Energy work has recently become a very popular term with all sorts of modalities, like reflexology or acupuncture, becoming more mainstream. However, energy work is a very broad term and you may have asked yourself the question, what is energy work?
Energy work, also sometimes referred to as energy medicine, is actually an ancient practice and many forms of it have existed for 1000s of years.
You are maybe already familiar with a few forms of energy work, such as acupuncture or reiki, but there are many different energy work modalities out there.
In this blog post, I am going to explore the basics of energy work to give you a more complete understanding of it and to remove the mystery around it. And in case you were thinking about using energy work to enhance your well-being, this blog post will give you a good idea of what energy work is.
What is energy work?
We are all made up of energy. Everything that exists is energy. And even more importantly, energy and the flow of energy throughout our bodies shapes how we feel, think, and live and keep the body’s cells healthy, functioning, and alive.
Your energy plays a crucial role in your physical, emotional, mental and spiritual well-being.
Energy workers combine learned knowledge and intuition to either move stagnant or blocked energy in the body. Or they reduce the energy flow in the body where it is too much, as well as help to increase the flow of energy. This works with the body’s electromagnetic field.
Energy work is a holistic practice where healers channel universal life force into a patient to restore flow, balance, harmony, and vitality within the body.
Our energetic bodies are intertwined closely with our physical bodies. All the traumas we carry physically, emotionally, and psychologically impact the functionality of our energy system. And if our energy system is out of alignment, this affects the functioning of our physical body.
To maintain overall health, the energy within our body needs space to flow freely. The energy in your body may become blocked due to trauma, toxins in your environment, or prolonged stress. This disturbs the energy flow in our bodies, which over time can contribute to mental, emotional, and physical ailments and disease.
Energy work includes a variety of holistic healing modalities. Some examples are Reiki, light therapy, acupuncture, reflexology, emotional freedom technique or tapping, breathwork, and more.
What is your energetic body?
Your energetic body, also referred to as your aura, is the electromagnetic field that surrounds the human body. Further, every organism and object in the universe has an electromagnetic field.
Your energetic body is usually about 2-3 feet around your body, on all sides, as well as above your head and below your feet. It has an oval shape and is a collection of electro-magnetic energy.
The aura is made up of seven levels or auric bodies. And those layers are connected to the chakras, the energy centers of our body.
There are seven main chakras that run down the spine. Chakras are an ancient system that originated in India. If you want to learn more about them, I wrote a whole blog post on them which you can find here.
Each chakra has different physiological and psychological characteristics associated with it. When you learn about the chakras and the symptoms that show up when they are blocked, you can begin to recognize where your energy may either be stagnant or too free-flowing and how to fix it.
Everything in the universe is made up of molecules that are vibrating at different frequencies and we are no different. We are made up of molecules that are constantly vibrating and radiating balanced (high) or unbalanced (low) frequencies. When our bodies are misaligned energetically they radiate low vibrational frequencies. This can materialize into physical symptoms.
If you would like to learn more in-depth about the energetic body and your aura, read my blog post: The energetic body: Your aura.
What does an energy worker do?
There are different types of energy workers who all practice different modalities of energy work. What an energy worker does, depends on the type of energy work they practice. Some types of energy work can even be performed remotely or online making it accessible to most people.
Energy workers have different skills and techniques for sensing energy in the body through the gift of seeing, hearing, or feeling energy.
Energy workers help to facilitate the healing and the re-alignment of the energy in the body.
Some modalities may include touch but others work within the client’s aura using very minimal body contact. Both can have powerful effects on the individual.
One example is Reiki. This is a Japanese technique known for helping promote healing and reducing stress. Energy workers will either lay their hands on the body or hover over specific chakras.
In reflexology, a reflexologist will apply pressure on different points on the feet and hands that correspond to specific muscles or organs in the body. This improves the health of the related area in the body. This practice is almost like a massage.
Whereas in acupuncture, an ancient Chinese healing technique, tiny, solid metal needles are put into the skin and then activated through gentle and specific movements by the practitioner. Another energy work modality is the practice of neo-emotional release, a blend of precise pressure, vocal guidance, and breath is used to release energy blockages in the body.
Although these are all very different techniques, they are all examples of energy work. The main goal of energy work is to enhance overall well-being. And changes can be witnessed on the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual level.
Overall, energy work operates on the fact that everything is made up of energy, and by consciously working with energy we can create changes in the physical world.
Benefits of energy work
There are many benefits to energy work, from emotional to physical, or releasing long-hold blockages to finally thrive in life again. By activating your body’s energy system to remove energetic blocks, you are actually stimulating the body’s inherent ability to heal itself.
Energy work should not be used as a replacement for medical treatment and care. Rather it should be used to complement and aid your treatment.
Some of the benefits of energy work include improved mood and emotional well-being, reduced stress and increased relaxation. Also, better sleep and improved insomnia symptoms, lower blood pressure, and improved pain management.
A study published in the March-April 2017 issue of Holistic Nursing Practice even provided some evidence for this. Researchers found that a group of patients who received Reiki saw significant reductions in pain, blood pressure, breathing rate, and anxiety pre and post-surgery when compared to the groups who did not receive Reiki. You can read more about the results of the trial here.
A huge benefit of energy work is that it lowers your stress levels and helps your body return to a state of relaxation.
Energy work helps to calm down your nervous system and helps your body to heal.
Our bodies are unable to heal when they are constantly in a stressed state. And in today’s society, with a big focus on hustle and bustle, we are often operating in a fight or flight mode, which can have huge effects on our health.
Another important point is, energy healing is also not only for spiritual people. Although it is recommended that you approach it with an open mind to receive the maximum benefits. Whether you are anxious, stressed, or drained, an energy healing session can help you to relax and feel more balanced.
Is energy work safe?
Energy work is non-invasive and you will feel little to no physical discomfort during your energy work session. You may however feel some strong emotions or physical sensations like tiredness, anger, sadness, emptiness, or lightheadedness. This mostly occurs when a deep energetic block is released from your body.
Energy work is safe for most people, including the elderly, children, and those with health conditions. This varies between the different energy work modalities and you should always research the specific modality before you try it.
You should also use discretion when choosing a practitioner and find someone with good reviews to ensure you receive the best treatment possible.
Experience energy work
Energy work is a powerful practice that when incorporated into your life. It can help you to restore flow, balance, and harmony within your body.
Hopefully the question “What is energy work” has been answered for you now. If you still have some questions leave a comment below. I would love to help you understand this beautiful practice more.
And if you would like to experience energy work firsthand, then check out my energy healing page here. I offer remote energy healing sessions where you can experience the power of working with energy. Get ready to drop deep into your body and let the magic of energy work through you. A transformative healing session on the physical, emotional and spiritual level.
