What Is Reiki?

Reiki is a specific type of energy healing developed by Mikao Usui in Japan.  It’s based on the idea that there is a universal life force energy that flows through all of us. A Reiki practitioner is trained to “channel” that energy and direct it into your body usually through light touch or hands hovering above you.

During a session, you typically lie down, close your eyes, and receive.  Most people experienc a deep sense of relaxation and calm.  Some feel warmth and tingling. It can be very beneficial, especially if someone is overwhelmed or burned out.  The main difference is that it is passive and your are receiving. 

What Is Energy Work?

Energy work includes Reiki, but goes far beyond it.  It refers to any practice that works with the body’s energetic system, which could be the chakras, the auric field, the energetic fields, etc.  

Besides Reiki, a few other forms of energy work are Pranic Healing, Qigong, Therapeutic touch, etc.  Like Reiki, energy work is done for you by a parcitioner and the goal is balance, calm and clearning.  

What Is Breathwork?

Breathwork is different.  Instead of someone working on you, breathwork is a direct, active process where you use your own breath to influence your body, mind, and emotional state.

And this is where things start to shift in a much deeper way.  Your breath is directly connected to your nervous system; the system that controls stress, safety, emotions, and survival patterns.

When you change your breathing, you are changing your brain and emotional states; and the ability to access and process stored experiences.  You can regulate your emotions, increase energy and mental clairty, unlock supressed emotions like grief, anger or fear, and the breath can acuatlly hlep you process the trauma stored in the body. 

You are doing the work and creating the change from within you. 

The Real Differences (Why This Matters)

Let’s simplify it:

Reiki	Energy Work	Breathwork
Specific modality	Broad category	Active practice
Passive	Mostly passive	Active + engaged
Practitioner channels energy	Practitioner influences energy	You shift your own physiology
Subtle effects	Often subtle	Often immediate + noticeable
Relaxation-focused	Balancing-focused	Regulation + transformation

The Missing Piece Most People Don’t Realize

Many people try multiple modalities—therapy, energy work, Reiki—and still feel stuck.

Not because those approaches don’t work, but because insight alone doesn’t change patterns and receiving alone doesn’t retrain the body.  Your nervous system is where the patterns live and with breathwork you can retrain them.   And until you work with the body, not just the mind or the energy field, those patterns tend to repeat.

This is why someone can know their triggers and patterns, but still repeat the same cycles.

So Which One Is Right for You?

It’s not about one being “better.” It’s about what you need right now.

• If you feel fragile, exhausted, or overwhelmed → Reiki or energy work can feel supportive and nourishing
• If you feel stuck in patterns, anxiety, or emotional loops → breathwork creates deeper, lasting change.

Ask yourself…“Do I want to receive support… or do I want to transform?”

Both have their place.

If you have more questions, please don’t hesitate to email me.  I hope you are doing great.  

Much Love

Linda