rosewillow-team, Author at RoseWillow Reiki

Choosing Reiki

September 17, 2018 by rosewillow-team Leave a Comment

Recently someone asked me, “Why did you choose Reiki?”

I felt a bit put on the spot and answered with a short and quick response, which I can’t really remember. Probably a cliche about how Reiki chose me. Ha.

After giving it some thought, here is my answer. To those who ask, and for those who don’t know.

It’s like any other kind of deep love, the kind that quite literally makes you stop and wonder how you’ve gone on so long before without it.

Reiki has been a part of my healing journey, it has aided my own awareness into my personal body and the ability to finely tune my awareness and sensitivity to others. Along with other treatments, Reiki guided me through my recovery from a lung cancer diagnosis in 2012, and a longer journey of recovery for my greater spirit. The impact of the diagnosis has forever gifted me with the understanding of the preciousness of freedom in our youth, and how fragile our strong healthy bodies can be. The impact did not just leave a large physical scar which is an everyday reminder, but my mental health has shifted and I’ve been struggling with anxiety since. Reiki has assisted me in stepping into my personal power through self healing, and given me the skills of understanding energy and the importance of daily release.

Anxiety was something I’d heard about my whole life but hadn’t personally dealt with until after my surgery, in which I had 60% of my right lung removed. I remained in the hospital for 18 long days afterward. Ironically the longer I have been in remission the greater my anxiety has grown, and the more noticeable it has become. Over this past summer I started having panic attacks for the first time, which were especially hard for me because I had no control over them. I will admit that I felt quite blocked, and even doing Reiki for myself felt like too much at the time. I spent most of my time in the Okanagan this summer, and nearing the end of July within a matter of days the city was swallowed by a thick smoke that made it especially hard for me to breathe. With this came another trigger of anxiety around breathing. A once thoughtless movement for me, now at times becomes all I can think about. I started doing a blend of treatments, hypnotherapy, counselling, and receiving Reiki from another practitioner. This combination helped me address and move through my anxiety, and in turn got me back to a place where I was able to give Reiki to myself and others with ease again.

I’ve hesitated in writing this down for so long, stuck in the fear of feeling weak, or unable to take care of myself when I care for so many. I don’t often show this side of myself, the side that is hurting, and healing. I know that for most people we do this to protect those around us, or as a mechanism for just ‘getting through’ because we have to or we should. However, there is something so powerful in saying a hello to yourself when you are feeling lost, afraid, or anxious. And the empowerment from saying that out loud to someone is even greater. I recognize that we “get to” move through these challenges, or healing opportunities. Not that we have to, or should. We get to. We get to experience our healing, these moments where our lessons are the greatest. And through that we find our peace, our harmony, and that safe place where we can be at ease. The place where we find grace in all our moments.

With Love,

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5 Reasons I Love Reiki

May 26, 2018 by rosewillow-team Leave a Comment

Reiki is my personal tool to a clear understanding of what’s happening in my body. It is all too easy to ignore our bodies when they are relaying messages to us. Our bodies are highly intelligent and with every symptom and feeling there can be revealing insight, (if we pay attention). When I began using Reiki as a part of my personal healing practice I became more aware of the reasons I would feel so heavy at the end of some of my days. As a sensitive person, it’s quite common to carry energies from others without realizing it. Reiki has been beneficial for me to consistently ‘tune up’ my energy field and feel clear and balanced.

Reiki helps me go to sleep- and stay asleep! For years I had a very inconsistent sleep schedule, often staying up very late or not sleeping through the night, which would require me to sleep during the day. As much as I do enjoy a good nap, I enjoy sleeping throughout the night without waking even more! For the past couple years, I’ve been experimenting with Reiki as a way of going to sleep at night. I notice anxiety quite often comes creeping up on me at night, usually in the form of excessive thoughts that won’t seem to subside. Before bed I’ll do 10-15 minutes of Reiki and instantly I feel a calmness that helps soothe me into a sleepy state. I also notice that when I do Reiki before bed, I wake up fewer times in the night and typically can sleep right through until my alarm (or my cat) wakes me up!

Reiki has been treating my anxiety. In the past year I’ve been experiencing anxiety in a way that has been challenging at times, for me to work with on my own. Reiki has been a crucial little helper for me that I can call on at any time of day or night. For those who have experienced a Reiki treatment, you’ll know the gentle waves of calmness that come from a session. This gentle energy is exactly what I need (and I feel everyone needs) to help move through anxiety and stress that comes up in our day to day.

