Reiki means life force energy - something reporter Liz Todd hopes to attain in an afternoon in Malton

AS a stressed-out reporter covering a patch of more than 500 square miles, five towns, a national park, an RAF base and the east coast, relaxing is not something I have much time for. When my head hits the pillow I'm out like a light. And although I'm a stickler for my regulation eight hours' sleep, like many people I don't always wake up on a morning raring to get back to the office.

So when the chance came along to unwind for an afternoon, all in the name of work, I grabbed it enthusiastically.

Selma Khan is a Reiki practitioner who has been offering gentle healing time from her Malton base for the past six months. She first experienced Reiki almost ten years ago, and now practices professionally from The Healing Room at No 1 Health and Beauty in Malton.

But what exactly is it?

Reiki is a Japanese system of natural hands-on and distant healing, derived from ancient Buddhist practices.

It means life force energy, and is believed to work with the wisdom of your body, activating its healing potential and restoring balance.

It all sounded exactly what I was looking for - the promise of helping to restore balance and harmony on a spiritual, psychological and physical level. As I headed to the Healing Room on a hectic Monday afternoon I had high hopes of emerging a changed woman.

The atmosphere immediately put me at ease with soothing, but not distracting, music in the background.

We chatted for a while about my health and general well-being. It felt like a bit of a therapy session already, but it meant Selma had an idea of the kind of a person I am before she started the Reiki.

I laid down on the treatment table fully clothed with a blanket covering me. During the treatment, practitioners gently place their hands in a sequence of positions covering the whole body. Selma said some people can fall into a light sleep during the session, but each one experiences the treatment in their own way.

At first I was a bit unsure of what to expect and it was difficult to fully relax. I was busy thinking of what work was left in the office, whether I needed to go to the supermarket and had I booked my car in for a service?

But as the minutes went by there was a feeling I was leaving things behind.

It was as though worries were draining away and my limbs felt somehow lighter. I almost felt a bit dizzy with the realisation that I really didn't have to think about anything.

In a way it felt as though I had been in the room forever, but when the hour was up it seemed to have flown by. I hadn't fallen asleep - which I was convinced I would have done - but I did feel really relaxed and properly unwound. It felt luxurious to spend an hour on myself, but then I also felt as though I was ready to go back out and face the world.

I'm not sure after just one session whether I have got Reiki - Selma had an aura of calm about her which could never be said of me.

But I did feel better for having a fantastic hour of complete rest and relaxation, and perhaps with a few more sessions I would be ready to take on superhuman feats. It somehow made me feel more confident of my own abilities and belief in myself.

As one Reiki recipient put it, you can stop the world and get off.

It will still be there when you get back on again.

Find out more...

- To make a booking or find out more about Reiki, contact Selma Khan on 01653 693690

- New Moon Alternatives, 73 Walmgate, York, is hosting several Reiki events. For more details, ring 01904 733937

Updated: 09:25 Monday, March 24, 2003