Making.
Massaging.
& Mothering.
A blog exploring the things that matter to me in this season of my life.
Not sure what to expect at your first reiki massage? Here’s a full rundown.
Trying a new body service can be intimidating, especially when it’s combined with something as “out there” as energy work. My intention with this blog post is to lay it all out in a simple way so that you can decide for yourself if this treatment will be right for you. And if you’ve been in for a treatment already, read on to discover the reasoning behind the techniques I use!
My hands cradling the head of someone who is relaxing during a reiki massage.
How to find me:
I’m working with Empire Beauty Studio in Fredericton, NB on Sundays and Mondays!
The address is 535 Beaverbrook Court - it’s on a funny little side street off of Dundonald, very close to the Regent Street intersection and Greco. It’s a long beige building with vines growing on the front (pictured to the left). You can park for free on the street in front of the building, or in the parking lot around the side.
The building is locked on Sundays and after 5pm, so I’ll meet you at the front door at those times. Otherwise, you can find the studio near the smaller front door on the left (Suite 150).
Accessibility:
This building is wheelchair accessible, but my services are not! To access this treatment you’ll need to be able to undress yourself and get yourself on the massage table. You can bring an aid for this if you’d like though! You’ll also need to be able to turn over on your own on the table.
This service is 18+: I’m not open to treating kids or teens at this time!
When you first arrive:
Welcome to the studio! When you get here I’ll be waiting to greet you with a warm smile, and the question “do you need to pee?”. This may seem a little personal, but there’s nothing like being 40 minutes into a relaxation massage and needing to go, so I mention it first thing so we can get it out of the way. If you need to, I’ll walk you to the restroom down the hall so you don’t get lost.
When we get back to the studio I’ll ask you to remove your shoes and then I’ll have some paperwork for you to fill out in our waiting area. It’s a very brief health history (only one page with large font) so it won’t take long to finish. I’ll ask if you’re sensitive to natural aromas so that I can cleanse the treatment room with a cedar and sage blend* while you’re busy with that form.
*The aromatherapy that I use in this treatment:
This is Chiiyaam, an incredible smudge spray from a Canadian First Nations company in Quebec called Invocation. It was created to be used in hospital settings, by a man named Blue Eagle who needed a smoke-free alternative to the traditional practice of smudging. He traveled to France and learned perfumery from some masters of the craft before returning to Canada and combining this new knowledge with indigenous plant wisdom and local plants. After 2 years of experimentation he created Chiiyaam, whose name means peace in Algonquin.
Before your treatment:
When you’re done filling things out I’ll have you follow me to my treatment room, which is dimly lit and cozy. I’ll read over your health history and ask for clarification if I need to and then I’ll give you a quick explanation of the service to make sure we’re both on the same page. I’ll say something like: “I usually do this treatment as a full-body relaxation massage, and I’ll be channeling reiki throughout the entire treatment via touch. I’ll massage the backs of your legs, your back, your neck, scalp, arms, hands and feet! Does that all sound ok?”. If you hate having your feet touched please speak up! I’m more than happy to adjust the massage to your preferences. Some people don’t want their hair messed with! Others would rather skip the legs. It’s all up to you and what you’re comfortable with.
Next I’ll explain how to get on the massage table and what clothing to remove. Again, level of undress is totally up to your comfort level. Most people take off everything but (or including) their bottom underwear, but I’ve done plenty of massages over the clothes as well. Removing necklaces and bracelets is a usually a good idea too. Before I step out to give you some privacy I’ll explain where to put your things, and that we’ll be starting with you face down on the massage table. I’ll show you where your face goes, and which sheets to get under. Then I’ll leave the room to wash my hands while you get ready.
After a couple minutes I’ll return, knocking before I come back in the room. I’ll check to make sure you’re comfortable; things like the angle of the face cradle, the position of the ankle support pillow, the temperature of the table warmer and the volume of the music can all be adjusted. Once you’re all good we’re ready to begin!
Prone (aka laying on your stomach):
The first order of business is introducing my touch to your body and energy field. I do this by placing my hands on your back over the sheets and inviting you to take a few deep breaths. I keep these stationary hands on your back for a moment until I feel like I’ve been accepted, and then I do the same thing over the sheets on the back of your legs. This firm and grounded touch begins the relaxation process. You may feel yourself “sinking” into the massage table as this happens.
