Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/1174218
Ta k e 5 a n d t r y A B M P F i v e - M i n u t e M u s c l e s a t w w w. a b m p . c o m / f i v e - m i n u t e - m u s c l e s . 67 the physiologic ability to reengage at that level has been forgotten. Reiki practice helps the body remember." The presence of reiki hands reminds the body of its capacity to self-heal, Miles says. "We don't know why it works, but as a spiritual practice, we don't have to know why it works. We don't, for example, know why prayer works (in the sense of providing support, not forcing outcomes), but we know people generally feel better after prayer. We can speak about reiki as a spiritual practice in an evidence-based, credible way (rather than a belief-based way). We don't have to know everything, but if we want to be credible enough to bring reiki practice to more people, we do need to know the limits of our knowledge, and for that, we need to acknowledge the difference between facts and beliefs." Unfortunately, Miles says many reiki practitioners don't respect that boundary of knowledge, and they share their belief system or pet theory as if it were fact … and that's when they can "lose" people—especially when dealing with those in the medical community. Making the Case for a Spiritual Practice The distinction of reiki as a spiritual practice is bolstered by the very characteristics that make it unique. 1. WHEN WE PRACTICE REIKI, IT'S NOT ENERGY WORK, BECAUSE IT'S NOT DELIBERATE. "Reiki is a mere presence effect," Miles says. "We place hands mindfully and without intention, and we wait. But, when doing energy work, like Therapeutic Touch or Healing Touch (two energy therapies created by nurses that are very popular in the nursing community), or a traditional practice like medical qigong, or Donna