What is Reiki?
Reiki is a gentle hands on therapy that supports the body, mind and nervous system to come back into balance.
At its heart, Reiki is both spiritual and practical. It is based on the understanding that the body has an innate ability to heal, regulate and restore when it feels safe enough to do so. My role is to create the conditions where that process can begin.
Many people come to me because stress, trauma or long periods of coping have started to show in the body. They may feel exhausted, tense, anxious, disconnected or simply not like themselves anymore. Reiki offers a space where the body can soften, settle and begin to let go of protective patterns that are no longer needed.
You don’t need to believe in anything for Reiki to work. You don’t have to talk if you don’t want to. The body already knows what to do. Reiki supports that natural intelligence.
How Reiki works
Over the last 15–20 years, research has begun to explore the physiological effects of Reiki and other hands-on therapies. Studies have shown measurable changes in stress markers such as heart rate, blood pressure, heart rate variability and cortisol levels following treatment. These changes are linked with improved nervous system regulation and recovery.
We now understand far more about the nervous system, fascia and the body’s stress response than we did in the past. When someone lives with ongoing pressure, trauma or emotional load, the nervous system can remain in a heightened state of alert. Muscles stay tense, breathing becomes shallow, sleep and digestion are affected, and the body loses its natural rhythm of activation and rest.
Reiki appears to support the parasympathetic nervous system, often referred to as the rest, repair and restore state. When this system becomes active, the body can begin to:
Reduce the stress response
Soften chronic muscular and fascial tension
Improve circulation and oxygenation
Support emotional regulation
Improve body awareness and resilience
Promote better sleep and recovery
Many people experience this as a deep sense of calm, grounding or connection. Others notice subtle changes over time, such as clearer thinking, more stable mood, reduced pain or increased energy.
From a modern perspective, Reiki can also be understood through co-regulation. The presence, attention and therapeutic touch used in treatment help the brain and body recognise safety. When safety is felt, the nervous system can shift, and healing processes become more available.
At the same time, Reiki remains a spiritual practice. Many clients and practitioners experience it as connection, meaning, energy or something beyond words. Both perspectives can exist together. They do not cancel each other out. Instead, they offer a fuller understanding of human healing.
Reiki at Holistic Care Durham
I’ve spent many years working with people in healthcare, therapy and teaching. I’m a Reiki Master Teacher, former NHS nurse and a member of the UK Reiki Federation. My work is grounded in both traditional Reiki and modern understanding of the nervous system, fascia and trauma aware care.
My approach is calm, steady and deeply respectful of the body’s own wisdom. I don’t believe in quick fixes or forcing change. Instead, I support the body to feel safe enough to soften, regulate and restore in its own time.
Each session is tailored to you. Some people come for emotional support, others for physical tension, burnout, anxiety or simply because they know something needs to shift. Wherever you are starting from, we work with what your body is ready for.
What Reiki Feels Like
Every session is unique, but most people describe feeling:
deeply relaxed
warm or heavy in the body
calm and settled
more connected to themselves
gently emotional in a safe and supported way
steady and grounded afterwards
Some people feel a clear shift straight away. Others notice changes over the following days or weeks, such as better sleep, clearer thinking, less reactivity and greater emotional stability.
There is no pressure, no expectation and no performance. You do not need to explain everything or relive difficult experiences. The work meets you where you are, and the body leads the pace.
Many clients say this is the first time they have truly been able to rest.