The first thing I’ll massage is the back of your legs. I’ll uncover your left leg to your upper thigh, below your glutes. Using a natural, scent-free oil and gentle but firm techniques, I’ll massage your calves and hamstrings, scooping under your leg to your knee and then down around your ankles. My intention at this point is to pull source energy down from your crown to your legs and into your feet. I want to ground you and open up a channel through the bottom of your feet for energy to flow freely from. While massaging the legs I often imagine that I’m loosening up the bound roots that connect you to the earth and her deep wells of lifeforce energy. Once I’ve treated both legs in this way, I’ll move on to the back.
My hands massage the back of someone’s leg during a reiki massage.
Your back is very important. It gives easy access to the spine, for one thing, which is where the chakras are located. Chakra means wheel in Sanskrit, and in Ayurveda these spinning wheels are vital energy centres that have the power to affect our wellbeing and enjoyment of life. There are 7 primary chakras that begin at the base of the spine and travel up to the crown of the head (read more here). In addition to this, the back is often a great place to unwind deeply. Based on my experience, when asked where they hold their stress, most people say “in my shoulders”. When asked where they hold their trauma, most women say “in my hips/low back” (and men don’t often have an answer, though I think it’s probably in their neck/jaw). When asked where their trouble area is (in a massage context, not aesthetically), most people refer to their back or neck in some way. This massage is not therapeutic, but it isn’t soft either. The body needs the correct amount of pressure to relax, and the pleasure of having aching muscles massaged is ancient. My hands seek out these areas, and with a firm hand and repetitively slow strokes I’ll press into the rigid muscles around your hip bones and alongside your spine, and the hard knots in your raised shoulders. The sheets will be pulled down toward your hips and tucked gently into the top of your underwear (if you’re wearing any) to protect them from oil.
While working on your back I’ll be assessing your energy field for blockages. I like to start at the low back because treating the chakras from the bottom up makes the most sense to me. Your root chakra, which is the first one, forms the base for all of the others. It’s located at your tailbone, which is an area that I won’t be putting my hands on directly, but that is positively affected by the work above in the hips and below in the legs. While we’re working on your back I’ll also be investigating your sacral, solar plexus, heart, and lesser known thymus chakras. I’m trying to feel more than just your physical tissues. An energetic block feels like pressure and heaviness in my hands and forearms. An overactive chakra feels like sharp buzzing. I stay tuned into my own body too, because sometimes I’ll feel the answers for your body suddenly mirrored in my own. To you, this work may feel like sudden heat or cold in an area experiencing energetic release. Some people report sudden numbness or tingling that lasts just a moment. Emotions and memories coming up “out of nowhere” are also very common. So far no one has complained that any of this is terrible in any way, so don’t be concerned that it’s going to be this huge uncomfortable thing. The energy is very gentle and supportive, and the effects of this support can be felt well into the rest of your day and evening. This can be in terms of physically feeling good, having an amazing sleep, having a good cry and releasing emotions that have come unstuck, or getting sudden insights and inspiration. I suggest clearing your schedule and having your journal and comfies ready at home.
My hands massaging the back of someone’s neck and the base of the scalp into the hairline.
I’ll work your whole back and up the back of your neck to the base of your skull, spending extra time on areas that could use the attention. I like to include some work with pressure points, like the Heavenly Pillar located on either side of spine near your head. These points open up energy channels and allow for ki to flow smoothly (read my blog post “what the heck is a reiki massage?!” where I explain ki in greater detail). Having good flow of ki from the body to the head and back again is important for mental tasks like memory, focus and problem solving.
When I’m done with this part of the massage I’ll drape a warm, damp towel over your back. This is so soothing, and also gets some of the oil off your back! Then I’ll pull the sheets up over your shoulders before running my hands down your back and back up again, and then down your arms to rest briefly at your elbows. This is a moment that I love because it reminds me of a safe, grounding hug. Then I’ll give you the first of two scalp massages! This time I’ll be focusing on the energy points and channels from the base of your skull to the crown.
Then I’ll hold the sheets out while you in turn over onto your back. This part might feel vulnerable, but I’m trained to protect your privacy at all times! I won’t catch even a glimpse of your body.
