By Emily Merrell
I’ve had Reiki in person and virtually – and by far, my experience virtually outweighed my experience in person. I was blown away by how transported I felt with Reiki and would have actually sworn that there was someone spraying ocean water on my face. Jennifer Lutenski was another corporate professional who discovered the healing benefits of Reiki, so much in fact that she decided to pursue a certification on her own. Learn more about this Japanese technique and how it can reduce stress and encourage healing.
SDS: How did a busy corporate professional like yourself get introduced to Reiki?
JENNIFER LUTENSKI: I found Reiki through a few local yoga and pilates studios in Chicago. I have been very into fitness for most of my post-college life, going to yoga and other fitness classes consistently for about 10 years. There was a Reiki and sound healing experience at a yoga studio that I signed up for in late 2018. Then in early 2019, I met a Reiki Healer at another pilates studio during a wellness festival and received a complimentary session with her.
I found the experience to be extremely powerful and beneficial within my life, so I consistently scheduled 1:1 sessions with her every few months. In late 2019, I decided to pursue my own certification for Reiki and signed up for training in January of 2020.
SDS: For the beginners, what is Reiki and how does it work? What does it feel like?
JL: Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that encourages healing. This holistic energy practice simultaneously treats the physical body, emotions, mind and spirit to result in feelings of peace, safety and wellbeing. Reiki is not taught in a way that other healing modalities are taught. Reiki energy is transferred to students by the Source of Reiki, facilitated through a placement process guided by the Usui/Holy Fire® III Reiki Master.
What a client experiences in a Reiki treatment will vary from person to person. Usually, there are feelings of deep relaxation felt by most. Reiki energy encourages a client to let go of tension, anxiety, fear, or other negative feelings. Often, many report a feeling of peace and well-being. Some clients will drift off to sleep or report feeling as if they are floating outside of their own bodies. Overall, most clients feel refreshed with a more optimistic, balanced outlook.
SDS: What’s something that has surprised you about your Reiki training? How has it impacted your life?
JL: How powerful the Reiki energy is each time that I work/connect with it. Each training that I have gone through has become more powerful, and I find it easier to connect with the Reiki energy from when I first began with it. Overall, it has given me an increased sense of well-being and calmness in my own life, especially through the pandemic.
I found myself to be more grounded and able to better navigate the hurdles that life threw at me collectively during intense levels of stress and anxiety. Reiki has helped me to connect to higher sources of energy and tap into intuitive gifts that I may not have acknowledged in the past.
SDS: You offer two courses for busy professionals, tell us more about what the transformation looks like?
JL: Yes! I offer Reiki Level I & II Training both in person in the local Chicago area, as well as virtually. With the Reiki Level I Training, you learn the history and philosophy of Reiki, how to give Reiki in person and how to self-heal with Reiki. This is the foundation to learning about Reiki and its principles, and is your first connection with Reiki energy and its powerful benefits. For Reiki Level II Training, you increase your connection to Reiki and are able to heal physical, spiritual and mental imbalances on a deeper level. You also learn how to send Reiki distantly to others through time, distance and space.
The journey through both of these training sessions is really powerful – it is unlike other Reiki experiences you may have at a yoga studio or other wellness space. The training will attune the student to Reiki, giving them the ability to access Reiki energy at any time. I have found myself to be more grounded, centered and less stressed as I have progressed along my own journey with Reiki.
SDS: How do you balance both the corporate and spiritual versions of your life? Any advice for those trying to find balance?
JL: I try to use some of the techniques that I have learned through my spiritual journey as it relates to my corporate job. Oftentimes, there are extremely stressful situations that may come up, but techniques such as breathing or meditation have helped me to feel more centered and grounded when that does arise. They can feel separate at times, but you can use techniques from spirituality within business in how you react in situations.
I find it a lot easier now to take a step back before reacting or sending an email off. Embrace that side of yourself, and confide in others who may have interest in those topics within your company. You never know if opportunities will arise to lead a meditation or breathing session for your co-workers, and if you didn’t let them know your interest in that, they may not have thought of you as a go-to in that arena.
SDS: Lastly, what is one piece of advice you have for “woo curious”. That person that is just getting their toes wet?
JL: Be open to new experiences and try different things in your own life! I have met so many different people through the “woo” space here in Chicago, and digitally over the past year and a half. There are so many different things within the holistic healing/wellness space that you may not have heard much about until you start connecting with others.
By diving into Reiki, it has opened my eyes to so many new things that I now consistently incorporate within my own life. Crystals, sound healing, astrology and tarot to just name a few. Many are interconnected and are really interesting!
