The Mechanics of Calm

As a Reiki practitioner, I am often asked what is actually happening in a Reiki treatment session. While we often talk about 'energy', there is a very practical, biological shift occurring which explains why our clients feel so much lighter afterwards. Please stay with me just for a little while I explain:

Understanding the Internal Autopilot: The Involuntary Nervous System

To understand how Reiki works, it is helpful to first look at the biological system that manages our body behind the scenes. This is known as the Involuntary Nervous System.

As the name implies, this system governs the vital functions we don’t consciously control, such as our heart rate, breathing, digestion, and our response to external pressures. It is constantly monitoring our environment to determine how our physical energy should be spent.

The Two Systems: A Delicate Balance

To maintain health, the Involuntary Nervous System operates via two primary systems. They function much like a seesaw; when one is active, the other naturally recedes.

The Sympathetic System (The Alert Response 🚨) 

This is our "active" setting. It initiates whenever we encounter a challenge—whether it is a physical need to reach safety quickly in a dangerous situation, or a demanding workplace deadline where stress levels are raised. It prepares the body for action by diverting blood to the muscles and sharpening focus. While this is essential for managing immediate situations, many people now find themselves in a state of 'chronic alert', where this system never quite disengages.

The Parasympathetic System (The Restorative Response 😌) 

This is our 'quiet' setting. It is the system in which the body focuses on long-term maintenance, such as cell repair, digestion, and supporting the immune system. The body cannot effectively prioritise these restorative processes while the Sympathetic system is dominant.

The Vagus Nerve: The "Brake" Between Systems

While the two nervous systems are the 'gas' and 'brake' pedals of the body, the Vagus Nerve is the physical mechanism that makes the shift possible.

It is the longest nerve in the body, acting as the primary highway for the Parasympathetic nervous system. Its main role is to act as a 'Vagal Brake'. When this nerve is active, it sends a signal to the heart and lungs to slow down, effectively "applying the brakes" to the Alert Response.

However, when we experience prolonged stress, anxiety, or overwhelm, this brake can become less responsive. We find ourselves 'stuck' in alert mode, even when we are trying to rest. This can lead to a state of physical and mental depletion; you are not refreshed after a night's sleep, your immune and digestion system is negatively effected, because the body's 'brake' isn't being applied it simply cannot prioritise the vital work of repair and restoration.

Why this Matters in Reiki

Reiki provides the quiet, grounded environment needed to re-engage this 'Vagal Brake'. By stimulating this nerve, we aren't just relaxing; we are helping the body’s internal autopilot finally switch from Alert back to Restoration.

Why This Matters for You

In our practice, we aren't 'fixing' you; we are simply providing the steady environment your nervous system needs to remember its own way home. By facilitating this 'Vagal shift', Reiki helps your body move out of a state of survival and into a state of natural restoration.

It is a straightforward, biological process. When the body feels safe and grounded, it heals.

Finding your Way Home

Reclaiming your sense of calm is a physical process as much as a mental one. If you would like to experience the gentle restorative effects of Reiki and reclaim your sense of calm, please do get in touch.

Oakena Reiki Therapy

Tel: 07788 715117

support@oakena-reiki.com

Alsager, Cheshire