Performing artistes often face unique challenges that can affect their mental, emotional, and physical well-being. There are many actors in the film and television industry who have used and benefitted from reiki, a ‘spiritual life force energy’.
“It is an ancient science of healing found by Mikao Usui. I use it in my life frequently. Even before my shows, wherever I go, I practice reiki. I use it before my shoots, and even before talking to an audience. Reiki has really worked for me,” Hema Malini said in an earlier video. She learnt Reiki around 25 years ago. There are many other like her in this field. Bollywood actor Govinda has also spoken about reiki and how it has worked for him. Father-son duo, actors Suresh Oberoi and his son Vivek are also into reiki. TV actress Sakshi Tanwar has completed three levels and believes in the power of this energy healing technique.
Not just our desi celebrities but Hollywood biggies like Angelina Jolie, Cameron Diaz, Adele, Christina Aguilera, Gwyneth Paltrow, Nicole Kidman, Cara Delevingne and others are into Reiki.
Wellbeing advocate and trainer with over two decades of experience in integrating reiki, yoga, counselling and nutrition for holistic healing, Urvashi Puri, who has been in this field for many years and helped performing artistes, gave us a low down on this. “Reiki offers a comprehensive approach to helping performing artistes manage their unique challenges, providing a path to holistic healing and enhanced performance through relaxation, introspection, emotional balance, physical recovery, and spiritual growth.”
Urvashi explains that these challenges include believing they need to see themselves through the opinions or judgments of their audience, measuring success by others' acceptance, struggling to remain detached from others' opinions of their performance, finding it difficult to maintain the purity of intention and love for their art, adjusting to the idea that they need to create what is accepted by the audience, even if they don’t fully agree with it, to pay their bills, dealing with insecurities that arise from failures, feeling neglected, or receiving critical criticism, and insecurities about their appearance.
Urvashi Puri chanelling Reiki for a client Specific challenges for performers
Urvashi says, “Performers and actors face additional issues such as balancing role-playing with real-life identities, leading to identity issues, fear of being judged and the need for acceptance, leading to insecurity, coping with success and failure, facing letdowns and rejection, dealing with competition and comparisons, leading to jealousy and anger, balancing professional and personal life, often pretending to be something they are not to be accepted in social groups, becoming better communicators, and integrating spirituality into their profession, which can enhance their ability to meditate and perform better.” Reiki offers a unique approach to address these challenges, providing relaxation and stress relief by activating the parasympathetic nervous system.
Sufi and Bollywood singer Kavita Seth known for chartbusters like Iktara (Wake Up Sid), Tum Hi Ho Bandhu (Cocktail), Rangisari (Jugjugg Jeeyo) and others has been using the healing power of reiki for a while now. She says, “I am a reiki channel and I feel immense healing power of reiki. I have also given reiki to my fellow performers and singers and even they have benefitted from it.”
How Reiki Helps:
Reiki offers several benefits that can address many challenges shares Urvashi. “For relaxation and stress relief, reiki activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which balances the body’s “fight or flight” response with the “rest and digest” state. A relaxed mind boosts presence and enhances beauty and charm, introspection and self-confidence.” She elaborates on how reiki sessions create a calm headspace. It allows individuals to introspect and reconnect with themselves and their art, this introspection helps artistes regain self-confidence and belief in their art, overcoming the need for external validation, recognizing one’s strengths and accepting weaknesses constructively helps manage insecurities and criticism. "A calm headspace helps artistes overcome unnecessary competition and maintain healthy relationships with associates and competitors," Puri explains.
Actor, singer, mindfulness author and motivational speaker Raageshwari Loomba Swaroop says, “Reiki which originates from Japan is a powerful healing practice because as we heal others it cannot happen without self-improvement and self-actualisation and that’s what makes Reiki so powerful. The foundation is all about energy and I cannot heal you until I become the Fountainhead of positivity and love first.
Hence this movement can change the world.”
Physical Benefits:
Reiki aids in quick recovery from long, hard workdays, it helps cleanse thoughts, keeping the artist creative and focused, enhances overall creativity, supporting actors in their roles and directors in managing various aspects of a script.
Raageshwari says, “Healing is all about truly believing in the power of love and kindness and this message is so important in today’s times. Reiki has the purest philosophy that you have to be kind no matter what, because that is your personality, that is your core. The more unkind you are, the more kind I will be, and only that has the power to change an unkind person into a loving person. When our ancestors were praying upon the water when someone would be ill is a form of reiki because you’re chanting mantras you’re putting in positive energy trying to heal the other person. So on a basic level we are all healers as we are all filled with love.”
Spiritual Growth:
Regular self-practice or routine reiki sessions help artistes attain a balance between art, performance, and life, this balanced attitude can make the artist more meditative during performances, fostering personal growth similar to that of a spiritual seeker. "By integrating reiki into their routine, performing artistes can enhance their mental, emotional, and physical well-being, allowing them to perform at their best while maintaining a healthy and balanced life," Puri concludes.
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