Ki [key] in Japanese, or C'hi [chee] in Chinese, is the subtle energy which flows in every living thing. Ki is what an acupuncturist manipulates with needles. In Reiki, Ki is manipulated and transferred by the hands of a Reiki practitioner.
Reiki is a subtle energy healing system, utilizing a quiet, direct touch of the client's clothed body to channel Ki. This is done through the use of 14 different hand positions which cover most of the recipient's body, both front and back. It is not a form of massage.
A Reiki practitioner must receive an attunement [specialized energy transfer] by a Reiki Master to be able to use this system of healing. The system was created by Mikao Usui in Japan after study of Tendai Buddhist teachings and their Tibetan Vajrayana roots, in order to rediscover healing by touch, culminating with a profound personal experience. After that experience, Usui was able to heal others by touch, as well as to enable this ability in his students.
Usui set up a school to teach others how to use his system. There were several "lineages" resulting from this school. Since then, the number of practitioners has rapidly grown around the world. Reiki is used by Reiki practitioners privately at home or with clients, in their own offices, or in hospitals, as well as in hospices. There are many reports of stress reduction [which doctors say helps provide immune system improvement], better coping with chronic pain, and calmer emotional experiences. People learn Reiki to help their families, friends, and other clients. Some learn in order to teach Reiki. Nurses, massage therapists, and other bodyworkers and energyworkers like to learn it to enhance the traditional alternative help they already provide.
Reiki sessions last about an hour. They are priced [corrected for specific areas] about the same as a massage session, or slightly less. Reiki is taught in three levels - Reiki I, Reiki II, and Reiki Master. It takes a day to teach Reiki I. the same is true for Reiki II, and two or more days minimum to teach at the Reiki Master Level. The costs of training reflect this.
Sometimes, students of Reiki learn it as a form of personal spiritual growth, in addition to its obvious healing benefits.
To sum it up -- When a properly trained Reiki practitioner puts their hands on you, relaxation happens, along with all of its benefits.