Supine (aka laying on your back):
Once you’re comfortably on your back with a pillow under your knees and the sheets how you want them (you can lay with your arms in or out!) I’ll pull us back into the relaxation bubble with another mist of Chiiyaam. Then I’ll begin massaging your neck and and upper chest/shoulders, also known as the décolleté in spa lingo. You’ll be uncovered from the neck down to the armpits, so most of your chest will remain under the sheets. I’ll cradle your head in my hands and turn it slowly to one side so I can access the side of your neck. I like to blend this massage from the neck, around the ear, and into the scalp for the second head massage. Then I repeat on the other side. The chakras I’m assessing at this point are your throat, third-eye, and crown chakras. I often find a lot of pent up energy in and around the head. And this makes sense, as we tend to live our lives in the upper parts of our body. My intention is to disperse this energy, to send it downwards into the rest of you. Sometimes relaxing the neck feels like releasing a dam of backed up emotions and energies from the head to the body. I like to place one hand on your heart chakra and one under your neck, to guide this flow in a soothing way.
A photo of someone smiling while I’m massaging their neck.
Next up are arms and hands! I absolutely love this part of the massage because it’s SO relaxing, and something that most people don’t choose for themselves when deciding what to work on during a massage. An energy treatment without arms and hands feels incomplete to me; ki wants to flow down your arms and out of the palms of your hands and the tips of your fingers! It seems like a disservice to neglect that. Our hardworking hands and forearms deserve to be lovingly tended to. So I’ll uncover your left arm and cradle it in my hands while I tenderly work on your biceps and around your elbow before making my way down to the overtaxed forearm tissues. You can let your arm go limp for this, though sometimes people find that to be the most difficult part of the massage. Being unable to relax your limbs for someone else to hold is very common, and doesn’t mean you’re bad at getting bodywork! If I give your arm a gently shake, please know that I’m speaking to your body and not your mind. I’m not telling you to try to relax; sometimes a shake gets the muscles to cooperate.
When it’s time to work on your hand I’ll use an all-natural lotion instead of oil, which gives me a better grip. I’ll hold your hand up, with your elbow bent and resting on the table, and I’ll work on your palms and your thumb and your wrists. Then I’ll lower your hand back down smoothly and massage the length of each finger to complete that limb before tucking it back under the sheets and moving on to repeat the process on the other side.
A photo of me massaging someone’s forearm with both hands.
Finally, when you’re probably almost asleep, I’ll give you a reflexology-style foot massage. This is often interesting for me because it confirms a lot of what I’ve already felt in your body and energy field. In reflexology, each part of the foot corresponds to a different part of the body. Tightness, knots and crunchy bits in your body are often reflected in the feet with incredible accuracy! It’s another example of the brilliance of the body. I like to use lotion to massage the feet as well because I want to be able to maintain firm pressure without slipping around and tickling! Every part of your foot gets attention during this foot massage. When both feet are done I’ll get a warm towel and wrap them up one at a time. This feels nice, but it also gets the lotion off your feet so you don’t slide across the room when you’re trying to get up!
Closing:
After covering your feet back up I’ll take a moment to close the treatment and your energy field before softly letting you know that you can take your time getting up, going slowly because your feet may still be slippery. When you’ve gotten dressed you can come out into the hallway to meet me. I try not to say too much after this treatment because I want you to stay in that reiki massage bubble for as long as possible. But I will usually mention a couple of things that I noticed, either physically or energetically, as well as the general advice to take it easy and drink lots of water! This is also the time that I might mention other practitioners if I thought a different treatment might be beneficial to you. I’ll accept your payment at this time and rebook your next appointment; I suggest every 4-6 weeks as a treatment timeline!
Please note that I am not a medical professional or an RMT. These treatments are intended for relaxation and energy balancing purposes only. I am happy to refer you to incredible and safe RMTs if you’re looking for therapeutic massage!
All photos except the one of the building were taken by Samantha Shea, with Laura Joyce modeling.
How I protect my peace so I can promote yours.
Every day we come in contact with the energetic fields of so many other people, and in many cases we’re taking on that energy and carrying it around with us, whether we realize it or not. We spend a ton of time interacting with the content of strangers online, and this constant receiving of impressions and input from others leads to even more energetic buildup. Not to mention the electrical and magnetic properties of the cell phone you’re holding close to your body to access this information! It’s a lot!
Insights from an energy practitioner and bodyworker.
