Patients who receive complementary therapies may be able to reduce the amount of pain medication they’re taking, as well as cope better with the often strong side effects associated with opioid medications.  In my experience having facilitated Reiki treatments to people in the clinical setting, I have seen patients drift off comfortably to sleep, and they have reported to me that they felt significantly less pain and improved sense of well-being, which is critical to a good recovery. 

If you or someone you know is undergoing a medical procedure, I suggest seeing if the hospital has someone who can provide these complementary therapies through a patient wellness program, or contact someone who is practicing professionally who can make a hospital visit.  Reiki is a good choice, because hands-on contact is very gentle, but it can be done without direct contact if the patient is sensitive to touch following surgery.   However, any of these complementary therapies will provide benefit to the patient, depending on their personal preference.

If you’ve never had energy work done, this is a great opportunity to experience it, while being mindful of your budget. I offer a low-cost Reiki healing clinic in the Atlanta area once a month as part of my mission to make energy healing more accessible and affordable to the public. 

Space for the Reiki clinic is limited. To sign up for a time slot, contact me via email or by phone: 678-640-6146.

Candler Park Chiropractic is located in the Candler Park Connection complex adjacent to the Edgewood-Candler Park MARTA station:

1522 Dekalb Avenue
Atlanta, GA 30307

• Reiki I – Saturday, March 13, 2010 (12 PM – 6 PM)
• Reiki II – Saturday, April 17, 2010 (12 PM – 6PM)
• Reiki I – Saturday, April 24, 2010 (12 PM – 6 PM)

 The tradition I follow is that of the ”Western” form of Reiki, which was brought from Japan to America by Reiki Master Hawayo Takata in the late 1930’s and passed down by a succession of Reiki Masters.  My Reiki training classes are single-day workshops with plenty of opportunity to practice channeling Reiki to yourself and others.  Along with the necessary Reiki energetic attunements, students will receive all the information, tools and ongoing guidance to practice Reiki with confidence.  I also provide support to my Reiki students by providing them with the opportunity to practice in community with other Reiki practitioners, and maintain contact to answer questions as needed.

All classes will be held at Candler Park Chiropractic in Atlanta.The cost for the training  is $150.  It includes your own copy of Reiki: The Healing Touch First and Second Degree Manual, other Reiki handouts and certificate.  A special student rate of $125 is available for high school or college students.  For more information and to sign up, see my Reiki Classes and Workshops  page.

What I liked about the questions Ms. Miles lays out for us is that there is a good balance between the Reiki practitioner’s commitment to practice, their ability explain in layman’s terms what Reiki is (differentiating between the spiritual and practical aspects), what its benefits are, as well as the amount of experience a practitioner has gained by working on others.  These are the questions I asked when I sought out a Reiki teacher for my classes, and is also the criteria by which I hold myself accountable. 

The only things I would add to her list is to ask if the Reiki practitioner/teacher is still committed to learning and supporting others.  Receiving the certification is only the beginning of the journey.  A qualified Reiki practitioner will not only seek to deepen their spiritual understanding and practice, but are also likely to want to learn more about traditional and complementary medicine, biology, psychology and a bit of physics.  A Reiki teacher should not just seek to teach classes with the intent of making money or establishing themselves as an “authority.”  They should be committed to providing guidance and support for both their students and other Reiki practitioners who may have questions, either informally (telephone, email) or by holding Reiki shares.

There is certainly nothing wrong with receiving Reiki from a friend or volunteer who is just starting out.  You will still receive healing and they gain valuable experience.  However, if you are paying good money for a full treatment or are taking a class from a Reiki Master Teacher, you will get more out of it if the practitioner/teacher conducts themselves professionally and commits to Reiki on a daily basis in their personal life.

Ultimately, you will know if you found the right Reiki practitioner/teacher for you, because that person will be able to speak to you in a way that resonates with your core beliefs, as well as help you move forward on your own healing journey.

I know a lot about IC because I suffered from it for years.  In my case, I believe it originally developed as a result of trauma to my bladder from a catheter that was forcibly inserted during cholecystectomy (gallbladder) surgery in 1997.  Within a year, I experienced a kidney infection followed by a cycle of recurrent urinary tract infections.  This was unusual because I had not had a urinary tract infection since I was in my early teens.  The infections usually cleared up with a course of antibiotics, but even when the infections were not active, I was still experiencing pain, pressure, urinary frequency and urgency. I spent a lot of time in the bathroom or at the urologist’s office.

In 1999, I had exploratory surgery performed on my bladder to pinpoint the cause of my symptoms.  I was diagnosed with neurogenic bladder and a congenital urethral stenosis, which was corrected with surgery.  However, neither of those conditions – which I had had my entire life – were causing the majority of my symptoms.  The cystoscopy/hydrodistention (procedure to examine the bladder wall lining and stretch the membrane) was inconclusive, despite obvious signs of chronic inflammation.

