Reiki
Our dogs give us so much joy, love and peace in our lives, that when our dog suffers - whether with anxiety, old age or illness - we are willing to do anything to give him the comfort and relief he deserves. Reiki provides a healing path for many people dealing with mental, physical and spiritual difficulties. It is a Japanese holistic method based on energy, applied through a gentle, non-invasive and non-manipulative touch. Today Reiki is practiced all over the world. So naturally, if it's good enough for people, we can't help but wonder if it could also benefit our pets?
What exactly is Reiki?
If you talk to a Reiki specialist and ask the question "What is Reiki?", you'll probably get an answer along the lines of "What isn't Reiki?". According to Reiki masters, including Kathleen Prasad of Animal Reiki Source, author and creator of the Let Animals Lead Method, "we are all Reiki, everything is Reiki". The word Reiki has several meanings, but all of them with a certain co-relation: vital energy, life force and spiritual energy, depending very much on who translates it. Translated separately, REI means divine wisdom, spirit, miraculous and KI means vital energy, consciousness, breath of life, gas. One translation of the word is universal vital energy. And according to Prasad, "This spiritual energy makes up everything in the universe". "We all have Reiki within us," says Jeanne Clune, CPDT-KA Behavior Consultant at Behavior Vets NYC, Certified Trainer and Reiki Let Animals Lead Teacher. The system of Reiki - which is the practice of Reiki to heal and treat - provides natural hands-on healing through touch when applied from one living being to another. "Different mediation tools, including symbols, mantras, and breathing and visualization practices, help create the necessary environment," says Prasad. In practice, Reiki uses the meditative space provided by the healer for the individual to connect. This transfer of energy is known to help individuals better cope with or overcome emotional and physical pain.
How can Reiki help my dog?
Reiki is gaining popularity in the animal world as a complementary health therapy. In fact, the NCBI has found through studies that "Reiki is a safe and gentle 'complementary' therapy that activates the parasympathetic nervous system to heal the body and mind. It has potential for wider use in the management of chronic health conditions and possibly in post-operative recovery." Specifically, Reiki is being used as a method of treatment and connection in various ways for pets, including:
Anxious or stressed dogs
“The number one benefit and answer to Reiki with animals is stress relief and deep relaxation,” says Prasad. The calm space created by the meditation of a Reiki practitioner invites the animal to join this relaxed atmosphere. This can make Reiki an effective stress reliever for pets in high anxiety environments, whether in a shelter or even at home.
Helps with illness and post-operative recovery
When we are deeply relaxed, all our systems relax and can function optimally, as well as our immune system. "Our bodies can heal themselves when we allow ourselves to relax," explains Prasad. Reiki works by inducing this state or creating the relaxation needed to heal us. "I've seen animals that have been ill for a long time get better faster and even heal quickly after surgery with the help of Reiki." Reiki can also be useful throughout the medical process. If you have a dog who is anxious at the vet, but needs a lot of visits because of an illness or needs surgery, Reiki can help prepare them.
End of life care
Reiki is offered in many hospitals and nursing homes to family members and patients. When Reiki is used to help a dying animal, we find similar benefits. "Animals deal with death better than we do," says Clune. "They know they're dying, they need time to process it. " Reiki can help provide that time so that a pet doesn't suffer while dealing with this impending change. It can also bring peace to owners, especially when they know their pet is at peace and ready to go. "Reiki can create that beautiful peace in the process of dying, sometimes it's not about getting better, it's about finding peace," says Prasad. It can be an incredible gift to have at a difficult time.
Create bonds and quality time
Reiki can provide a way of strengthening the human-animal connection. "Animals teach us, they share with us even more than we share with them. They are intuitive beings," says Clune. Reiki can offer another way to connect with your dog and can be especially useful if your dog has been rescued and has previous traumas. In these cases, you'll notice a significant change in your pet's behavior.
The “Let Animals Lead” philosophy
As an animal behavior technician, we've learned that positive reinforcement methods are the best ways to work with dogs and deal with previous behavior problems. This is why Prasad's Let Animals Lead method is so useful when practicing Reiki with pets. We can create a space for the animal to be calm and at peace, but if it's not willing or interested, that's fine too. "When an animal says no, if it's irritated or doesn't feel like it right now, it's important to give it the choice and let it decide when," says Prasad. "I've only had one animal that didn't want Reiki," shared Clune. The dog in question was having problems socializing and playing in groups, becoming anxious around other dogs. "We went for a walk [to an enclosed area], once inside the dog became very anxious and the main aim was to escape, being contained caused him to have an anxiety attack. And for him there was a reason why he didn't want to be contained. That said, I opted for long walks outdoors, and in this (physically open) environment he loved Reiki so much that he would fall asleep with me. Today, despite being selective with other dogs, he gets on well with everyone." This is a testimonial from an animal reiki master.
Are Virtual Reiki Sessions Worth It?
In today's world, the virtual is a reality, so this is an absolutely natural question. Can Reiki work in virtual environments? Given that Reiki is based on the transfer and sharing of energy, the simple answer is: Yes. "We are all made of energy and while perception tells us that we are separate, the philosophy of energy is that we are all connected," says Prasad. In fact, virtual reiki sessions may even be preferred in some circumstances. For example, if a pet is afraid of new people or places, a virtual Reiki session may be the way to go. Clune notes that cats, in particular, seem to respond better to Reiki virtually.
How do I know if Reiki is working?
Essentially, any sign of relaxation or connection can signal that Reiki is having a positive impact on the animal. An animal may lie down or fall asleep and dream. "Some nervous animals don't relax completely, yet a difference in behavior is felt," notes Prasad. Research is underway to help determine whether there is evidence that Reiki provides more than just a placebo effect.
Reiki at Animal Shelters
Given Reiki's power to bring peace and calm, it's no wonder it's becoming an enrichment offering in shelters around the world. Prasad co-founded the Shelter Animal Reiki Association (SARA) in 2008. This non-profit organization now has more than 200 members and helps dozens of sanctuaries and shelters in the USA, Canada, Europe and India. Clune is part of a group that visits the shelters in person and virtually once a month. "When a shelter closes for the night, all the dogs usually bark and the cats hide. We sit in silence and start meditating together in a circle and the dogs start to come to their gates and fall asleep." Not only can it bring relaxation to pets in these high-anxiety environments, but it can also help rescued animals who have suffered past trauma to gain more confidence. Which can ultimately help them to be rescued. As Prasad puts it: "Reiki touches the spirit and then the spirit spreads to the mind and body. We are creating a spiritual healing". So it seems that no matter what goal you hope to achieve, Reiki can offer a harmless path to peace and healing not only for you, but also for your pet.
