Align Your Energy with the Rhythm of Spring

About nine years ago, I was working as a pediatric bedside nurse in the first year of a residency program. One of our assignments was to write a research paper on a topic connected to our daily work. At the time, I cared for children from birth to eighteen years old, and one thing became increasingly clear to me: pain management looked very different across age groups.

The older the child, the easier it was to assess their pain and offer treatment. But what about infants or premature babies—those who can’t tell us what they feel, and who can’t tolerate many of the medications used for pain? What options did we really have?

That fundamental question sparked something in me. I began exploring ways to bring comfort to these tiny humans in a way that didn’t rely solely on traditional interventions. That’s when I discovered infant massage, and later, Reiki. These practices are gentle but powerful tools. They help reduce pain, rebalance energy, and create a sense of safety and calm.

Reiki is a gentle energy healing technique that can be performed either hands-on or hands-off. As a practitioner, I work with a client’s energy field to support their body’s natural healing processes. Reiki taps into what’s often referred to as universal life force energy—the same energy that flows through nature, through breath, and through our bodies when we feel vibrant and aligned. It’s noninvasive, deeply relaxing, and open to everyone. And it can be an incredible complement to your wellness journey.

My wellness framework is rooted in six core pillars: mindset, nutrition, beliefs, movement, empowerment, and sleep. Reiki isn’t a magic fix—true healing involves getting to the root cause—but it supports the whole person in powerful, intuitive ways. In fact, research shows Reiki significantly enhances the quality of life for many recipients (Midilli et al., 2015, Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice).

That’s because at its core, Reiki helps activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which governs our rest-and-digest state. Most of us spend too much time these days in fight-or-flight mode, and this constant sympathetic dominance in life can take a real toll on our minds and bodies. Reiki helps the brain shift from this tense state into a state of rest and repair. This calming effect allows for clearer thoughts, reduced anxiety, and a more grounded emotional experience. Studies show it can significantly reduce symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression (Midilli et al., 2015).

It also has a unique role in helping people become more aware of their relationship with food. Many of us reach for certain foods to fill a void, to numb something, due to boredom, or because of deeply ingrained beliefs we haven’t questioned. Reiki invites space between the urge and the action, creating awareness of the emotional root behind our food-related decisions. A pilot study in Holistic Nursing Practice found that when energy healing like Reiki was combined with nutritional counseling, participants experienced reduced cravings and improved intuitive eating patterns (Vitale & O’Connor, 2006).

This awareness, though, doesn’t stop at food. Reiki creates space for deeper inquiry and emotional processing. It helps us explore our belief systems and the stories we carry about ourselves, often without even realizing it. In doing so, it can bring emotional breakthroughs that shift how we see ourselves and what we believe is possible. Peer-reviewed research has found that Reiki can facilitate the emergence of new internal narratives and support emotional clarity (Baldwin et al., 2008, Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine).

When you are stuck in chronic stress, even movement can feel like a burden. Reiki brings the nervous system into a more regulated state, which helps restore energy flow and makes physical activity feel less taxing and more intuitive. A large-scale trial found that Reiki may help reduce fatigue and increase vitality in both individuals with chronic illness and otherwise healthy populations (Dyer et al., 2019, Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine).

It also fosters a deeper sense of self-connection. Many of my clients tell me they leave sessions feeling more empowered, more certain of their own needs, and more capable of honoring their boundaries. This is where healing leads to transformation—from external validation to internal trust. A literature review in Pain Management Nursing reported that Reiki recipients felt more in control of their emotional health and decision-making (Thrane & Cohen, 2014).

The most immediate shift I often see is in sleep. Many clients fall asleep on the table during a session, and many more tell me that their rest feels deeper and more restorative in the days after. When your energy body is calm, your physical body can finally settle. A controlled study published in BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care confirmed that Reiki improved sleep quality in adults with anxiety and nervous system dysregulation (Díaz-Rodríguez et al., 2011).

If you're curious about experiencing Reiki yourself, let’s chat! I offer both in-person and distance Reiki sessions:

NYC Locals: I’m in Midtown twice a month on Tuesday mornings. Book here!

Not in New York? I offer powerful distance Reiki that works just as deeply. Book here!

For a limited time, I am discounting Rieki sessions for all my newsletter supporters—30 minutes for $40$! Sign up now to confirm your spot!

References

_{Baldwin, A. L., Wagers, C., & Schwartz, G. E. (2008). Reiki improves heart rate homeostasis in laboratory rats. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 14(4), 417–422. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2007.0750}

_{Díaz-Rodríguez, L., Arroyo-Morales, M., Fernández-de-las-Peñas, C., García-Lafuente, F., García-Romero, J. C., & Hidalgo-Martínez, A. M. (2011). Immediate effects of Reiki on heart rate variability, cortisol levels, and body temperature in health care professionals with burnout syndrome. BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care, 1(2), 167–173. https://spcare.bmj.com/content/9/4/434}

_{Dyer, N. L., Baldwin, A. L., & Rand, W. L. (2019). A large-scale effectiveness trial of Reiki for physical and psychological health. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 25(12), 1156–1162. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2019.0022}

_{Midilli, T. S., Eser, I., & Khorshid, L. (2015). Effects of Reiki on pain and anxiety in adults: A meta-analysis. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 21(4), 277–286. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2015.10.005}

_{Thrane, S., & Cohen, S. M. (2014). Effect of Reiki therapy on pain and anxiety in adults: An in-depth literature review of randomized trials with effect size calculations. Pain Management Nursing, 15(4), 897–908. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmn.2012.07.007}

_{Vitale, A., & O’Connor, P. C. (2006). The effect of Reiki on pain and anxiety in women with abdominal hysterectomies: A quasi-experimental pilot study. Holistic Nursing Practice, 20(6), 263–272. https://doi.org/10.1097/00004650-200611000-00006}

Mark your calendar — some upcoming events:

• IN PERSON, BROOKLYN, NY: I’m hosting a menopause event at Life Wellness Center that will include group discussion, myth-busting, reframing techniques, and self-love practices. Tickets are $20$.

  Date: Saturday, May 31st
  Time: 11-1 EST
  Location: Life Wellness Center

  376 Tompkins Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11216

• IN PERSON, NYC, NY: IBrain Block Party/Spring Festival

  Date: Friday, June 13th

  Time: 10:30 - 2 pm EST

  Location: IBrain School
  403 E 91st St, New York, NY 10128

• IN PERSON, Long Branch, NJ: Waves & Wellness Expo
  Time: 11:00 – 4 pm EST
  Location: White Chapel Project 

  15 2nd Ave, Long Branch, NJ 07740-6796 ·

• INSTAGRAM LIVES: I have a few upcoming lives!

  • May 23rd @ 10 AM EST!- The Shift Within: Unpacking the Hormone Changes That Shape Our Life, Part One, co-host Roberta Morris

  • May 27th @ 11:30 AM EST- Decode the Body’s Messages Through Your Chakras, co-host Susan Lopresi

  • June 18th @ 7 pm EST - The Generational Bullshit Around Food, co-host Donna Mintz