What is Reiki?

From Reiki.org:

Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It is administered by "laying on hands" and is based on the idea that an unseen "life force energy" flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. If one's "life force energy" is low, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stress, and if it is high, we are more capable of being happy and healthy.

The word Reiki is made of two Japanese words - Rei which means "God's Wisdom or the Higher Power" and Ki which is "life force energy". So Reiki is actually "spiritually guided life force energy."

A treatment feels like a wonderful glowing radiance that flows through and around you. Reiki treats the whole person including body, emotions, mind and spirit creating many beneficial effects that include relaxation and feelings of peace, security and wellbeing. Many have reported miraculous results.

… Its use is not dependent on one's intellectual capacity or spiritual development and therefore is available to everyone. While Reiki is spiritual in nature, it is not a religion. It has no dogma, and there is nothing you must believe in order to learn and use Reiki. In fact, Reiki is not dependent on belief at all and will work whether you believe in it or not. Many people find that using Reiki puts them more in touch with the experience of their spirituality.

What is Shamanic Reiki?

Shamanic Reiki is essentially a combination of the early-20th century origins of traditional Reiki with older practices found in cultures around the world. Like traditional Reiki, we call on universal life force energy for healing and well-being. However, in Shamanic Reiki, we also call on and connect with nature with all its elements, animals, plants, and spirits. Some say that it is more suited to healing that must reach past physical and energetic layers of the body into emotional and spiritual realms. Like Reiki, Shamanic Reiki is a spiritual practice for people from any faith.

What are the benefits of Shamanic Reiki?

• DEEP RELAXATION AND STRESS REDUCTION: Induces deep relaxation, which strengthens the immune system’s ability to respond to daily stressors.

• RELEASE OF PAIN AND DISCOMFORT: Chronic discomfort and pain can be eased as the body’s natural healing mechanisms are supported.

• RELEASE OF BLOCKED MEMORIES: Energy and bodywork can release memories and trauma from the tissues of the body where they are stored.

• INTEGRATION OF EMOTIONAL ISSUES: Deep relaxation induces a calm and reflective state within which emotional issues can be integrated on one’s own, or with the help of a professional therapist.

• EXPANDED SPIRITUAL AWARENESS: An experience of ‘expanded awareness’ and the goodness and interconnectedness of all life can be experienced, inducing a profound state of well-being.

What should I wear and bring to group yoga class?

The studio has plenty of yoga mats, blocks, bolsters, and straps. Feel free to bring your own props if you like! Please wear comfortable clothing that allows for maximum movement. In colder months, I recommend socks and a top layer like a sweater or sweatshirt, perhaps for the beginning of class and the very end. Water bottles (anything with a lid) are also great.

What should I wear and bring to an in-person healing or coaching session?

Please wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothing. You don’t need anything else! We do have a water cooler for refilling your water bottle as well as a hot beverage station with instant coffee, tea, cocoa, and cider.

What should I have on hand for virtual yoga sessions and healing services?

For yoga, you’ll need a mat or a blanket and enough room to move around safely. For yoga as well as other services, you may like to have props like bolsters or blocks (pillows and stacked books work as well), a blanket, and an eye mask. For healing services, please have a quiet space with enough room to lie down (if you like), a journal or notebook, and something to write with. It’s also nice to have a candle and something for smudging/cleansing, like sage, palo santo, mugwort, or sweetgrass, if it’s safe to burn these where you are. I recommend sourcing these things from an indigenous person where you can be sure they were harvested responsibly. I recommend Amanda Rachel’s crystal store ARC CRYSTALS.

Whatever service or class you are enjoying, it’s nice to have some water or tea nearby. Finally, for the best audio experience, wireless headphones are recommended, but not necessary.

Where did the name Zata come from?

It comes from the first two letters of Zachar and Tajuddin, my maiden name and last name. At first, it was just a placeholder name for the LLC my husband and I created together (I thought I would have a different “doing business as” name for my business). Then, it started to really grow on me, as I discovered ZA-TA sounds like the first two syllables in the mantra SA-TA-NA-MA. The literal meaning of this mantra is - SA: Infinity, TA: Life, NA: Death, MA: Rebirth. This mantra translates to shedding the old you, and becoming who you were meant to be; your true self. Finally, ZA-TA sounds like VATA as well, which is one of the Ayurvedic doshas or constitutions. Through my journey, I have come to appreciate that while I have a lot of Kapha dosha (earth & water elements) in my physical body, I have tons of Vata (air & ether elements) in my mind and spirit. So Zata has several double meanings that resonate with my own personal journey and with the invitation to heal and transform I am offering to others.