According to my teachings, the simplest way to describe Reiki is that it is a Japanese technique for stress reduction that also promotes healing. This is the way I introduce people to the work that I do. But Reiki is much more than that. In Japanese, the word 'Rei' means universal life force and 'Ki' means energy which translates as 'universal life force energy'.  As a practitioner, I am taught how to channel this life force energy and direct it to the recipient. The basic technique is administered by using hand placements on or above the person or animal, and allowing the energy to flow where it is needed in the body or energy field. There are other methods of directing this energy but the premise is the same. Reiki is a gentle therapy that treats the whole person. It helps to reduce anxiety, stress, and fear. It minimizes pain and side effects of chemotherapy. It can support your mental and emotional well being, reduce Compassion Fatigue and STSD in caregivers.  Anyone can learn the techniques and how to give Reiki, but they will soon learn that the energy guides them to living a lifestyle in harmony with the principals you learn during your training. These precepts remind you to be in gratitude, let go of worry and anger, to be honest and kind. There is an interesting history associated with Reiki and there are many lineages of Reiki that people practice, but it all comes down to our desire to have better health and to create an environment in the body for healing. Reiki is used in over 1000 hospitals in North America and in countless integrative health centers and it is estimated that there are over 1 million practitioners world wide. Reiki has been observed to improve immune function, speed up recovery, shorten hospital stays and  promote a state of calmness so that treatments and medicine can work more effectively. There is ongoing medical research and scientific data to show that Reiki has a place alongside traditional medicine in the treatment of patients and clients.