History of Reiki

Reiki is a form of energy healing that originated in Japan in the early 20th century. It was developed by Mikao Usui in 1922 after a profound spiritual experience during a 21-day retreat on Mount Kurama. Usui sought to create a healing practice that was spiritually grounded yet accessible to all, regardless of religion or background. He called his method “Reiki,” meaning “universal life force energy.” Usui began teaching and sharing Reiki with others, emphasizing the balance between physical healing, personal growth, and spiritual development.

After Usui’s passing, Reiki was passed down through a lineage of teachers, notably Chujiro Hayashi, who expanded and systematized the practice, and Hawayo Takata, a Japanese-American woman who brought Reiki to the West in the 1930s. Takata trained several Reiki Masters before her death in 1980, which helped establish Reiki as a global healing modality. Today, Reiki is practised worldwide in various forms, but its core principles—intention, energy flow, and hands-on healing—remain rooted in Usui’s original teachings.

Benefits of Reiki

Stress Reduction

Encourages deep relaxation, easing stress, calming the mind, and releasing tension.

Emotional Balance

Supports emotional healing and restores harmony, leaving you feeling grounded and centred.

Energy & Vitality

It boosts your life force energy and promotes focus, strength, and natural resilience.

Better Sleep

Promotes restful and deeper sleep by relaxing the mind and soothing the nervous system.

Physical & Mental Wellness

Supports the body’s natural healing while enhancing clarity and mental balance.

Spiritual Connection

Deepens your connection to intuition and purpose, offering insight and spiritual alignment.

The Science Behind Reiki: What Studies Show

Reiki is a gentle, energy-based modality that channels universal life force energy through a practitioner's hands to support the body’s natural healing processes. While Reiki is rooted in ancient spiritual traditions, modern science has begun to explore its effects, particularly on stress reduction and relaxation. Studies using biofeedback, heart rate variability, and cortisol levels have shown that Reiki can significantly lower stress markers and promote a calm parasympathetic (rest-and-digest) state. This aligns with anecdotal reports of clients feeling deeply relaxed, centred, and emotionally lighter after sessions.

Clinical research has also explored Reiki’s impact on pain management, anxiety, and overall quality of life, particularly in hospital and hospice settings. A growing number of pilot studies and controlled trials suggest that Reiki may help reduce pain perception and anxiety in patients undergoing surgery, cancer treatment, and chronic illness management. Although more large-scale studies are needed, the emerging evidence supports Reiki as a complementary therapy that enhances well-being, working alongside conventional medicine without interfering with other treatments.