Like with any profession, there are things that are helpful to do in preparation for a day of work. Some things, like packing a lunch and making sure my linens are clean and folded, are obviously essential for the type of services I provide. And then there are the less obvious practices. Ones you might not consider important for a “normal” job but that make perfect sense in the energy work sphere. I’m going to share a few of them in this blog post in the hopes that you find some inspiration for your own life, even if you aren’t an energy work practitioner.
Grounding
When I went to my first reiki initiation one of the topics that came up almost immediately was grounding, which is the practice of putting your feet on the ground to exchange energies with the earth through your soles. My reiki master really wanted to make sure I knew the importance of remaining connected to the earth as I embarked on my spiritual journey. She said that it was crucial, especially when working with other people, and I don’t think she meant that only for energy healers! Every day we come in contact with the energetic fields of so many other people, and in many cases we’re taking on that energy and carrying it around with us, whether we realize it or not. We spend a ton of time interacting with the content of strangers online, and this constant receiving of impressions and input from others leads to even more energetic buildup. Not to mention the electrical and magnetic properties of the cell phone you’re holding close to your body to access this information! It’s a lot!
So what does grounding do to help?
For me, grounding is a trade. I put my feet on the earth and I imagine that they’re growing roots down deep, deep, deep. And all of the excess energy that I’ve been holding onto travels from my head down to my feet and through those roots where it’s absorbed into the soil and can be repurposed into whatever the universe needs. And at the same time, my roots are soaking up fresh clean earth energy that I can use as fuel! The result is that I feel less overwhelmed by the emotional and energetic residue I accumulate when I’m out living my life, and I feel a sense of stability and strength that make navigating the world much less daunting.
Instructions:
Take your shoes off and put your feet on the ground. I feel the most power from the exercise when I’m barefoot in the woods or by the river, but you don’t have to stick your bare toes in the dirt for this to be effective. Sock feet on linoleum is great too! Just make sure to remove anything with a rubber sole, like shoes or slippers, that might interfere with the electrical exchange that’s about to take place. You can put any part of your body on the ground and have the same benefits, but I like the idea of draining the excess energy from my head, where it tends to get backed up, all the way down to my toes.
Next, you’re going to close your eyes and imagine connecting your feet to the earth. I visualize roots, but I encourage you to find a visualization that works for you. Whatever you choose, make it a strong connection. If you’re unable to put your body on the floor, you can simply imagine this connection traveling from your body, down the chair/bed/whatever, and into the ground. Let yourself imagine all that excess energetic junk draining away and being replaced with beautiful, bright light. This vibrant and clarified energy is now filling your field and the only effort here is your intention. Your desire to connect and exchange with the earth is all you need to make it so!
Repeat daily.
“Grounding Meditation” by Jessica Lynn Clark, available here.
Crying (aka letting myself feel my emotions)
Okay, so this one is crucial if you’re a person who ever has to be around other people. We are now coming to understand, in a scientific way, that emotions are energy moving in the body, and that if they don’t get expressed and dealt with they have a tendency to linger in our tissues where they can eventually cause physical problems. The issue is, most of us were raised and socialized to disregard our emotions, to stifle them and push them down out of the way so they don’t inconvenience our relationships and productivity. Yikes!
Because my line of work involves being a conduit for vital energy, I strive to make sure my channels are open and flowing without my own blockages getting in the way. This is why I consider feeling my emotions (to completion) so important. And it’s so so hard! I was extremely cut off from my emotions for a very long time. But now I let myself cry when I need to (which sometimes means holding it in until I have the space and time to really let it out) and I scream into pillows and I move my body around. I’m learning healthy ways of expressing anger that keep me and everyone else safe, though anger is by far my trickiest feeling to work with because it was the most demonized for the longest. And I’m doing this all imperfectly, of course, because I think it’s going to take me a lifetime to really master.
Instructions:
Rather than trying to name and figure out why you’re experiencing whatever emotion, try making a mental note of the sensations you’re feeling in your body. Emotions are essentially reactions in our tissues, and when you frame it like that it makes it a little easier to separate the mental aspect from the embodied emotion. Instead of intellectualizing you’re going to work on feeling.
Of course, hiring a therapist to help you is a great idea.
Prayer and meditation
In my world there are different kinds of prayers: those that express deep gratitude and those that ask for help. I don’t follow any specific religion, so when I pray it’s not to any particular god or entity (though I do have some that I vibe with more than others). I guess these prayers act like messages to whatever divine system is in charge. “Thank you for this, I love this, more of this!” and “here’s what I’m struggling with, can you find me a solution?”.
