What exactly is Reiki?
Scott Yaphe, an actor-turned-energy healer, describes it as a Japanese technique that promotes stress reduction and relaxation, and also brings the body into balance by using "therapeutic touch" methods. The "rei" in Reiki stands for higher intelligence, and the "ki" stands for universal life force energy (the same as "chi" in Tai Chi).
The practice involves laying hands on the body or just above the body. Yaphe says that the practitioner is just a vessel. The energy comes from the higher life force, travels through the practitioner and then works to get you to your healthiest self, whether it's your physical, mental, emotional or spiritual body (or a combination of all).
Ultimately, the goal is to bring back the balance that is upset by the imbalances of everyday life, which are caused by stress, anger, fear... all of which block the flow of that powerful life force energy. If you get extremely "blocked up" in this energy sense, it can lead some rather serious disease.
Listen in as Yaphe discusses the concept of energy healing, specifically Usui Ryoho Reiki and Angelic Reiki, and what it does to your four different bodies.