Reiki promotes balance and harmony. Reiki is an empowering tool for balancing and grounding your energy. Anytime I’m noticing I’m feeling a bit ‘off’, I know it’s time to do some energy healing. Reiki works by clearing through your energy centers and meridians, releasing what’s ready to be let go of, and opening space for the new. Needless to say, after every treatment I feel refreshed and lighter than before.

Reiki is SO wonderful to share with others. Imagine a rainbow washing down on you like a bucket of water, and you can feel the cleansing effects of its gentle flow. That’s what giving a Reiki treatment feels like for me – for real! One of the most rewarding parts about my practice is helping others maintain a healthy body and spirt. Connecting with my clients and sharing the healing space of Reiki has been a fulfilling and joyful experience for me.

With Love, Rose

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Is Reiki The New Yoga?

November 19, 2017 by rosewillow-team Leave a Comment

November 18th, 2017
By Willow Mainprize

In a city where we are taught that hard work, and exerting the most amount of effort is what it takes to be the most successful version of yourself, Reiki, at first glance, seems like a counter-intuitive practice.

With Yoga having swept Vancouver and the world for its mind/body benefits, and dare I say, fashion (Are those LuLu’s you’re wearing?), I was beginning to wonder if Yoga was becoming more trend than transformative, which frankly, was always a bit of a turn-off.

Even as a child, I have always marched to my own drum. If everyone was into The Backstreet Boys, I made of point of, well, not being into The Backstreet Boys. I even boycotted Halloween. And Yoga? Nope. Tried it. My first foray into Yoga was a Bikram’s Hot Yoga class in Kits about 13 years ago when it first began to be the hot new health trend, and I almost passed out. Instead of a Kundalini awakening, I left with a massive migraine. Ok, not the best class to start with, I admit. But, chances are, if it’s trending, I may dip my toes in the water but I will refuse to swim. Don’t get me wrong, I understand that Yoga is a beautiful practice with incredible benefits, it’s just not for me.

My feeling is, Vancouver has been ripe with Steve Nash Gyms, Grouse Grinds, vegan buddha bowls, and yes, Yoga studios, for forever infinitum. We have been there, done that! This beautiful, eclectic, forward-thinking, seawall-loving city is ready for a new self-care regime is it not?

Yoga has been practiced for centuries for good reason and, comparatively, Reiki is just a wee babe having only been founded in Japan in 1922 by a Buddhist monk named Dr. Mikao Usui. However, some historians claim that some form of energy healing has been around since the time of the Egyptians or even before that. So what is Reiki exactly? To put it simply, Reiki channels Qi energy through the bodies meridians while clearing, opening and balancing the energy centers (chakras) that are at the core of optimal health in the body. Sound familiar? That’s because Yoga works on the exact same principles through movement. However, Reiki, harnessing this Qi energy, uses stillness and deep relaxation to rejuvenate, rebalance and restore the mind, body and spirit. Yoga and Reiki produce similar health results, Reiki just does so with less effort. Ok, I am not saying Reiki will help you strengthen your core and drop those last few pounds in time to pile them all back on again at the next family feast, but it can do the following: increase feelings of peace and relaxation, enhance mental clarity, increase energy levels, reduce anxiety and depression, and alleviate pain just to name a few. And the beauty of it is, with a little training, you can Reiki anytime, anywhere for as long or as little as you want with nobody being the wiser but you. No Yoga mat required. No trendy, overpriced outfit necessary. You pay the class fee once and you reap the fruits of thy labour (or lack thereof) forever. All these benefits with out breaking a sweat? Sign me up!

And I did sign up and lemmetellyou – Total. Life. Changer. Honestly, when I first started practicing Reiki I did so very quietly. I was worried I would be laughed at, scorned and teased. Too far outside the box for the average Joe to understand, I thought. It took me over two years, and finishing my Master training in stealth mode before I came out of the Reiki closet. But here is what surprises me; the more I talk about it, the more I hear about it. Suddenly, almost everybody is doing it or knows somebody who is. My post office lady has been practicing for over 20 years. The hostess at Hy’s has been receiving treatments since basically in utero thanks to her mother who is also a Reiki Master. My paralegal friend at a large law firm gets a friend to send her Qi-balls to get her through her insanely busy work day. Oh, and the Staples guy who printed my business cards? He and his boyfriend do it. It’s everywhere. Granted, there are a few that raise a skeptical brow but, my point is, not a single person I have spoken to has not at least heard of Reiki if they don’t already practice it themselves, or know someone who does.

