Reiki Breath

Article by Angie Webster

Breath is a powerful force for clearing energy and filling us with fresh life force. This is one reason that yoga is such a wonderful tool for healing and restoring the body and mind connection. The focus on the breath during the movements helps to encourage the clearing of stale energy, bringing vitality to the body. Using pranayama, or breath work, and breathing visualizations as part of a yoga practice increases this healing benefit. Breath brings life and energy to the body.

I can’t help but see the connection between the practice of yoga and the practice of Reiki. Both practices open up the channels of energy in the body and bring greater balance between body, mind, and spirit. Both practices bring fresh energy into the body and help old energy flow out. Both practices are nourishing and healing to our systems. And they can each feel simultaneously challenging and nurturing.

I have long been a fan of the way breath clears energy in the body, and after deepening my breath work practice through yoga, I found that this is an amazing tool when combined with Reiki! It is like combining the best of both worlds, and I can use it during a self-Reiki session or during yoga. Reiki breathing can even be used while working with a client!

To demonstrate how to do it, I will use the example of a self-Reiki session, but you can adapt the breathing to any situation. Here’s how:

1. Place your focus gently on your belly and notice how your breath moves in and out. Let yourself ground into your body through watching your breathing for a few cycles. Imagine that Reiki surrounds you and is charging the air you breathe. See it flowing into your body with each in-breath. No need to imagine symbols or think about what the Reiki looks like. Keep it very simple. Just know that Reiki is there. Place your hands on your body, whenever you would like to begin your self-Reiki session.
2. Let your breath begin to deepen a little, without forcing it at all. Be very gentle and just allow it to happen. Maybe allow a sigh on the out breath, if it wants to come. In a few cycles, you may find that your breath naturally becomes even a little deeper still. Allow your hands to move to the next position whenever they feel ready to do so.
3. If you like, you can deepen the breath a little bit further now. Feel the belly rise, then notice the diaphragm rise, and next the chest. Allow the air to gently flow from bottom to top, feeling the gentle expansion as the Reiki breath flows into your body. No need to force it, just allow it to happen as it is ready. Then allow it to flow back out, from top to bottom. As you breathe this way, imagine that the Reiki breath is flowing through your entire body. With your mind, send the breath to all the cells and organs of your body as it flows in. As it flows out, envision it clearing away all that is no longer healthy and vital. Continue the rest of your self-Reiki session as you breathe in a conscious way, visualizing that you are breathing Reiki into your body.

If you are familiar with Ujjayi breath, or ocean breath, you can add this type of breathing to this deep and conscious breathing. You may prefer to do Ujjayi instead of the three part, belly to chest breathing. The important thing is breathing consciously, and visualizing breathing in Reiki, rather than the specific manner in which we breathe.

I find that I naturally slip into Ujjayi breathing when I am working with a client. It has been wonderful to add the visualization of breathing in Reiki and allowing that to flow through my client and me. I stay well-grounded, and I feel as if I have received a healing session once the session is complete.

Free eBook download: We’ve created an eBook with our best articles on this topic, and offer it for free to all our newsletter subscribers.

Angie Webster made a significant contribution to the Reiki community, with a particular focus on Animal Reiki, which she had a deep affection for. As a knowledgeable Reiki Master Teacher and Author, she conducted online courses on energy healing, herbalism, flower essences, and personal growth.
She is the author of “Animal Reiki: How it Heals, Teaches & Reconnects Us with Nature” and “Reiki from A to Z”. Currently, Angie has decided to retire from her professional life to devote more time to her health, family, and the little joys of life.