Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Reiki or Meditation !!

Hi Everyone,

I don't post too often but check this board quite regularly and I never read any posting on something on Faith Healing or Meditation and their benifits.

For those who don't know Reiki is a technique for stress reduction and relaxation that allows everyone to tap into an unlimited supply of "life force energy" to improve health and enhance the quality of life.

http://www.reiki.org/

I was just wondering if anyone has ever used something like this and found it helpful.

Takecare,
Raj

Edited by Michelle in Md on 01/24/02 05:59 PM (server time).

I haven't tried them specifically, but I can certainly agree that relaxation is vital to coping with this disease. Anything that will help to relax overly tensed muscles that are 'guarding' sore joints especially in our spines is a huge benefit.

At the end of an AS specific exercise class I used enjoy attending (I didn't stop going, it stopped happening) we often had 10 minutes or more of the 'Mitchell Method' of relaxation guided by the physiotherapist in charge. The importance of this is overlooked much too often, so thank you Raj, for bringing it up again.

Cheers,
  Loz
     

I guess I'm sorta, kinda doing that. Years ago I attended Lamaze childbirth classes. The same techniques that helped me whiz, drug-free, through labor and childbirth, are still helpful. What doesn't help is not having a break every three minutes, but the idea has merit. At the moment, I have no pain meds to help me deal with this monster, so this is all I have to use. Can't say that it works all that well, but I'm sure it helps.

Hugs,

Cindy

Hi Raj,
So funny you should mention this.......
My sister and I are on our way to becoming certified in Reiki. I mean just starting, we take our first installment next weekend. The girl I just had a massage with is also a Reiki Master. I was going in for a biopsy and she gave me a Reiki treatment and I have to tell you it felt wonderful.
For those who have never had one it's hard to describe, a few years ago someone else gave me one and her hands were so hot. You could really feel the energy.
This woman is even better, I think. My sister and I have taken classes for hands on healing and therapeutic thouch and used it on her son [he has muscular dystropy] When he was young we'd do these treatments and he's say he saw angels around us. As he got older he just said it feels good

Keep you posted.......
linda

Oddly I used to be the most cynical person in world as to such "nonsense" but AS has made me in many ways a student of ideas I would reject. Anyway I tried the Reiki road once and it was fruitless.

A friend who was really a believer in it repaid a favor by paying for three sessions with a different practioner. It was great. THe guy talked to me a bit on the first two visits and just had a manner about him, plus he was fascinating kind of guy. Part truck driver part Eastern mystic. I felt better after 3rd visit . Went back a few more times but his practice was in Brustar NY which was about a 2 hour drive. Opened my eyes a bit further. Agree with Loz. Relaxation techniques in their many different forms are crucial.

On that note another wonderful relaxation theory is the Religion of the 7 iron , driver and large bucket of balls. Quite transcendental.


stevec-they also serve who stand and wait

Steve, You crack me up. I love your humor.
I get the most help from a good deep tissue massage then a hot bath.

Warning!!! Personal opinion ahead!!! Look away now if you are offended by raw scepticism!!!

Sorry to be the only sceptic here, but just exactly what is the "life force energy"? What is it, where does it come from, how do we measure it? What is the difference between it and something that doesn't exist?

Faith healing doesn't work. It's just wishful thinking. None of it has ever been proved to work in a double-blind scientifically controlled test. If it worked, it would be prescribed by our doctors - they have our best interests at heart, even if they get it wrong many times. Laying on of hands feels nice, but has no affect at all on disease! You can't wish away a physical problem and I think we all agree that AS is a physical problem - not psychosomatic .

Also, I thought this was a message board for AS sufferers, not an advertising forum?

As Mark Twain said "Faith is believing what you know ain't so"

Dave "The Sceptic" runs for cover...

Hey Daven,

I was not advertising anything.. It was just a question.

Raj

Thanks Everyone ...

Someone told me to try this so I asked you guys... The Experts...

Thanks Anyways,

Raj