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Restorative Yoga and Reiki: how I combined the two to deepen my healing practice

RHA Member Jessica Schugardt shares how she came to blend her love of restorative Yoga with the healing energy of Reiki for powerful yoga classes with her students and clients.

“…It has really been a beautiful gift and honor to be able to use the gift of Reiki and infuse it into my yoga classes and one-on-one client sessions….”

I hold deep gratitude for the spiritual practices that have enriched my life. Among these, Reiki stands out as a powerful catalyst on my path to healing, instilling in me the courage to pursue my desires. Yoga, too, has been another precious gift, guiding me closer towards my gifts and purpose work. These two energy modalities resonated deeply with me, and this is the story of how I combined the two to deepen my personal practice in a powerful way.

Yoga made its way into my life around 2014. I would get on the mat and instantly feel such a connection with my body, soul and spirit in a way I didn’t really understand. I didn’t really know what I was doing, but I loved trying the tree pose and downward dog. I did this in my living room, we all have to start somewhere right? I didn’t practice consistently until 2017, but enjoyed experimenting and learning, I started to feel like I was returning to myself.

As I began to connect more with yoga and energy in general, I knew I wanted to go deeper in my spiritual practice. Intuitively I felt called to explore Reiki – I just knew it would be an important step in my healing path and journey. I had a desire to learn more about what Reiki was and how this modality had brought such joy and peace to so many lives.

I was attuned to Reiki Level 1 in 2019, and I felt empowered by this healing art. It helped me cultivate a deeper healing within myself and also provide me with a beautiful self-love practice. I wanted to help others find this same sense of peace, vitality & wholeness, so I continued my training and within two years I was attuned in Reiki Level 2 and then Master level, before setting up my own healing business. After holding in person and virtual client sessions for several years and also Reiki events at the yoga studio that I was attending, I felt pulled back to develop my yoga practice. I wanted to teach yoga, and my mentor Leeza Villagomez encouraged me to receive my yoga teacher training (YTT) to create a deeper understanding of the practice.

I felt such a connection to the energetic work that was done with Reiki, that I knew learning more about the body in Yoga would only help improve my practice and support my clients. I believe it’s really important to create a safe and grounded space for clients and yoga did just that, bringing us back into our bodies.

During my YTT at the Yogaden in Corona, CA I was fortunate to begin teaching a Restorative Yoga & Reiki Class. It felt extremely aligned for me, I looked forward to teaching that class every Tuesday night. I had many students that would come in regularly looking for a space where they could unwind and let go from the day or the week. Together each week we created a sacred space and community for healing mind, body, and spirit. I would open the class with intentions and clear the energy of the room. In the restorative class we would hold yoga poses for longer periods of time and this is where I would ask Reiki to support greater healing for my students. And to help boost the energy connection, I would also ask for permission to work with hands-on Reiki during the session, or healing from a distance as the lesson progressed.

We would end our class with such a peaceful, restful and supportive energy. Importantly, I would finish the session by grounding the students back into their bodies with breathwork and affirmations, as a powerful way of reminding them just how deeply supported they are by the Universe.

It has really been a beautiful gift and honour to be able to use the gift of Reiki and infuse it into my yoga classes and one-on-one client sessions. I know how powerful Reiki is and how it’s impacted me. How it’s helped me connect deeper into my spirituality and purpose, and I want others to have this opportunity to connect with Reiki in their own way.

Adding Reiki to my Yoga Practice and offerings has really empowered me to be brave, courageous, and has helped me to remember just how strong and powerful I am. It also has helped me see how gentle and beautiful the practices of Reiki & Yoga are. Currently I am teaching a Vinyasa Flow class Infused with Reiki in Visalia, CA.

I hope this article inspires you to keep growing and learning. I have always been a multi-passionate person and I will always be on this journey as a forever student. I’m learning to ask spirit to lead me and move my ego to the side, as I know I still have so much to learn. It’s ok to want to keep learning and I truly believe that we don’t have to force our way towards sharing our gifts. Because we all have unique gifts to share, just remember that your gifts will make room for you.

Author Bio

Jessica is an Energetic Alchemist and Spiritual Mentor, passionate about helping her clients tap into their spiritual gifts to empower them to embody the goddess they are and create a ripple effect in the collective consciousness. As a certified NLP, Life and Success Coach, Usui Reiki Master and Spiritual Leader, she helps her clients tap into their spiritual gifts so they can come home to their authentic truth, self and sovereignty and show up as the leader and visionary they are called to be.

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