Reiki

Erin is a Reiki Master and offers all her doula clients complimentary Reiki during labour. All Village Doula clients can book a Reiki session with Erin for a discounted rate of $50/hr during your pregnancy and for one month post partum. Reiki treatments are offered in her home or virtually during your pregnancy, or for you or your newborn postpartum. 

 

What is Reiki?

It’s a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing on all levels (physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual). The word Reiki comes from two Japanese words. “Rei” is interpreted to mean universal or spiritual wisdom. This is the wisdom that comes from a higher power (such as God, Universe, Source etc.) which is all-knowing. It understands each person completely. It knows the cause of all problems and difficulties and knows how to heal them. The word “Ki” means life energy. Every living thing has life energy circulating through and surrounding it. If our life energy is low, or if there is a restriction in its flow, we are more vulnerable to illness, be it physical or emotional. When it is high and flowing freely we are less likely to get sick. It is the God-Consciousness (or universal wisdom) called Rei that guides the life energy called Ki in the practise called Reiki. In other words it is spiritually guided life energy.

 

During a Reiki treatment, a Reiki practitioner simply places their hands on or slightly above the person being treated. Reiki energies flow through the practitioner to that person. The Reiki practitioner is only a channel for Reiki to flow through. The healing energy has its own intelligence and knows exactly where to go and what to do. It always knows what a person needs and will adjust itself to create an effect that is appropriate. Reiki is a safe, gentle and natural method of healing that can be combined with other complementary or traditional medical therapies. It is always beneficial and can never do harm. Reiki clears, straightens and heals the energy pathways, thus allowing healthy Ki to flow in a natural way. Once Ki is flowing naturally, your body is then able heal itself.

 

How does Reiki support pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum stage?

Reiki is a blessing for expectant mothers and their babies. During early pregnancy it can reduce many common discomforts such as exhaustion and nausea. Reiki will also ease stress, and promote relaxation. Throughout pregnancy, Reiki can relieve issues such as lower back pain, tension and insomnia. On a mental and emotional level, Reiki can ease anxieties and calm fears. Relieved of some of the physical and emotional discomforts of pregnancy, the expectant mom will sleep more soundly, feeling positive and relaxed.

Reiki can also help strengthen the energetic emotional connection between mother and baby. Babies sense the calmness and peace created by Reiki and are naturally in tune with the loving energy that flows through their mothers. Babies will often be very active in utero during a Reiki treatment. It is a wonderful way for mother and baby to bond!  During labour Reiki can help to relax the mother, easing stress and tension. It provides her with a natural form of pain relief and may also help to speed labour and ease delivery.

Reiki in postpartum can help speed up healing, calm and relax mothers and baby's. It can help baby's with their transition to earth and help adjust the physical body from being in the womb for so long. Reiki can ease gastrointestinal issues for a baby who is experiencing colic, constipation, or gas/bloating. 

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Mothers who have used Reiki during and after pregnancy can find a stronger bond and easier adjustment to life with baby. Babies are also better adjusted to the outside world when the mother has had Reiki therapy during her pregnancy. After the baby is born, it can be a stressful time for the baby. When Reiki is used in the delivery room it can make for an easier transition.

 

Erin has provided Reiki to pregnant and labouring mothers and also to newborns, babies, children of her clients. She loves how easily and quickly an infant can respond to the healing energy of Reiki.

Here is one recent experience she had with a friend/doula client's baby:

Baby Nash was a few months old and exclusively breastfed. He would often go 4-10 days without having a bowel movement, which for a breastfed baby is considered normal and safe. Baby Nash was on day 10 of no bowel movement and his mom knew it was going to be a doozy when it finally happened. He had been getting more and more fussy and was clearly uncomfortable in his abdomen region. Massage and the bicycle manoeuvres had not been helping and mom was wanting to give baby some relief. Erin did Reiki on Nash to help clear the energy bloackages he was having, it even put him to sleep for a long nap (which hadn't occurred for a few days). Erin received a phone call a few hours later from the mom who reported that since he woke up Nash has had 3 major bowel movements. He would go on to have 4 or more before the 24 hour mark since receiving Reiki, and was a much happier little guy as well.