What Is Reiki? A Modern Approach to Energetic Maintenance
If you're reading this, you've probably heard the word "Reiki" before. Maybe a friend mentioned it. Maybe you saw it listed at a wellness center. Maybe you're simply curious about what it actually is and whether it might be relevant to your life.
Here's everything you need to know.
Reiki as Biofield Therapy
Reiki is a form of biofield therapy — a gentle, non-invasive practice that works with the subtle field of energy and information that surrounds and permeates the body. This biofield is increasingly understood as an important contributor to how we experience stress, rest, recovery, and overall regulation.
Practices that work with the biofield have existed across cultures for thousands of years, including therapeutic touch, qigong, healing touch, and other sacred healing traditions. Reiki offers a modern expression of this lineage, adapted to contemporary life and the demands it places on the nervous system.
At Jade House, Reiki is approached as a form of energetic maintenance. It's a way of tending to the invisible costs of a high-output life: chronic nervous-system activation, accumulated stress, emotional depletion, and the subtle fatigue that comes from constant responsibility and decision-making.
Just as you might invest in physical training, skincare, executive coaching, or preventive healthcare, Reiki supports a dimension of wellbeing that is often overlooked but deeply influential.
A Brief History
Usui Reiki originated in Japan in the early 1900s through Mikao Usui. Over time, it has been integrated into hospitals, cancer centers, and integrative medicine practices around the world as a complementary modality focused on relaxation, stress reduction, and supportive care.
Reiki does not diagnose or treat illness. Instead, it works alongside other forms of care to support healing, equilibrium, deep rest, and the internal conditions that allow the body and mind to recalibrate.
How Reiki Works
During a session, Reiki is offered through focused attention and intention, supporting areas where stress, depletion, or stagnation may be held.
Clients' experiences vary widely. Some notice physical sensations such as warmth, tingling, or a sense of gentle movement. Others experience deep relaxation, emotional release, or simply a quieter internal state. Many fall asleep.
There is no "right" way to experience Reiki, and feeling very little in the moment is just as valid as noticing strong sensations. Reiki meets the body where it is.
At its core, Reiki supports the nervous system's ability to downshift, creating space for rest, recovery, and regulation in a world that rarely encourages any of those.
What Reiki Is Often Used For
Clients commonly seek Reiki to support:
Chronic stress and nervous-system dysregulation
Exhaustion, sleep disruption, or burnout
Recovery from illness, surgery, or prolonged strain
Grief, transitions, or emotionally demanding periods
Persistent physical tension, discomfort, or chronic pain
A sense of feeling "off" or depleted without a clear cause
Reiki is not prescriptive. It can be used to support whatever concern you bring, and many clients incorporate it as a regular part of their self-care and maintenance routine.
Why Distance Reiki Is Just as Effective
Reiki is not limited by physical proximity. While the mechanisms of distance work are still being explored, biofield therapies are based on the understanding that energy and information are not confined to physical location.
Most clients receive Reiki remotely, from their own home. This often allows for deeper relaxation, as there is no travel, unfamiliar environment, or need to engage socially. Many people find distance sessions more settling and more easily integrated into daily life.
The experience itself is very similar to in-person work — and for many, more profound.
What to Expect During a Distance Session
You'll rest in a comfortable place like your bed, couch, or wherever feels supportive. You're welcome to sleep, listen to music, or simply rest. An optional playlist is available if you'd like it.
At the scheduled start time, I work remotely through a structured sequence that corresponds to major energy centers and systems of the body. You may notice sensations, emotional shifts, or nothing at all in the moment. All responses are normal.
After your session, you'll receive gentle after-care guidance. Within 24 hours, I'll also send a brief integration email with reflections from the session and any insights that emerged.
Important Note: Reiki is a complementary practice focused on relaxation, regulation, and support. It is not a substitute for medical care, therapy, or mental health treatment. If you are experiencing health or mental health concerns, please seek a licensed healthcare professional.
Research & Further Reading
For those interested in learning more about biofield therapies and Reiki research, the following resources may be helpful:
Ways to Work With Jade House
Each session is designed to meet you exactly where you are, whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck, disconnected, or simply craving deeper clarity and alignment.
If you’re a high-achieving individual who carries a lot, this is your invitation to slow down and come back to yourself.