So, there ya have it. Apparently, I am not a trailblazer, folks. I am in fact, a trend follower and for the first time in my life I am absolutely ok with it. I am ecstatic even. The truth is, despite my head having been hidden under a rock in a closet afraid of my own Reiki-loving shadow, people have been enjoying Reiki for years in Vancouver. So, why am I only hearing so much about it now? Perhaps, thanks to groundbreaking developments in quantum physics, the principle of harnessing universal energy for ones own betterment isn’t such a far-fetched notion. Perhaps, it isn’t taking all that much convincing for people to slow down and explore a new way of being in the world. Perhaps, we are ready to embrace the idea that the most successful version of ourselves can be found in the stillness rather than in the relentless movement towards a goal. Let’s face it, there are few things in life that yield maximum results with the least amount of effort. Why wouldn’t anyone want to jump this Reiki bandwagon and tell all their friends?

So, is Reiki the new Yoga? All I know is that it is certainly trending on its own merits and therefor worth exploring. The Yoga studios seem to think so too. Both Reiki and Yoga are now being offered together to promote the optimal health of mind, body and spirit. It appears to be a natural, synergistic paring that compliments each practice equally, bringing the best of both worlds together for maximum results. And when you put it that way, maybe that’s finally a Yoga trend I can join in on.

To learn Reiki, or receive a Reiki treatment with a certified Reiki practitioner, contact Willow or Rose at info@rosewillowreiki.ca

Willow and Rose Mainprize are cousins and Usui Reiki Practitioners and Teachers at Rosewillow Reiki in Vancouver, BC. Canada.

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4 Tips for a Restful Sleep

October 9, 2017 by rosewillow-team 1 Comment

4 Tips for a Restful Sleep

If you ever have trouble sleeping through the night or have always wanted to develop a better nighttime routine, here are some tips on how you can make your pre-sleep plan a more calming journey into sweet slumber.

Create a nightly routine. It’s amazing how much your sleep will change once you put an emphasis on the importance of what you do before you go to bed. What do you do before you go to sleep? For a long time I watched shows or movies directly before I fell asleep, and I noticed how much it changed my dreams and how restful my nights were. I also used to sleep with my phone right beside my bed, which after years of my mother telling me about electromagnetic radiation from my cellphone I finally listened. When I started making more time for myself, and paying more awareness to the stimulants around me and my sensitivity to them things began to change. Here are some suggestions of calming practices that you can use as part of your evening ritual. First, make some time before you rest to do a few things to help calm your mind and body. Drink chamomile tea. Do some light reading, writing, or meditate. Have a bath. Light some candles. Have someone else read to you. Sing or play music. Take a natural remedy like St Johns Wart or Magnesium. Do things that feel good for you, and challenge yourself to incorporate something new to your routine that may benefit your body and spirit!

Soak your feet in Epsom salts. One of the many benefits of soaking your feet in Epsom salts is the cleansing and detoxing effects. Our feet travel and carry all our weight, and they also carry a lot of energy because they are our direction connection to the earth and can hold a lot of energetic weight. A good foot soak will increase your levels of magnesium when they become low, which is often caused by stress and anxiety. More magnesium= more serotonin in your brain = more feelings of happiness and relaxation. Not only does it feel good but it’s also doing a lot for you! This is a very nice part of my nightly routine which usually takes between 20 minutes and an hour. Tip* After you’ve soaked your feet, try laying on your bed or floor with your legs straight up on the wall. This may not feel good for everyone, however if you are able to keep your legs up for a good stretch, you will also be releasing a flow of energy through the bottoms of your feet. I’ve even fallen asleep like this as it becomes so relaxing!

Increase the flow in your space. What does your bedroom feel like to you? Is it messy, disorganized and cluttered? If so this may be blocking the flow of energy in your space, and will directly affect your energy also! I believe your bedroom should be a sacred space of comfort and relaxation. By my bed I have; an aromatherapy diffuser, a crystal salt lamp, and many crystals. The combination of these things increases the flow and generally just makes me feel good. I have multiple crystals that I sleep with however directly above my bed is a large Selenite crystal that has a very high vibration of protection and clearing. Clear Quartz, Amethyst and Selenite are all good crystals for sleeping, however I recommend using your intuition to select the ones that are best for you!

