Since receiving Reiki training my bodywork has improved 100%. I have a greater ability to focus and be present with the client. For clients who are not familiar with Reiki I tell them that, if they approve, I will be using some Reiki hand positions during the massage session. I briefly explain that Reiki is a Japanese stress reduction technique that promotes healing. I let them know that I will be lightly holding my hands over certain areas to enhance energy flow. I will often begin and end the massage session with Reiki. The feedback from my clients has been very positive. Sometimes their experience is so good that they want to know more about Reiki and schedule a “Reiki” session. A Reiki session lasts about 45 minutes. The client remains fully clothed and the Reiki can be done on a massage table or in a chair. The receiver and the giver walk away feeling a sense of peace and relaxation. Aches and pains are often reduced and spirits are lifted.
Probably the greatest gift from learning Reiki is the self-treatments. I do a Reiki self-treatment every day. I can honestly say that Reiki has improved EVERY area of my life. I have a new sense of gratitude and joy. This must be why Reiki is referred to as “the secret of inviting happiness”.
Here is a link to a good short video explaining the basics of Reiki.
I have something new to add to my list of services… Hot Stone Therapy. The basalt stones are perfectly smooth and hand picked to fit in a therapist’s hands. The stones are warmed in a crock pot. I follow my regular routine of Swedish and Deep Tissue massage, only using the warm stones instead of my hands. I also place stones over the Chakras while working the limbs. Hot stone therapy is EXTREMELY relaxing! I trained with Sara Simpson of the Mississippi School of Therapeutic Massage as well as Pipes Jones, a therapist with extensive hot stone experience in Denver Colorado. The stones are cleaned after each use by washing in hot soapy water and placed in a bath of cool water with a little clorox to disinfect them. I also charge the stones with Reiki before each use. A hot stone session usually lasts about 1 hour, 15 minutes and my fee is $85. It truly is a treat!
This is my first post so I suppose it would be appropriate to start at the beginning. I have always loved getting and giving massages. I think the human touch is the best medicine in the world, especially when loving intention is present in the one doing the touching. I had always thought that being a massage therapist must be one of the coolest occupations ever. I also figured that massage therapists weren’t in it for the money and I was correct on both assumptions. I made a good living for myself and my sons while working in the insurance industry for over 20 years. I was fortunate to be able to work in my family’s insurance agency, starting as a filing clerk and eventually becoming a licensed health and life agent and finally assisting my Dad in running the agency. After going through a divorce and remarrying a wonderful man who lived in Maryland I had an opportunity to explore a 2nd career and decided to do something I love… massage. Going back to school in my early 40’s was a bit frightening but my time at the Baltimore School of Massage was a life changing experience! It took me a year to complete the 700 hour program which included anatomy and physiology, swedish massage, deep tissue and myo fascial massage. I was also required to work in the student clinic to gain hands on experience. After graduating I passed the exam given by theNational Certification Board for Therapeutic Bodywork and Massage. I was finally learning a skill that would allow me to work in a field that I was passionate about… the field of complimentary and alternative medicine (CAM). This is a field of health care that is growing rapidly and I am proud to be a part of it. I truly love to do bodywork whether the client is looking for simple relaxation or relief from chronic pain. I am happy to be back in Mississippi and able to share what I have learned. My business, Heart Song Massage Therapy, is growing steadily. Folks in Canton and Madison County are becoming more and more aware of the benefits of therapeutic massage. One of the most rewarding aspects of being a massage therapist is to see the transformation of my clients after the session. There is a “glow” on their faces and they walk away looking so much more relaxed and centered. The best part is that the bodywork centers and relaxes me as well. I love my job!!!