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Reiki and Yoga: The Ultimate Flow – How to incorporate Reiki into a Yoga Session

Reiki and yoga are both ancient healing practices that promote physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. In this article, we’ll explore the distinctions between Reiki and yoga, how Reiki can enhance your yoga practice, the benefits of combining them, and the best yoga poses to pair with Reiki for deeper healing.

What is the difference between Reiki and Yoga

Reiki and yoga both originate from spiritual traditions that emphasize energy flow, relaxation, and holistic healing. However, they approach healing in distinct yet complementary ways.

Yoga, an ancient practice from India, is a multidimensional system that integrates physical postures (asanas), breath control (pranayama), and meditation (dhyana) to create harmony within the body, mind, and spirit. Rooted in the Vedic traditions, yoga was originally developed as a path to spiritual enlightenment, guiding practitioners toward self-realization and inner peace. Each yoga posture serves a specific purpose in strengthening the body and stimulating the nadis—subtle energy channels that carry prana (life force energy). The movements invigorates the body and mind, clearing stagnant energy and promoting holistic well-being.
Reiki, a Japanese energy healing technique developed by Mikao Usui in the early 20th century, is a gentle yet profound method of balancing energy. Unlike yoga, which actively engages the body through movement, Reiki is a more gentle practice that works directly with the body’s energetic field. During a Reiki session, the practitioner channels universal life force energy (ki) through their hands and directs it toward areas in need of healing. This can be done through hands-on healing, where the hands are lightly placed on or near the body, or distant healing, where energy is sent across space and time. Reiki works on the subtle energy body, helping to dissolve emotional blockages, reduce stress, and restore equilibrium.

The Key Differences Between Reiki and Yoga

While Reiki is primarily an energy healing method, yoga is a physical and meditative discipline that promotes flexibility, strength, and mental clarity. Instead of using physical movement to work with energy and the chakras, Reiki practitioners channel universal life force energy through their hands, allowing it to flow into the recipient’s body to release blockages and restore balance.

Aspect	Yoga	Reiki
Origin	Ancient India	Japan (early 20th century)
Practice Type	Physical, breathwork, meditation	Hands-on or distant energy healing
Primary Focus	Strength, flexibility, breath, meditation	Energy healing, balance, relaxation
Methodology	Movement, breath, mindfulness	Hands-on healing, visualization, intention
Goal	Mind-body connection, self-awareness, enlightenment	Emotional release, energy alignment, relaxation

Are Reiki and Yoga Similar?

Although their methodologies, philosophies, and applications differ, Reiki and Yoga are united in a shared goal: harmonizing the body, mind, and spirit to promote holistic well-being.

Both Reiki and yoga recognize that true healing extends beyond the physical realm—it encompasses emotional, mental, and spiritual balance. They work to clear blockages, restore energy flow, and cultivate a deep sense of inner peace and self-awareness by working with life force energy (prana in yoga, ki in Reiki) to enhance vitality.

Yoga achieves this by using breath, movement, and mindfulness to strengthen the body, calm the mind, and awaken spiritual consciousness. It provides a structured path toward self-discipline, physical resilience, and mental clarity, helping practitioners cultivate balance and harmony in their daily lives.
Reiki, on the other hand, works on a more subtle level, facilitating energetic healing by removing stagnant or negative energy and replenishing the system with pure, high-vibrational life force energy. It allows for deep emotional release, relaxation, and spiritual awakening.

Together, Reiki and yoga offer a powerful synergy, complementing each other to provide a complete healing experience.

Chakra Healing

Both Reiki and yoga work with the chakras, but they do so in distinct yet complementary ways. Our chakras are the epicenters of our consciousness, acting as energetic hubs that store all our thoughts, feelings, and emotions. When our chakras are open and balanced, we experience harmony, vitality, and emotional stability. However, stress, trauma, and daily life challenges can cause blockages, leading to imbalances in our well-being.