It took nearly four years before I was properly diagnosed with IC and by then, I was experiencing regular and near-debilitating flare-ups that were interfering with my ability to live a normal life.  I was fortunate to have a job that allowed me to telecommute when I needed to because the level of discomfort, lack of sleep and perpetual bathroom trips made it difficult for me to function when I was in the middle of a flare-up.  The resulting inflammation from IC also caused gynecological problems, since the pelvic region shares similar nerve pathways and tissue structure.  It was a very difficult, painful and depressing period of my life. 

In 2003, I finally found a urologist who felt certain, as I did, that I was living with IC.  I began medical treatment (Elmiron, Elavil, Urised and Detrol) as well as a modified diet, because certain food and drink can irritate the bladder.  Over time, I did see improvement in my symptoms, but I still dealt with occasional flare-ups, as well as the unpleasant side effects from the medications themselves.  Still, after being in pain for years, I was grateful for any relief.  I had been taking the medications about three years when I went on a business trip to India at the beginning of 2006 for two weeks.  This was actually my third trip there (and we won’t talk about what it’s like to have a bladder condition and have to fly halfway around the world) but this time was different.  I experienced energy healing for the first time and it was what led me to Reiki.

The energy healing I received that day actually eliminated my neck and shoulder pain from the long flight, which was my immediate concern.  It was such a remarkable experience that once I returned to the U.S., I immediately sought out someone to train me in energy healing.  It totally changed my perspective on what “healing” means.  The interesting thing was, after practicing Reiki for a while, I realized that my bladder wasn’t bothering me at all.  I had weaned down my medications around the time I went to India because I was seeing improvement and was concerned about my liver enzyme levels, but still took a maintenance dosage.  So, I decided to wean myself off to see what would happen.  Days, then weeks went by.  I felt fine.  I haven’t taken any medication since. 

I  got pregnant in the summer of 2006 and aside from the normal discomforts associated with pregnancy, had few issues with my bladder.  I was concerned that after my pregnancy, all of my IC symptoms would come back full force – and they didn’t.  The true testament of my healing revealed itself after my emergency c-section.  I was catheterized for a week due to post-surgical complications, but still experienced no bladder-related issues.  I do have some pelvic floor tightness that pops up from time to time but  that is likely a residual issue from the surgery, and is alleviated with regular chiropractic adjustments and yoga.  Every now and then, I’ll have a day where my bladder is irritated for some reason, but it is mildly annoying and resolves by the next day.  The other thing that I should mention is that the vulvodynia I was also experiencing is no longer active either. 

The site owners of Healthy IC Recipes invited me to write an article on Reiki, entitled Spiritual Healing Through Reiki.  Writing the article is what inspired me to tell my story in more detail.  It meant a lot to me to be able to share how energy healing can be beneficial for people living with chronic health conditions like IC.  Our bodies are capable of healing themselves, but often need some assistance with the process.  Reiki is a gentle, effective complementary therapy that can help people manage their symptoms, improve the quality of their life and in some cases, faciliate much deeper healing. 

Please contact me if you would like to learn more about how Reiki can help you on your healing journey.

For a limited time, I’m offering introductory pricing for my life coaching sessions. You may choose from a standard life coaching session, or one that also incorporates a 30 minute Reiki session, to help balance your energy and facilitate greater clarity and awareness. This pricing is good through March 30, 2010:

• 60 min. life coaching session: $65
• 90 min life coaching session (with Reiki): $85

Let me help you take the first steps towards discovering your purpose and lay the groundwork for your life transformation journey.  Please contact me via email or phone for more information.

One of the great benefits of Reiki is that a practitioner (Reiki II/Master) is able to channel healing energy to others without having to be physically present.  There are great benefits, of course, for receiving a hands-on session but distance Reiki is also effective.  Many people wonder how energy can be sent distantly from one location to another. 

How does that work, exactly?
A great source for understanding energy medicine from a scientific viewpoint is the following interview/article with James L. Oschman, Ph.d entitled Science and the Human Energy Field.  He describes, in very approachable language, the quantum science behind energy transfer and how our tissues receive information. 

Dr. Oschman addresses several different types of quantum theories, but specifically mentions scalar waves, which

have the extraordinary property of affecting the structure of space everywhere, instantaneously. Scalar waves therefore do not have a velocity as such, and their effects do not diminish with distance.  The scalar wave was predicted from physical theory a century ago, but physicists generally dropped it out of their equations because they could not contemplate a phenomenon that had such remarkable properties. Now that there is growing experimental evidence for healing at a distance, as well as for the benefits of prayer, the scalar wave is being reexamined for its possible role in mediating such phenomena. This is important because many of the complementary therapies are discovering that healing work that can be done locally can also be done at a distance.