Light some sage. Burning smudge has been a sacred practice of Native Americans for a long time. It is a practice I watched my mother do for many years, and a practice I have been taught to use in my home. A dear friend grows the sage I burn at my home, and being mindful of where your smudge comes from is valuable. Allow for the whole process of lighting and burning sage to be as important as your focused intention. Have a bowl ready to catch the ashes, either using your hand or a feather, cleanse your hands in the smoke, smudging your face and body and spirit. The sage not only clears the negative energy in the space, but it does the same for your body as a cleanser of energies. Opening a window or door allows for the energy to flow out. You can use smudge to cleanse crystals, new objects you bring into your home, a new home itself, and people. When you have finished, dispose of the ashes and store your smudge in a safe and clear space. I have been smudging for a while now almost every day since I moved into my new home, not only do I love the way it feels after doing so, but I love the smell. Be very mindful as you walk around with prayer or intention of what energy you would like to welcome into the space; calm, wellness, peace, love etc. If you practice Reiki you can also use symbols in your space while you smudge.

Remember how important you are, and how important it is for you to nurture and care for yourself. Getting a restful sleep will recharge you and refresh your spirit. As soon as I emphasized the importance the nightly routine was in my evening, I noticed a significant change not only in how I slept but how I felt at night in general. Aside from my cat doing late night parkour, I have such amazing sleeps and look forward to the evening rituals.

With love,

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What Is Healing?

September 5, 2017 by rosewillow-team Leave a Comment

Can’t just “let it go”?

That’s because emotions

Aren’t like rocks you throw.

They’re more like drops

Of water that need to run through you.

So don’t let it go,

Let it flow.

-Lori Deschene

When I think about healing, many words come to mind; letting go, vulnerability, loving release, conscious perspective, peaceful balance, freedom, and forgiveness. Healing is all of these things, but is not limited to those few expressions.

Healing is the softening of a hard space, like a rock on the shoreline that changes form over time. The hard edges of the rock are gradually worn smooth from the constant motion of the waves. Reiki acts as this gentle cleansing wave that softens those hard spaces within. Like water it has an incredibly strong, yet gentle capacity to invoke change.

Recently I have been reflecting on the subject of deep healing. I have been hearing a lot of discussion within the healing community expressing a similar theme. Many have been going through a big transition and felt the drastic uprooting of emotions with exposed awareness. With this new awareness arises opportunities for healing. This is where people would come to me and ask for Reiki, and they ask to heal from these experiences and traumas, moments that left a mark on their bodies and spirits. And it has made me wonder. What are we asking to be healed from?

So how does Reiki enter the space of deep healing? Just as sweet surrender to your life’s journey enhances the natural flow of it, releasing all expectation and judgment in Reiki, realigns the natural flow of one’s true path in healing. Reiki will always go to the areas in greatest need of healing. If we release all expectations and limitations we may put on the experience, the healing that occurs can be life changing.

Similar to the Tao System of the complete recognition of body-mind-spirit connection, a Reiki session invites you to be completely present with one’s self. Being fully present allows you to release your emotions, thoughts and feelings, past present and future. In this space of freedom, we find miraculous, conscious flow with the source. In this freedom there is space for the unlimited and profound power of healing through all time and space.

Rei is the invisible power or source of it all. Rei is sacredness, and blessing. Rei possesses an infinite power.

Ki is the basis of all energy healing. Ki is the vital energy of the earth. Ki is Breath. Ki is the unseen energy of the universe.

Together Rei-ki enhances your healthy vibration of energy and helps find that peaceful place within that is in alignment with your greatest, purest energy flow. It is a state of balance, and grace.

So, hold space for yourself to feel, take a deep breath, and remind yourself of the amazing things you’ve accomplished, how far you’ve come. Invite yourself to pay awareness to your body, and if you store any hard spaces within you, let them soften. Invite yourself to forgive. Allow yourself to step into your grace.

With lots of love,

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Choosing Reiki

5 Reasons I Love Reiki

Is Reiki The New Yoga?

4 Tips for a Restful Sleep

4 Tips for a Restful Sleep

What Is Healing?

Contact Rose

Contact Willow

4 Tips for a Restful Sleep

Contact Rose

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Contact Willow

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