The spiritual healing modality of Reiki is being regulated as massage in Florida, Utah and North Dakota, while twenty massage therapy boards exempt the practice of Reiki from massage licensure throughout the US. Reiki and massage are entirely different modalities, and work with different parts of the human system. The primary intent of Reiki, a non-invasive healing energy channeled through the hands, is to affect the spirit and the soul, while the primary intent of massage, a manipulative technique using the hands, is to affect the physical body.
Secondary effects of Reiki can include relaxation of the body, while secondary effects of massage can include a feeling of well-being in the spirit and soul. Reiki can also be used in conjunction with massage therapy. However, to say that these modalities are the same or should be regulated as the same thing is incorrect and misleading. In addition, and most importantly, regulation of the spiritual healing modality of Reiki violates the First Amendment rights of Reiki Practitioners, and constitutes a monopoly in restraint of trade by these massage boards.
The New York Massage Board reversed their position that Reiki is massage in 1999 after seeing a demonstration of Reiki at a board meeting, noting that Reiki did not fit the definition of massage as specified in the NY state massage
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I have been a Reiki practitioner since 1993, and have taught Reiki since 1996. My competency in Reiki has never been compromised due to the fact that I lack a massage education. The competency of my students to perform Reiki is not compromised either. I don't want to knead, stroke, tap, press, stretch, compress or manipulate my clients' muscles with my hands, nor do I want to perform unclothed bodywork. I simply want to channel the spiritual healing energy of Reiki into their bodies and touch their spirit, to help them allow more healing into their