If you’ve been curious about energy work but don’t yet feel a strong connection to Reiki, this is for you.

First, tremendous thanks for the space in your inbox, particularly if Reiki hasn’t been your thing. I get it. Though Reiki is the practice that changed the trajectory of my life, I struggled with Reiki conceptually for a while. And, many of us—raises hand—don’t (yet) drop easily into stillness to spend an hour on a Reiki practitioner’s treatment table. We’re still wiggly, both physically and mentally. Us overthinking cerebral types spend our Reiki sessions in an eager, future-forward curiosity: “What can I expect? Will I relax? What was that noise? Did I lock my car?”

There's Hope

There’s hope for the energetically curious. Enter Yin Yoga, the chill roommate to vinyasa yoga’s high-energy party. I wrote previously about how Yin Yoga can improve our mental and emotional well-being by reducing resistance and increasing compassion and understanding.

If you’re newer to the practice of Yin Yoga, know that poses unfold slowly, lasting minutes, and delve deep into connective tissues, joints, ligaments, and tendons. The goal is to unblock your stagnant energy pathways (aka meridians) like a pro plumber for your energy (Chi/Ki/Prana). Yin is often a series of gentle stretches, deep breaths, and sprinkled philosophical comments from the teacher.

With subtle, controlled movements, Yin Yoga acts like a mini-excavation within, meticulously clearing stagnant energy pathways (meridians) for your energy to flow freely. Yin Yoga employs your intrinsic electric fields and currents to improve your body's health, like Reiki. This is because yoga practices stress your tissues, resulting in creating electric currents. “These currents send information through our tissues and communicate what is happening so that proper cellular responses [healing] can occur,” according to Yin Yoga expert Bernie Clark.

Different Path—Same Destination

According to Clark, Yin is like Reiki, because both increase your body’s communication pathways to promote healing. Both are an energetic rebalancing of your body, mind, and spirit.

Reiki invites you to surrender into a restorative posture. But, unlike Yin Yoga, Reiki allows you to lie still while you soak up the good vibes. While you rest, your practitioner channels universal energy (Reiki) through their hands to your auric chakras and physical body. It’s like giving your energy field a deep tissue massage, aiming to balance and realign your inner flow. You may experience tingles, temperature shifts, and emotional releases (yes, people get teary-eyed).

Sure, But Which One?

Both Yin Yoga and Reiki have their champions. Yin yogis swear by its stress-busting powers and improved flexibility. Reiki fans tout its ability to ease chronic pain, boost immunity, and even manifest and connect to their guides and spiritual teams.

Yin and Reiki both offer physical, mental, and energetic resilience and balance.