to support some aspect of a person’s health and well-being, and ultimately, their quality of life. Isn’t that what we all want? To feel well enough to live our lives fully?
I want to be an agent of that potential positive change. I’ve never believed that wellness is just about exercise or nutrition. Those things matter tremendously, but we are whole people. I think often about quality of life and all the things that influence it—our stress, our sleep, our relationships, our sense of purpose, and how we feel in our own bodies. They all matter.
When I receive Reiki myself, it feels like a nervous system reset. My breathing becomes deeper, the tension in my body begins to lessen, and my mind gets quieter. Eventually, I find myself simply falling into those sensations for a while. I love the space it creates. It gives us permission to stop for a little while and simply be. There is nothing to do, nowhere else to be, and nothing to accomplish. We can just sink into the present moment. I believe there is something profound and healing about creating that kind of space for ourselves.
Self-Care Doesn’t Always Mean Doing More
This may be my favorite lesson of all. We live in a world that constantly tells us to do more. Exercise more. Eat better. Drink more water. Get more sleep. Meditate. Journal. Stretch. Take your vitamins. Hit your steps. All of those things can be wonderful, but suddenly even “wellness” can become another list of things we’re supposed to accomplish. I don’t want that for myself, and I don’t want it for the individuals I work with. Sometimes, taking care of yourself means doing less.
It might mean taking a walk without tracking it, saying no to something that is draining you, or resting without feeling guilty about it. And sometimes it means lying on a Reiki table for an hour while someone else holds the space for you.
Come As You Are
One of the things I love most about being a Reiki Master is creating a space where people don’t have to perform. You don’t have to arrive feeling calm. You don’t have to have everything figured out. You don’t even have to be completely sure what you think about Reiki. You can simply come as you are, and I’ll meet you there.
After years of working in health and wellness, I’ve learned that taking care of ourselves isn’t always about adding something else to our lives. Sometimes it’s about becoming quiet enough to hear what has been there all along.
Maybe you’ve been feeling tired, overwhelmed, disconnected, or simply curious about what Reiki might feel like. You don’t need to have a specific reason to give yourself some space to slow down. Sometimes that is reason enough. If Reiki is something you’ve been wondering about, I’d love to introduce you to it. You’re always welcome to reach out with questions or schedule a session with me at Rising Tides Wellness by Leslie. And maybe, for an hour, you give yourself permission to do absolutely nothing. Just be still. And maybe that’s where the next part of your journey begins.