Yoga primarily works with the chakras through physical movement, breathwork, and meditation. Each yoga posture (asana) stimulates specific energy centers, encouraging the free flow of prana, or life force energy, throughout the body. For example, heart-opening poses like Camel Pose (Ustrasana) activate the heart chakra (Anahata), promoting love and emotional healing, while grounding poses like Mountain Pose (Tadasana) strengthen the root chakra (Muladhara), enhancing stability and security. Through mindful movement and breath control (pranayama), yoga helps clear stagnant energy, restoring balance to the chakras.

Instead of using physical movement to work with energy and the chakras, Reiki practitioners channel universal life force energy through their hands, allowing it to flow into the recipient’s body to release blockages and restore balance. For yogis looking to deepen their healing journey, Reiki provides an excellent way to clear negative energy, dissolve emotional wounds, and enhance spiritual connection. By gently placing hands over specific chakra points, Reiki can amplify the healing effects of a yoga practice, promoting deeper relaxation, emotional release, and energetic alignment.

How can Reiki improve your Yoga Practice? Benefits of combining Yoga and Reiki

Integrating Reiki with yoga can deepen your connection with your body, enhance energy flow, and promote relaxation. Here’s how Reiki can elevate your yoga practice:

Deepens Relaxation – Reiki helps calm the nervous system, making it easier to surrender into yoga poses.
Enhances Mind-Body Awareness – Reiki encourages mindfulness and presence, helping you tune into your body’s energy.
Promotes Healing & Stress Relief – Reiki clears energy blockages that might cause physical tension or emotional stress.
Boosts Energy Flow – Reiki enhances prana (life force energy) circulation, helping you feel more revitalized.
Supports Meditation – Reiki’s calming energy makes it easier to focus during yoga’s meditative aspects.

Simple ways to weave reiki into a yoga session

Weaving Reiki into a yoga session can deepen relaxation, enhance energy flow, and promote healing. Here are some simple ways to integrate Reiki into your practice:

1. Set an Intention

Before starting, set a clear intention for healing, balance, or peace.
Invite Reiki energy by placing your hands in Gassho (prayer position) at your heart center.

2. Use Reiki Symbols (If Attuned)

Draw or visualize Reiki symbols (like Cho Ku Rei for power) before beginning the session.
Imagine the symbols in your palms or over your yoga mat.

3. Hand Placements During Poses

In seated or resting postures, place hands on the heart, belly, or any area that needs healing.
During Savasana (Corpse Pose), place hands gently on the forehead or chest.

4. Infuse Breathwork with Reiki

During Pranayama, visualize white light entering with each inhale and releasing tension with each exhale.
Imagine Reiki energy flowing with your breath.

5. Reiki-Infused Touch (If Teaching or Practicing with Others)

Lightly place hands on the shoulders, back, or head during resting poses.
Send Reiki energy from a distance if physical touch isn’t preferred.

6. Chakra Balancing in Meditation

Focus on each chakra, sending Reiki energy while in a seated or lying position.
Visualize each energy center filling with healing light.

7. End with a Reiki Blessing

In Savasana, hover hands above the body to seal the energy.
Silently send gratitude and Reiki blessings to yourself and the class.

The Best Yoga Poses to Pair with Reiki

Certain yoga poses work exceptionally well with Reiki, allowing for deeper relaxation and healing. Here are some of the best ones:

1. Child’s Pose (Balasana)

A grounding pose that encourages surrender and deep relaxation. Place your hands on your lower back or forehead and channel Reiki energy.

2. Seated Forward Bend (Paschimottanasana)

This pose stretches the spine and promotes introspection. Placing hands on the heart or legs while sending Reiki enhances the experience.

3. Reclining Butterfly (Supta Baddha Konasana)

Opens the hips and chest while allowing for deep energy healing. Place hands over the heart or abdomen to channel Reiki.

4. Savasana (Corpse Pose)

The ultimate relaxation pose. Place your hands on your belly or hover them above your chakras to infuse your body with Reiki energy.

5. Mountain Pose (Tadasana)

A standing pose that encourages grounding. Visualizing Reiki energy flowing from the earth through your feet can enhance stability.

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