Meditation is for quieting my system so I can hear the answers to my prayers. It helps me slow down so I can really pay attention to what the universe is offering. Synchronicities and miracles are everywhere, we just need to be present enough to recognize them, and meditation is a great tool for increasing your presence in your daily life.
Both of these things are important parts of my spiritual practice, which form the base of my energy + body work offerings (and the rest of my life honestly). Other things I include in my spiritual practice are quality time with nature, decolonial language learning, and keeping a small altar.
Instructions:
If you’re not sure how to pray, just start listing things you’re thankful for. Out loud, or in your head. You can also mention things you’d like help bringing in, and things you’d like help maintaining. There really isn’t a wrong way to do it.
When it comes to meditation, I usually have the most success with guided ones. There are plenty of apps you can find, and free resources online as well. YouTube has great guided meditations. You could also consider less traditional forms of meditation, like crafting/creating/staring at waves.
Movement
I have never been a big exercise gal. I didn’t play sports, I don’t really like running, and I’ve never been able to stay consistent with the gym.
The types of movement I do enjoy: Hiking and snowshoeing depending on the season. This is basically just going for walks, which are also great. I like to dance and swim. I do enjoy doing yoga and I find myself going through phases with it. And I have two young boys, so I count playing with them and getting them ready for literally anything as solid exercise!
What I’m trying to say is that you don’t need a typical routine to enjoy movement in your life! I’d like to add some small weights into my repertoire at home, because I know how important that’s going to be as I age. But I don’t think enough people really count the things in their life that aren’t going to the gym or getting their 10k steps. Those things are wonderful for the people they work for! But for the rest of us, maybe just focus more on playing? That’s a great invitation for movement. And stretching! Please keep stretching.
The words “I’m not just exercising for my body to look good now, I’m exercising for my body to work good later.” are displayed over a background image of a lakeside at sunset.
Instructions:
Go for a walk where you live. Find free videos on YouTube to move along to if you’d rather stay inside (there’s way more online than just yoga!). If you get bored of one thing after a while, it’s okay to try something else. Chopping wood, going sledding, having sex, doing housework… the list of “unconventional” exercise goes on and on. My advice is to keep having fun with it, and to remember your intention when it comes to movement.
“I intend to stay limber so I can enjoy my life for a long time to come. That’s why I do yoga”.
“I intend to get out in nature and see cool birds. That’s why I go hiking”.
“I intend to release my anger in a healthy way. That’s why I box”.
Sometimes remembering what we want to get out of it can make convincing ourselves to get up and go a little easier. And 30 mins a day is all you need!
Crystals and Fire Cleansing
When things have been really hectic for a while and I just can’t seem to find my balance, I turn cleansing. I do this either a selenite crystal wand or a smoking herb bundle!
When it comes to cleansing your energy field with crystals, selenite is really where it’s at. This long, white crystal grows in perfect wands that are perfect for cleansing things, including yourself! The energy of this mineral vibrates at a very high frequency. Some refer to it as liquid light. Selenite is also associated with Selene, the Greek goddess of the moon. This is a really popular crystal that can be found at most gem shops, so you shouldn’t have trouble tracking her down.
You’ve probably heard of smudging, which is a practice that has been so widely appropriated that it’s original people can’t get access to healthy white sage. It’s been overharvested and commercialized. So if you’d like to cleanse with smoke, make your own bundles with herbs and plants you’ve sourced ethically yourself. Things like cedar, rosemary, and lavender are lovely and can be grown at home or found nearby.
Read this blog post by Heidi at Mountain Rose Herbs for a lovely overview of smoke cleansing around the world and throughout time.
When it comes to cleansing your energy field with crystals, selenite is really where it’s at. This crystal forms in long branches and is sold as a wand which makes it really easy to cleanse things with, including yourself! Selenite is also associated with Selene, the Greek goddess of the moon.
Instructions:
Selenite wand - Holding it above your head and slowly bring it down around your body. You can circle your body with it to dispel any foreign energies in your field or hold it steadily over each chakra point (crown, forehead, throat, heart, diaphragm, lower stomach, between the legs/under the bum). Put your crystals out on your windowsill during the full moon to cleanse them and recharge them.
