Reiki suffers from hippy, wierdy-beardy associations, probably due to it's spiritual nature, although it's not a religion and there's no dogma. I'm probably one of the worlds most sceptical people and a cynic to boot, so reiki would never have been my first choice for rest and relaxation. I'd normally head to the gym to fight out the day's stresses with a punch bag, but a colleague of mine raved about it, so I decided to try it.

What is reiki and what can it treat?
A Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation, reiki also promotes healing. It's administered by "laying on hands" and is based on the idea that an unseen "life force energy" flows through us. If your "life force energy" is low, then you're more likely to get sick or feel stressed, and if it is high, you're more capable of being happy and healthy.

The word reiki is made of two Japanese words - Rei which means "God's Wisdom or the Higher Power" and Ki which is "life force energy". So reiki is actually "spiritually guided life force energy."

My experience
Paranoid about arriving late I turned up with the manic energy of a whirlwind to be met by a softly spoken, calmly-in-control Brazilian, Claudio Toyama. He began by finding out if there was anything mentally or physically that was causing me any problems. I explained I'd managed to pull something in my neck at the weekend while dancing rather over-excitedly - thankfully I couldn't remember what this dance move entailed, but I do know it wouldn't have been pretty.

Claudio made sure I was comfortable on the treatment bed complete with a blanket (very cosy) before attempting mission impossible, making me relax. Starting from 300 I had to count backwards while envisaging the numbers getting further and further away. In a normal session, Claudio explained that he would relax a person for about 15 minutes and then go straight into reiki. In my case, though, he noticed that I'd benefit much more if he continued relaxing me whilst doing reiki.

Counting became very difficult as I began to relax and lose focus of the numbers and I started to drift away after about 20 minutes. Claudio then moved on to the actual reiki. He lay his hands on my head, stomach and feet, spending about 20 minutes on each, in between relaxation techniques. It was a very strange feeling because I'm not used to lying still for so long, I felt really relaxed and a bit spaced-out.

I was relaxing quite well (for me) when I remembered I needed to get home in good time to cook for a friend. I vaguely remember Claudio telling me to relax and me saying I couldn't now because I needed to know the time. I have to admit I panicked when he said it was 7.30pm and I'd been 'under' for 2 hours! I couldn't believe the time, I usually have difficulty sitting still for 5 minutes. Mild panic began to set in as I realised it would take me 40 minutes to travel home and I didn't have any food in the house. It was only when Claudio asked how I was feeling that I noticed my neckache had disappeared.

Before the session I hadn't been able to move my head because it was so stiff and painful, now there wasn't so much as a twinge and all he'd done was lay his hands on my head. No massaging, no manipulating, I couldn't explain it. I think reiki is amazing and there's no doubt that it helped me. Next time my ridiculous dancing gets the better of me I'll know where to go.

Further information
A one hour session with Claudio Toyama costs around £40. Contact him at his studio in Archway, London on 07957 544 606.
www.reiki.org
www.reikiassociation.org.uk
www.reikifed.co.uk