Breathing Techniques in Reiki

Breathing is a very natural (and spontaneous) process and yet, the importance of a breath-work is greatly underestimated as part of our wellness and wellbeing. Through breath, every cell in the body is oxygenated. Shallow breath, as a result of stress, prolonged fight or fight response, toxins, or lack of mindfulness, deprive the cells of the body of oxygen, causing all sorts of illness, discomfort, and dis-ease.

Taking a breath in… and out… And following that breath with awareness and mindfulness is one of the simplest exercises to bring balance and centredness back into our physical body. This in turn brings a feeling of inner-peace and calmness in our mental/emotional state, allowing us to enter the space that connects us to Soul… To our higher self. This is also the foundation of meditation, relaxation, and spiritual growth.

The benefits of mindful breathing are vast, and it is one of the primary exercises I for example recommend for clients that suffer from mild anxiety. Breath brings us back into our body, back into the moment and back into the here and the now. It grounds us and brings us back into our place of power. One of my favourite quotes –not only of breath but of life as well, is by Austrian psychiatrist and neurologist and Auschwitz survivor, Viktor Frankl…

“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”

Here are two simple, yet powerful breathing techniques…

1. Technique of Breathing with Gassho

The aim of this breathing exercise is to concentrate the mind. It is said that when you master this skill, you will learn to release scattered thoughts and keep your mind still, opening and enhancing your intuition and sense of “knowing.” As a Reiki practitioner, this technique may also increase the sensitivity of your hands, increasing your awareness of Byosen and “feeling” much more of the Reiki healing energy.

• Sit or stand comfortably with your eyes closed or half open.
• With your hands in Gassho (prayer position), breathe slowly and naturally.
• Bring your hands up high above your head and feel the vibrations of Reiki in your hands and the whole of your body.
• Bring your hands down slowly, stopping at the heart centre and back into Gassho.
• While mindfully breathing in, imagine that Reiki is running down from your palms to the lower (abdominal) Dantien – our centre of life, filling that Dantien with Reiki.
• While mindfully breathing out, imagine the energy from the lower Dantien moving up into palms, releasing this energy sharply from there to the Universe.
• CONTINUE WITH THIS EXERCISE FOR A WHILE.
• When you feel that you are finished, close in gratitude with your hands in Gassho.
• Shake your hands and ground yourself.

2. Breathing Technique for Chakra Activation

This exercise is aimed at breathing Reiki energy into every part of the body to cleanse, balance and rejuvenate your energy body. Please note that with this exercise you may enter a meditative state.

• Stand, sit or lie down comfortably with your eyes closed or half open.
• With your hands in Gassho (prayer position), breathe slowly and naturally.
• Bring your hands up high above your head and feel the vibrations of Reiki in your hands and the whole of your body.
• Bring your hands down slowly, resting them palms down on your abdomen.
• Start doing Dantien breathing – breathe in and out at the abdomen, expanding your abdomen on the in-breath and contracting your abdomen on the out-breath. Do this a few times until you feel calm and relaxed.
• While breathing in, imagine that light is reaching every cell in all parts of your body then coming out of your body.
• While breathing out imagine that all the tension and the negative thoughts are released from your body.
• Now, breathe in Reiki energy through your base chakra, move the energy up and stop at your heart chakra, filling your heart centre with Reiki energy. Breathe out from your heart centre, spreading the Reiki energy in every direction and out from your body.
• Breathe in Reiki energy from everywhere into your heart centre, filling your heart centre with Reiki energy. Move the Reiki energy up into and out of your crown chakra and release it to the outside.
• Breathe in through your crown centre, drawing the Reiki energy down to your heart centre and filling your heart centre yet again with Reiki energy.
• Breathe out from your heart centre.
• Breathe into your heart centre and draw the Reiki energy down to your base chakra. Breathe out from the base chakra. Repeat this three times.
• Next, breathe into your heart centre and draw the Reiki energy down to your sacral chakra. Breathe out from the sacral chakra. Repeat this three times.
• Breathe into your heart centre and draw the Reiki energy into your solar plexus. Breathe out from the solar plexus. Repeat this three times.
• Breathe into your heart centre and draw the Reiki energy up to your throat chakra. Breathe out from the throat chakra. Repeat this three times.
• Finally, breathe into your heart centre and draw the Reiki energy up to your brow chakra. Breathe out from the brow chakra. Repeat this three times.
• Place your hands back into Gassho and give thanks.
• Shake your hands, clear your mind, and ground yourself.

Pay attention to your breath and how these breathwork exercises bring calm, centred inner peace into your being.

Article by Thea van der Merwe, Ph.D.

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Thea van der Merwe, Ph. D. is a nationally and internationally trained holistic energy, certified and experienced Master Reiki Practitioner, qualified in Usui Reiki, Reijukido, Karuna® Reiki, Karuna Ki Reiki, Crystal Reiki, and Gendai Reiki. She obtained the title of Shihan (full master/teacher), the highest level in Gendai Reiki Ho. Besides her greatest passion which is Reiki, Thea is also a spiritual shaman, healer, and teacher, offering readings as a way of accessing spiritual guidance. Her journey of personal discovery, growth, and healing started back in 2005 when she was personally in need of healing and searching for something more than what conventional medicine and therapy could provide. Thea is currently nationally and internationally registered with the South African Reiki Masters Association and The Reiki Healing Association respectively – both professional associations for the local and global Reiki communities, working to promote the wide-reaching practice and healing effects of Reiki throughout the world and where the primary philosophy is that together, we can do so much more. You can get into contact with Thea van der Merwe at viterra.co.za, which is her website, and at facebook.com/viterrahealing on Facebook.