BOOK IT: Reiki master, Georgina Hemsley, Co-Founder of Hemsley Organics https://hemsleyorganics.com It’s no understatement to say that planning your big day can cause your stress levels rise. Not only are you spending a great deal of time (and money) to ensure every little detail is perfect, it also represents a giant life change you are about to experience with your partner. That’s why, in the lead up to your nuptials, practicing self-care is more important than ever. Whilst self-care can look different for everyone (exercising, eating healthily or reading) one form of mindfulness you may not have thought of before is Reiki. Reiki is best known as a form of Complementary Therapy that focuses on energy healing. It works with the energy fields around the body and involves the transfer of universal energy, to be channelled from the practitioner’s palms to your body. The thought process behind Reiki is that every living thing and its surrounding atmosphere contains energy, and so this can be channelled in a way to rebalance energy. For a person, this is within the body and mind to support both your physical and emotional wellbeing. The physical in terms of aches and pains, the emotional in terms of feelings of anxiety and stress. There is scepticism that surrounds the practice of Reiki, but there’s a reason the NHS supports and recommends it as a hospital service. Even if you’re not a fan of spirituality, there is evidence to suggest Reiki may be useful to help manage mental health conditions particularly anxiety, stress and depression. Of course, I couldn’t possibly recommend Reiki without indulging in the self-care practice myself. So, in February, after a hectic and busy start to the year I met with Reiki master, Georgina Hemsley. There was no space more fitting for this meeting than the blissful haven of Seckford Hall Hotel & Spa, nestled in the rolling Suffolk countryside. After getting myself comfortable on the treatment bed, Georgina explained how my body might (or might not) react to the treatment. She told me that some people feel very hot, others feel extremely cold, and some describe seeing bright colours or flashes of light. Georgina warned me it can be an emotional process and to allow any or all feelings to bubble up. Georgina began the session with some guided meditation including breathwork and manifestation. She asked me to clearly consider my intentions for the rest of 2023 and place them at the front of my mind. Your intentions are vital when practicing reiki. Georgina encouraged me to ask myself: What are my stresses? Is anything troubling me? What would I like to receive?. I learnt, the more direct you can be about your self-healing practice the more the universe will hear you. I then received a temple massage to release tension and promote relaxation. This absolutely eased me into the right mindset for the rest of the treatment and allowed me to drift into a world of calm. For the rest of the hour Georgina got to work, doing what she does best, using a combination of crystals, sound baths, and gentle touches to my pressure points she healed my energy. At the end of the session Georgina informed me she had spent time rebalancing my chakras, noting my throat chakra was particularly unbalanced. She explained I might feel a difference in the way I communicate in the next few days — wanting to stay quiet or be more vocal. “During a treatment, I disassociate myself from the physical being of the client. I am an extension of their energy. A vessel if you will,” Georgina explains. “It is not unusual to pick up on their feelings or any pains they may be experiencing during the session. I allow myself to be intuitively guided to move my focus to the parts of the body that need work. I clear this energy and set an intention to balance and instil a sense of calm.” Whilst everyone sees different results from Reiki, I came away from my first treatment feeling relaxed, renewed and with a sense I was better prepared to tackle anything that come my way. I recommend going in with an open mind and allow yourself to fully immerse in the treatment. Although it can’t be guaranteed the treatment will work for everyone, giving yourself an hour to switch off and allow someone else take your worries into their hands, can never be a bad idea. WELLBEING 85
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