November/December 2008 Alternative Health
Using Reiki During Surgery and Recovery

by Darlene Sochin-Maras

As a cancer survivor, I know first hand the benefits of Reiki as a tool for relaxation, stress reduction, and assistance for your body to heal and be well. As a complementary therapy to traditional Western medicine, Reiki aids in reducing side effects of drugs such as chemotherapy and radiation.

As an ancient relaxation technique, Reiki assists the body in preparing for surgeries and recuperating from medical procedures. Reiki is used in hospitals around the world, such as Yale New-Haven Hospital and Boston's Children's Hospital, to promote the healing process and has been observed to shorten patients' hospital stays and recovery times.

Easing Chemotherapy

I used Reiki through the process of experiencing a cancer diagnosis, two surgeries, one year of medicinal treatments and healing. I was guided to use Reiki after receiving a phone call from my doctor to inform me that my biopsy turned out to be malignant. Surgery was imminent, as was the fear of the unknown.

Weeks before the scheduled operation, I received several Reiki sessions and was taught how to give Reiki to myself as I was being prepared for the surgery in the hospital. I remained calm and at peace throughout the year that followed. The chemotherapy treatments that were supposed to make me ill and too tired to work were tolerated to the point where I had enough energy to continue working full time and go to the gym several times each week.

The medicine bottle that was prescribed to me for feeling sick to my stomach was only opened once. I was tired and went to bed early every night, but work and life were only slightly disrupted. I received Reiki treatments every three weeks and decided to start training so that I could heal on my own in between treatments.

Three years later I am cancer-free and trained as a Reiki Master, teaching others how they can become an active participant in their own healing and wellness. Reiki can support and encourage anybody to be a part of their own journey in becoming and staying healthy and well. All people - young or old, sick or well - can receive and learn how to give Reiki energy healing.

Reiki is a healing modality that does not involve the practitioner using their own energy - it is simply channeled from the universe through the practitioner, healing both in the process. No energy is taken from either participant, only transferred to promote wellness and balance.

Healing Light

Reiki energy healing is based on the principle that by transferring universal energy through a trained and attuned Reiki practitioner by a light, non-invasive touch, clients can receive assistance in accelerating their own bodies' natural healing capabilities.

This universal energy, known as Rei in Japanese, is divinely guided through a practitioner to a client. This energy will find and help remove emotional or stressful energy blocks and relax your body and balance your Ki, the Japanese transliteration for your individual energy field. The universal energy works with your energy to create harmony, balance and overall wellness. The belief is that if the body is in a relaxed state of being, it is easier to prepare and heal your body.

The idea that the universe and all living organisms are made of energy is not a new concept. Many cultures and practices focus on the principle that by taking care of your body on all levels - physically, emotionally and mentally - you stay focused, centered, balanced and healthy. One aspect of taking care of your body involves awareness of your energy fields, where your physical body extends beyond what we see. To keep this part of your body healthy and flowing freely is just as important as keeping your physical body healthy and strong.

Energy fields can become stagnant or heavy from "pollution" caused by stress and emotions, your own as well as others with whom you come in contact. If your energy fields are stagnant or blocked, you may find yourself slowing down, feeling lethargic or tired, stuck, unable to concentrate and uninspired. As these blocks collect in your energy fields, they can lead to not feeling well and can decrease your body's ability to fight off infections or diseases. A free-flowing energy field can lift your spirit, and can increase your stamina and ability to focus and heal naturally.

What to Expect from Reiki

When you choose Reiki as a complimentary aid to healing, there are many benefits to expect from a Reiki session. Before your session begins, you can share with the practitioner if you are preparing for a surgery or experiencing pain in your body. If you are taking medications, the practitioner would spend time near your liver where toxins gather. Reiki is spiritually guided so the energy goes where it is needed as Reiki practitioners use specific hand positions. Clients remain fully clothed and lie comfortably on a table. A Reiki session is about being calm and at peace in this safe and loving space as you begin your road to wellness.

While you are relaxing, the Reiki practitioner slowly releases Reiki energy to you as it is channeled through each of you during the session. Reiki practitioners have experienced classes that provide the proper training and attunements that directly connect them to, and clear the path for, this Reiki energy. The Reiki practitioner will gently place hands on or slightly above you and the Reiki energy will travel to where you need it. Whether it is pain in your physical body or a block in your energy field surrounding your body, the practitioner's hands direct the Reiki energy to assist in the healing process and balancing of your energy field, or Ki.

The benefits of Reiki are endless. If your body is tense from stress and tension, Reiki helps release the anxiety while it relaxes your muscles and thoughts. If you are nervous about an upcoming medical procedure, Reiki relaxes your body and eases the level of stress it could be holding. If you are experiencing pain, your body often tenses up in response, affecting the intensity of the pain. Reiki can relax your body, which in turn can decrease the level of pain. If you are recovering from a medical procedure such as an operation or physical therapy, Reiki assists the body by accelerating the body's natural ability to heal itself - a relaxed and calm body is more likely to heal and return to its natural state of health and wellness.

As a relaxation technique, Reiki provides relief from the side effects of medications. If the body is relaxed, it more readily absorbs and accepts healthful benefits of foods and supplements. As a more centered and focused person, you can concentrate and think more clearly, face stressful situations with more confidence, and have more restful sleep.

At work, at home, with friends, in life, Reiki helps prepare you and your body for what lies ahead.

Darlene Sochin-Maras offers Reiki sessions and classes every Saturday and Sunday at 4180 110th Ave. in Beaverton. For details, call 503-475-1887.