In states that do not explicitly exempt Reiki from the jurisdiction of the Massage Board, Reiki sometimes draws the ire of people who would prefer it to be regulated. The reasons can range from conservative religious groups looking for ways to minimize the spread of alternative spirituality, to massage therapists wanting to eliminate competition from those with less formal training, to a misunderstanding of what Reiki really is. I offer this article as a starting point for people trying to understand the differences between Reiki and Massage.
This list also serves as a starting point for anyone creating a petition targeting a particular state’s definition of massage. (Be sure to check the actual definition of your state when writing such a request.) In a world of increased regulation, it is important to practice Reiki responsibly and freely.
The “Rei” in Reiki means “universal” or “spiritual”, and the “ki” corresponds to the “life force energy” known as “Chi” or “prana” in other Eastern systems of healing and energy work such as feng shui, Tai Chi, Qigong or yoga. Thus, Reiki refers to “universal life force energy,” “divinely directed healing energy,” or “life energy of a spiritual nature,” with an emphasis on subtle energy fields rather than the physical body. For the following reasons, we do not believe that Reiki fits the legal definition of massage:
1) Massage is primarily physical, but Reiki works with subtle energy fields that surround the body. Although some massage therapists can harness Reiki energy while massaging, a traditional Reiki treatment involves 11-14 stationary, pressure-free hand positions held for 3-5 minutes each. While massage involves tissue manipulation, Reiki requires only a light, non-invasive touch or no touch at all. Reiki Level 2 students learn to perform remote Reiki treatments without the need for someone’s physical proximity, but it would be impossible to give a massage without a body in the same room. Reiki is similar to “spiritual laying on of hands” or “healing prayer”, rather than a massage modality or technique.
2) In order to provide an effective massage, massage therapists need knowledge of anatomy and physiology, along with various massage movements such as “Effleurage”, “Petrissage”, “Tapotement”, etc. Rather, Reiki students learn that universal life force energy has innate intelligence and knows where it should go. Reiki practitioners do not manipulate the body or forcefully direct energy during a Reiki treatment. In order to practice Reiki, practitioners must receive an attunement or initiation from a Certified Reiki Master. The attunement opens the students’ own natural energy channels, allowing Reiki energy to flow through their hands. Traditional Reiki hand positions and any other Reiki process do not require massage education to be effective.
3) In addition to the aforementioned differences, the preparations for receiving Reiki or massage are different. Before receiving a massage, most patients undress and then rub lotions on their nude or semi-nude body, wrapped under a sheet. In contrast, Reiki recipients always remain clothed and Reiki treatments do not involve the use of lotions or creams.
4) The American Cancer Association makes a distinction between massage and Reiki when recommending complementary therapies. According to the ACA, “Manipulation of bone in an area of cancer metastases could result in a bone fracture. In addition, people who have received radiation may feel discomfort with even a light touch to the treatment area…People receiving radiation treatment should not use lotion or oil on areas where radiation was used. Even without radiation therapy, some people have allergic reactions to oils used during massage…Cancer patients should avoid massage near tumors and growths that may be cancerous until this question is clearly answered.” In contrast, the ACA considers Reiki a “safe” treatment for cancer patients, noting that “Reiki involves very light contact or no contact at all.”
5) The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) of the National Institutes of Health lists Reiki under “Energy Therapies,” which “intend to affect the energy fields that surround and penetrate the human body.” As defined by the NCCAM, “Reiki is based on the belief that by channeling spiritual energy through the practitioner, the spirit heals itself and, in turn, heals the physical body.” Massage falls under a distinctly separate category, namely “Body-Based and Manipulative Methods,” which is defined by NCCAM as “methods that rely on manipulation and/or movement of the body,” in which “massage therapists manipulate the soft tissues of the body to normalize those tissues.”
6) At least twenty US states explicitly exempt Reiki from massage regulation.