PRACTICES BEHIND THE WORK
Across cultures and generations, healing practices have often included some form of touch, sound, stillness, and energy work. Today, modern research is beginning to explore how these practices may support the body, mind, and overall well-being.
1
REIKI
Reiki is a Japanese energy practice developed in the early 1900s by Mikao Usui. The word Reiki is often translated as “universal life energy.” During a session, the practitioner uses light touch or hands held just above the body to support relaxation, energetic balance, and the body’s natural ability to settle.
Reiki is often discussed within the broader field of biofield research, which explores the electrical, electromagnetic, and light-based activity naturally produced by living systems. While the exact mechanisms are still being studied, early clinical research has explored Reiki and other biofield therapies in relation to stress, anxiety, pain, fatigue, sleep, and quality of life, including as complementary support in cancer and palliative care settings.
2
TUNING FORKS
Tuning forks create a steady tone and vibration that the body can both hear and feel. They have long been used in medical settings to test hearing and vibration sense, which shows how directly the body responds to sound and vibration.
In a session, tuning forks may be used on or near the body, including along acupressure points, meridian pathways, or areas of tension. The vibration offers gentle sensory input that can help the body soften, settle, and reconnect with where stress is being held.
Research specific to therapeutic tuning forks is still developing, but their use is part of the broader field of sound, vibration, and body-based practices.
3
SOUND HEALING + SOUND BATHS
Sound and vibration have been used in healing and spiritual traditions across cultures for thousands of years, including chanting, drumming, singing bowls, gongs, and other instruments. Today, sound healing uses vibration, rhythm, and tone to help the body move into a more relaxed state.
From a nervous system perspective, sound gives the mind something steady to follow, which can make it easier to shift away from racing thoughts and into the body. Research on sound-based practices is growing, with studies exploring their potential impact on stress, mood, anxiety, fatigue, and sleep.
4
ACUPRESSURE
Acupressure is rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine, a system with a documented history dating back more than 2,000 years. It uses gentle pressure on specific points of the body, many of which are also used in acupuncture, but without needles.
Research on acupressure has explored its use for relaxation, stress, sleep, nausea, anxiety, and certain types of discomfort. From a nervous system perspective, intentional pressure and touch can help increase body awareness, soften tension, and support the body’s relaxation response.
5
MEDITATION
Meditation has been practiced for thousands of years across many spiritual, philosophical, and contemplative traditions. Today, meditation is also widely studied as a mind-body practice that helps train attention, awareness, and the ability to return to the present moment.
Research on meditation and mindfulness is stronger than many other complementary practices and has shown benefits for stress reduction, sleep, emotional regulation, anxiety, and overall well-being. Over time, meditation can help create more space between what is happening around you and how your nervous system responds.
