‘Over 10 million working days are currently being lost annually through stress-related illnesses.’
—The Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
Why Is Reiki In the Workplace Necessary?
I was once told that the core purpose of any corporate or organization is to make money, everything else is secondary. While this may still be true, the approach of achieving this target has changed a lot. Gone are the days when the employer–employee relationship was purely give and take. Today, I feel, things have changed quite a bit. Words like ‘motivation’, ‘loyalty’, and ‘ownership’ are valued and employees are being trained to have a more cheerful disposition, quite often despite the stress and deadline-driven atmosphere.
Several extensive studies in work-induced stress problems reveal that wellness programmes in the office can and do help in generating more revenue and make for happier, satisfied, and more productive employees. The American Institute of Stress has revealed that corporations around the world face twin problems of absenteeism (often due to employees calling in sick) and poor employee morale. Sadly, studies have also revealed that the relationship between heart attacks and stress can be traced to work-related issues. While occupational pressures are the reigning cause of a range of illnesses around the world, thankfully steps are being taken in the right direction to put a lid on its adverse impacts.
How Does Stress Manifest in the Workplace?
The facts on how stress manifests in the workplace are overwhelming. Over 2/3 employees who visit a doctor do so for stress-related problems. Many of my clients complain that despite the work pressure they just don’t wish to work or keep forgetting things. Added to this are increased irritability at the slightest provocation, anger, weeping, insomnia, or over sleeping, fatigue, and a general lack of interest or engagement in things. As we all know, many of us carry work home emotionally and physically; many of us work even after office hours or spend time strategizing or planning for the next day. In this scenario, it is not difficult to imagine how doing this regularly can lead to estrangement from loved ones and, eventually, health problems.
Why Reiki?
Essentially, Reiki is a light-touch healing modality that unblocks negative energy from the physical body so that the life-giving energy can flow unhindered. Simply put, Reiki gives power to life; it is that which reconnects us with ourselves. An energy-balancing technique, this is rapidly becoming an essential part of corporate culture around the world wherein sessions are offered either during lunch time or on request and can last up to anywhere between 15 minutes to an hour. Not only is Reiki safe, it also promotes positivity and relaxation. Used either to replenish depleted energy or to beam fresh energy into the physical body, a Reiki session at the workplace helps bring focus back to the self and can even be seen as a life-enhancing technique. Most effective in relieving body pains—such as neck cramps, headaches, and joint aches—along with treating stress-induced ailments like irritable bowel syndrome, depression, and fatigue, Reiki focuses on the source of the problem and brings a flow of positive energy into the body.
Apart from the body, Reiki also focuses on a mental and spiritual level. It highlights the importance of being connected with the universe and realizing the higher purpose of this life. Vis-à-vis the corporate perspective, it helps employees recognize their true potential, thereby increasing their productivity, mental & physical health, and motivation. Success, and more particularly, wanting to earn more is not a vice, and with Reiki one can achieve this effectively without turning aggressive or negative. If aligned with the higher Self, the drive to succeed will increase in proportion to that which is necessary for the overall journey. Reiki teaches the art of disciplining the mind and body to work as a unit, a team, in order to arrive at the desired outcome. Contrary to the popular notion that nothing is ever enough, a dangerous idea incorrectly touted by organizations to promote aggressive behaviour, Reiki teaches how to calm the mind and body, and pursue that which is necessary for the bigger journey and the higher Self.
The following are the benefits of performing Reiki in the workplace:
The benefits to employees include:
- Employees feel good about their profile and understand their job better; hence acquire better clarity.
- Productivity increases manifold leading to better motivation and attendance.
- Alleviates stress and tension at the workplace, thereby leading to a positive atmosphere.
- The focus shifts from the micro to the macro level where a deeper, more meaningful understanding of relationships and roles emerge.
In addition to this, the following are the benefits to organizations:
- A healthier, more balanced work force with greater determination and clarity of roles and functions.
- Greater number of emerging leaders
- A positive work atmosphere which fosters innovation and harmony.
- Reduced absenteeism.
- Reduced instances of friction and temperamental outbursts.
- Reduced instances of pent up emotions; emotional catharsis is readily achieved that in turn leads to a better, healthier atmosphere of teamwork.
There are many who thrive in a challenging work atmosphere and there are those who cannot endure sustained pressure. With Reiki being offered as a stress buster and a life-enhancing technique in offices, both categories of employees can benefit greatly from it. Additionally, during difficult times, such as layoffs and unpredictable market situations, Reiki can be offered as a means of rethinking one’s goals and career path. Even today, many organizations are yet to adapt to this new technique on a more permanent basis and revamp its structure(s) both internal and in terms of work culture in order to get the maximum out its employees and in creating an atmosphere of recognition, reward, and gratification. With Reiki this all this is indeed possible.