Smoke Cleansing - Grab your herb bundle, a lighter, and a small bowl to catch the ash. Light the end of the bundle and blow out any flames so that it’s only smoldering. Hold the bowl underneath it. Different cultures have their own specific instructions and rituals about what to say and what motions to make next. Directing the smoke to the 4 corners of the room, to the north/east/south/west, and around doorframes and windows are all options to clear a space, and to clear yourself all you need to do is blanket yourself in the smoke from your head down to your feet. Say a prayer of thanks for the plants you’re burning and intend for the smoke to take unwanted energy with it as it floats away.
Final Thoughts
These are the simple things that I’ve found effective and inexpensive when it comes to maintaining my energetic hygiene. I want my presence to be calming and my conduction of energy to be clear. If you’re feeling sluggish, heavy, cranky or just kinda meh, give some of these things a try! You might be surprised at how much it helps.
What the heck is a reiki massage??
Some of the oldest healthcare systems in the world not only acknowledge the existence of an invisible lifeforce energy, but actually treat it as vital for wellbeing and health. In Japan this energy is called ki, and you can think of it like the Chinese variation, qi (chi), which is a crucial aspect of the ancient healing practices of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). In Sanskrit, the word for this energy is prana and it also has an important role in India’s ancient healing system, Ayurveda. These enduring health practices promote the wisdom that in order to truly be “well” we need to address the COMPLETE body, which includes the emotional, energetic, and mental bodies as well as the physical. Breathwork, restorative movement, intentional diet, massage, and meditation are all pillars of these two time-tested medicine systems (which have been popular and effective for thousands of years).
A reiki massage session with Sarah Pyke.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock you probably know what massage is, and have likely experienced it in some way at some point. People have been using their hands for healing since the dawn of time! It’s certainly nothing new. And you’ve likely heard of reiki before, too, even if you’re unsure what it means. I know I had a lot of misconceptions about the practice before I looked into it and experienced it for myself, and I know that a lot of people are in the same boat. But now I’m soooo glad that I opened my mind up to the possibilities of energy healing, because it really is a gift!
I love combining simple, traditional relaxation massage with reiki work. I find the two encourage deeper levels of grounding and ease, which results in a really beautiful exchange. The sense of peace and calm I feel is next-level, and not just on a physical level. A reiki massage involves gently massaging the body with oil to settle the nervous system while also intentionally channeling reiki into the energy field.
Massage has always been spiritual to me. I was an RMT for 10 years and long before I ever experienced a reiki treatment I could feel that there was a very real intensification of that indescribable lifeforce energy while a massage treatment was going on. Not just on the body or in the tissues, but permeating the whole room! My career saw me working in some really fantastic spas. There would be times that you’d walk down the hall on your way to fold laundry and someone would have their treatment room door open, cleaning up and flipping the room for their next client, and that glorious energy would be pouring out into the hall. Someone in that room had been so relaxed, and maybe they had released and let go of something heavy and had come out lighter, or they’d fallen asleep (or better yet, been in that dreamy space on the edge of sleep). It was potent! Almost intoxicating just to be around (and I know the folks I’ve worked with over the years can remember that feeling). I wrote a blog post in 2019 titled “Massage Therapy is Spiritual AF” where I basically described this phenomenon. It would be another 5 years before I was ready to lean all the way into this idea though.
A treatment room at Spirit Spa, Downtown Halifax (one of several top spas I had the pleasure of working in)
After 10 years as an RMT I was ready for a change. I knew I wanted to keep relaxation bodywork in the picture because those were my favourite types of treatments to give. But I wanted something more. That’s when reiki entered my life.
Why energy work?
Some of the oldest healthcare systems in the world not only acknowledge the existence of an invisible lifeforce energy, but actually treat it as vital for wellbeing and health. In Japan this energy is called ki, and you can think of it like the Chinese variation, qi (chi), which is a crucial aspect of the ancient healing practices of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). In Sanskrit, the word for this energy is prana and it also has an important role in India’s ancient healing system, Ayurveda. These enduring health practices promote the wisdom that in order to truly be “well” we need to address the COMPLETE body, which includes the emotional, energetic, and mental bodies as well as the physical. Breathwork, restorative movement, intentional diet, massage, and meditation are all pillars of these two time-tested medicine systems (which have been popular and effective for thousands of years).
