How Reiki Can Build "Healthy" Trust

We live in a society that relies heavily on external understanding of our bodies.  While there is an important place for professional advice and medical intervention, I also think of the following Chinese parable; a story I often share with my expectant parents:

There once was a man who was looking to buy a new pair of shoes.  He walked a great distance to get to the nearest shoe store only to discover that he had left his measurements at home.  He then decided to make the journey all the way back to his house and return to the store with the measurements in hand.  Many hours later, when the man arrived at the store for the second time, he found it was now closed.  Upon relaying the story to his friend, the friend asked “Why didn’t you just go in the first time and try on the shoes?” The man replied, “I trust the measurements more than I trust myself.”

We know our own bodies best, and this self knowledge can assist us in our partnerships with doctors, nurses and midwives.  When we learn to trust and gain understanding of our own physical, energetic and emotional systems we are more likely to advocate for ourselves.  This is a way for us to be greater players in our healthcare. 

The receiving of a  Reiki session can plant the seed of this new understanding.  It provides a space for healing, and invites a new language about ourselves that goes beyond the physical.  It can provide that "mindful connection."

I would love to hear about your experiences with Reiki!  Contact me, or leave your comments below :)

What is Reiki???

Good question!  How does one explain something so wonderfully subtle and yet so powerful?  Here is my short attempt at defining (with words) something I that I love giving and receiving.

Reiki is a gentle healing system that treats the whole self.  It reaches the physical, emotional, and energetic levels of the client, working for the highest good of the receiver.

Diana Nazareth Photography

Through a series of hand positions either directly on or above the body, the Reiki practitioner accesses and facilitates the flow of universal (rei) life force energy (ki) within the client.  Reiki activates and accelerates the body’s natural healing abilities, and allows the client’s body to use whatever energy is required at the time of the session.  

Many clients report sensations of hot/cold, pulsating warmth, emotional and physical release, or a tingling sensation, as their body becomes rebalanced.  The potential benefits are endless, but for the purpose of this blog can be described as feelings of calm, clarity, awareness, ease of movement, balance, pain reduction, and an increase in energy and vitality.

There is no pressure or manipulation of the body, making Reiki ideal for treating all ages (babies to 100 years young) and all conditions. 

Interested in the Reiki experience?  Try a session!  Believe me, feeling Reiki is more exciting than reading about it!

Birthing and Parenting with Art

During my second pregnancy I looked to slow, quiet activities that I could share with my 3 year old daughter. One of our favourites was to draw mandalas together. We would spread out on the floor, using just one pen and a large piece of paper. Starting from the centre of the page we would take turns creating a circular pattern that moved outwards. We loved that hypnotic, meditative state we would enter as we watched our art unfold. She knew this activity was the best way to engage me during the tired part of my day. It was our special time that was just for us.

We have continued this ritual over the years and eventually my son started to join us. Just bringing out my pastels and paper is a welcomed invitation to having some connected, quiet art time with them. My son learns about letting go of perfection as we make interesting marks and add to eachother's pictures, creating abstract images that are just about expression rather than final product.

As much as I have read and continue to learn about the benefits of using art to access the right side of my brain, I have also experienced what it does for myself, my children, and the parents I work with. There is a natural shift to a calm emotional space when we use it as a meditation tool or exploration during prenatal classes, prenatal visits, or in the early stages of labour. I have witnessed parents uncovering new ways of approaching birth, and watched moms deepen their state as they let go into their labour through art.

If you are pregnant, or becoming a parent, and wanting to explore how art can deepen your experience, you may be interested in Pam England's book Birthing From Within.
If you are looking for Childbirth and Parenting preparation classes in the Toronto area or Doula services that use the Birthing From Within® approach contact us at Mindful Connections. We would love to be part of your journey!

Peace,
Catherine