Basically, what this means is that energy is interconnected phenomena that does not rely on physical locality in order to affect its transfer.  I admit that I initially had some doubts about how distance healing worked until I began trying it on people and they reported experiencing sensations consistent with what someone would report during a hands-on session – and they also noted improvement of their symptoms!  Further, I was able to accurately discern areas where their energy fluctuated, which was confirmed by the recipient – just as if I was physically in the room with them.  It was truly awe-inspiring and humbling. 

What can you expect during a distance session?
The process is very simple: we agree upon a mutually convenient time (typically in the evenings) and I either call or text you to confirm the session is going to begin. 

I recommend relaxing in a comfortable chair or bed with no other distractions (soft music or candles are suggested if they help you unwind) for approximately 30 minutes.  A calm, meditative yet attentive state is encouraged so that you can be receptive to what is happening.  I will send Reiki during this time and notify you (if preferred) when the session is complete.  We can then confer whenever it is convenient for you to obtain feedback. 

People have reported feeling very relaxed and peaceful, or that they could feel different sensations in the areas in need of healing.  Individual response may vary; everyone takes in and responds to energy differently.  (As with all Reiki sessions and alternative healing in general, some people experience dramatic improvement after one session, where for others, it might be more subtle and require follow-up.)  Here is a testimonial where the recipient received Reiki distance healing for a torn meniscus with good results.

If you are interested in receiving distance healing, please visit my Services page or contact me for more information.

Kregg Quarles: I came home dogged tired (my eyes were closing themselves). I gave my mother a heavy reiki treatment and it feels like I could run a mile now. It feels like experiencing truth instead of reading about it.

Chris Ramsbottom Pampling: I have Rheumatoid Arthritis, I used to walk with two sticks. Since becoming attuned to Reiki I have become better to the point where I could take a full-time one year’s course to become a holistic massage therapist!

Sherri Lane Wangrin: The biggest change for me has been spiritual. My first treatment opened me up to vivid angel dreams and experiences and it has magnified since. Each level of attunement seemed to continue that opening. It has also helped me physically with allergies, some chronic pain issues, and just overall feeling healthy. The calmness factor is huge mentally as well.

Ayanna Stringer:  Since becoming connected to the Reiki energy I find myself more capable of merging all versions and ideas about myself into one. I’ve felt extreme fear (as usual) but am able to focus it instead of pushing it away. I’ve become focused in ways that I didn’t know that I was capable of. I’ve discovered aspirations that I didn’t know existed. I feel able to hold my heart open to people and unapologetically express my love. I had this realization today that through being a Reiki practitioner as well as a yogi, I can transform my world just by keeping myself strong, balanced, open and practicing my craft. I guess the key concepts here are capability, focus and LOVE.

Please share your experiences here – I would love to hear how Reiki healing has changed your life!

There’s really nothing better as a Reiki teacher to see your students learn to sense and work with their innate healing ability; it’s a special and beautiful experience.  It makes the entire day joyous and uplifting!

One of my students wrote a terrific blog post describing what she learned and experienced during our class.  I appreciate the time she took to synthesize everything she experienced in such a detailed way.  She wrote beautifully about the difference between coercing the energy to move (which is what is done in some energy healing/transfer techniques) and surrendering to the moment and allowing Reiki energy to flow on its own:

When I attempted to pull energy from outside of me before it was just that. PULLING. I felt like I was pulling a rope of prana into myself and then pushing it into someone else and instructing it to heal them…Reiki’s different. I placed my hand on a chakra then asked the energy to flow through me. Usually before the words are even formed, my intention has linked me to the source of Reiki energy. Where I once felt like I was pulling energy in like a rope attached to a rock, I now felt the energy pouring into me like I as standing under a showerhead with amazing pressure. And this is how I experienced the energy through all of the practice I had during the remainder of the afternoon. Flowing water. When 4 of us worked on the 5th, laying on the massage table I felt like water was pouring into all of our crowns and flowing out of our hands into our temporary patient. When we all got so hot in the hands, toward the end of that person’s session, the energy was bubbling like boiling water under our hands.

Like I said, it doesn’t get much better than that! 

If you are interested in learning Reiki for healing yourself or others, please visit my Reiki Classes and Workshops page for more information on what is covered in my curriculum and available dates.  The Reiki community in Atlanta is growing and I encourage you to become part of it.

I will also be teaching Reiki I on Saturday, February 20 from 12-6 pm.  This class is designed to teach techniques for healing yourself and others.  For more information and to sign up, visit my Reiki Classes page. 

Both events will be held at Candler Park Chiropractic in Atlanta.  Please contact me via email or phone 678-640-6146 for more information or to sign up.