The meeting of physical relaxation with energetic healing can have a profound effect on your overall wellbeing. The massage calms your nervous system, releases oxytocin and other pleasant chemicals, eases minor aches and pains*, and nourishes your skin, and the reiki seems to amplify all of this. It’s heavenly. Having a deep and restful sleep after the treatment, a reduction in pain, anxiety, stress, and overwhelm, and a healthy emotional release have all been reported after a reiki massage treatment. And while the immediate benefits last a day or two, I find the mental and emotional enhancements from reiki specifically (like deep insight and intuition, boosted creativity, and improved focus) provide long lasting rewards for those who are able to take action. People often talk about their ability to tackle problems with newfound clarity post session - I suggest taking a nice bath or shower, journaling, and then having a nap to really lean in to the guidance that might be coming into focus after a session.
What is reiki?
Reiki is a practice that aims to increase the flow of ki within the body and energy field in order to promote holistic balance. This is achieved by a reiki practitioner placing their hands on or just above the receiver. Reiki flows from the practitioner’s hands into the energy channels of the receiver. From there it flows where it’s needed throughout the body and energy fields! Reiki originated in Japan; rei means spiritual or sacred in Japanese and ki is this unseen energy I can’t stop talking about.
While it might seem like ki is coming from the reiki practitioner themselves, it’s not! The practitioner is simply a conduit, connecting the receiver to the source of this cosmic energy and allowing them to draw in what they need. You can imagine the reiki practitioner as a living straw that the receiver uses to slurp up delicious ki, straight from the source. I can say that as a reiki practitioner myself, I have yet to feel energetically drained by giving a treatment to someone else. In fact, the opposite is usually true! It’s a beautiful feeling.
Reiki is also intimately linked to the chakras, which are spinning wheels of energy located along your spine, beginning at the tailbone and going up to the crown. We’ll discuss chakras in a little bit, but for now, here’s a visual. You can imagine energy traveling along the spine and arriving at each of these wheels before being distributed along the other channels in the body.
The seven primary chakras displayed over an outline of a seated person, showing where the chakras are located in relation to the spine.
And this is the general idea of reiki treatment. The practitioner uses their hands with intention to channel this energy into your own energy pathways to reinvigorate and balance areas that may have fallen out of line over time. Science calls the balance that the human body is constantly seeking “homeostasis”, and this is exactly what we’re looking for in our subtle energetic bodies as well. We want vital energy to reach our organs and tissues for optimal health and we want balanced energy to help us with personal expression and emotional processing. A reiki treatment clears away energetic debris that isn’t helpful anymore, and sends new stuff down the pipes.
And what about the chakras?
Chakra means “wheel” in Sanskrit. In ancient understandings, the chakras are energy wheels in the body that spin smoothly when balanced. However, when they fall out of balance (due to trauma, lifestyle choices, illness, big life changes, etc.) a person may experience physical, emotional, or spiritual troubles. Chakras may be overactive or underactive, or completely blocked! As you can see in the graphic above, each one is associated with different areas of life. Evaluating your life and the challenges you face can give you clues as to which chakras need work; for instance, if you have trouble expressing yourself you may want to investigate the throat chakra. There are lots of things you can do to bring your chakras back into balance. Getting a reiki treatment is one of them! Once a chakra has been re-aligned following a time of imbalance, you’ll notice subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) improvements in many areas of your life - health, relationships and finances will improve, amazing opportunities will suddenly present themselves, and things in your life will flow with more ease.
An example of a meridian; the channels in the body through which lifeforce energy travels, according to Traditional Chinese Medicine.
How does someone become a reiki practitioner?
Unlike other modalities, reiki is taught through initiation more than instructions. The practitioner-to-be is attuned to reiki by a master who has completed all 3 levels. Once attuned, a practitioner is essentially “tuned in” to the reiki frequency and can turn on the flow of it whenever they’d like.
Following level 1 attunement comes a period of 21 days of daily self-treatment and integration. During this time the newly attuned may experience physical and emotional weirdness as their energy field undergoes a drastic cleanup. I certainly did! They’ll also be shown areas of their life that they need to improve on. My reiki master told me that was one of the things that kept her committed to reiki when she first started; it was a warm invitation to fix the things that needed fixing. She liked who she was becoming as she followed this guidance. Once someone has completed their level 2 initiation, they are able to work with the public and may also send reiki across distances and time. Once they receive level 3, they’re able to initiate others and are also eligible for registration in reiki associations.
Massaging someone’s arm during a reiki massage treatment.
Of course, there’s more to being a reiki practitioner than just becoming initiated. If you’re curious, you should check back here next week for a new blog post about the responsibilities and rewards of practicing reiki…
And If you’d like to experience this dreamy combination of relaxation massage and reiki energy work, don’t hesitate to reach out to me! I’m currently accepting new clients twice a week in downtown Fredericton. Appointments can be booked online or via email: sarah.pyke123@gmail.com.
*Please note that this massage is not considered therapeutic. I am no longer an RMT, and I don’t provide remedial treatments for specific physical issues. I can refer you to several fantastic and safe massage therapists in the Fredericton area though!
Caring for the caregiver’s caregiver
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the role of fathers in those early days of parenthood, when the diapers and bottles stack up alongside the laundry and dishes. In 2024, dads are more present than ever with their babies and kids. And they take on way more than their forefathers did during the newborn stage as well. They’ve taken on roles that would have traditionally been supported by many people in the community instead of just themselves…
This is why I’ve added a “two person” package to my postpartum massage offerings. One for the person who’s given birth, and one for the person who has supported them and cared for them along the way.
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the role of fathers in those early days of parenthood, when the diapers and bottles stack up alongside the laundry and dishes. In 2024, dads are more present than ever with their babies and kids. And they take on way more than their forefathers did during the newborn stage as well. They’ve taken on roles that would have traditionally been supported by many people in the community instead of just themselves. And that workload is INTENSE! Especially when you’re navigating parenthood the first time around.
And what about birth trauma? What about postpartum anxiety and depression? Those aren’t just things that new moms go through. With a rise in interventions during birth in hospitals (and a subsequent rise in reported birth traumas) I have to wonder about the loved ones with a front row seat.
This is why I’ve added a “two person” package to my postpartum massage offerings. One for the person who’s given birth, and one for the person who has supported them and cared for them along the way. To ground the energies of the whole family, to honour new initiates in their parenthood journey, and to remind them that they need holding as much as their baby.
The Importance of Postpartum Bodywork
So why is massage important? Birthing babies is hard work! The body goes through an enormous amount of stress during the process of birth, regardless of the type of birth it is (vaginal or c-section, homebirth or hospital birth, live birth or stillbirth, to name a few examples). Aches and pains aren’t uncommon as the body adapts to rocking and feeding and bouncing, not to mention the lack of sleep making it harder to recover.
If you explore the way humans have traditionally taken care of their postpartum loved ones and community members, you’ll see a few similarities come up no matter where you are in the world. This is ancient wisdom that would have been the cultural norm for thousands of years, and still is in some places globally! These traditions focus on warmth, the feeding of nourishing foods and drinks, support in doing household duties like cooking, cleaning and minding older children, and bodywork. Unfortunately, we here in the west have nearly abandoned these practices in favour of productivity and the average support a person receives after giving birth is nowhere near as much as they need.
So why is massage important? Birthing babies is hard work! The body goes through an enormous amount of stress during the process of birth, regardless of the type of birth it is (vaginal or c-section, homebirth or hospital birth, live birth or stillbirth, to name a few examples). Aches and pains aren’t uncommon as the body adapts to rocking and feeding and bouncing, not to mention the lack of sleep making it harder to recover.
But beyond that, please consider the emotional needs of someone who’s just given birth. They have just journeyed somewhere far away to bring that baby here and they have come back a different person. Their lives have changed forever. They’re experiencing the biggest drop in hormones a human will ever experience, and some of these hormones won’t level out for several more months. And did I mention the lack of sleep? Bodywork in the immediate postpartum is intended to soothe the nervous system and ground the birthing person back into their body after this tremendous experience. The pace is slow and thoughtful, the pressure as light or deep as you want it to be. An emotional release is a normal response.
There are so many benefits to being massaged during the postpartum season. And I’m not just talking about professional massage either! Having your partner massage you (or your own mother, or a sister or friend) will have the same effects. Humans are social creatures who need the touch of other humans in order to thrive. Because of this, our bodies are wired for all sorts of positive responses to touch. For example, a massage will increase the hormone prolactin, which is one of the hormones involved in milk production. Our bodies are so wise! Massage also leads to an increase in serotonin and dopamine, which puts us in a better mood. It lowers cortisol level, which leads to better sleep and digestion. And it releases endorphins, which block pain signals from the brain. All of these benefits seem especially important if you’ve just given birth and are now taking care of yourself and a baby.
