Mastering your energy | The Holistic Loft
The Holistic Loft
Located in the heart of Lexington, The Holistic Loft is a sanctuary to relax and rejuvenate your mind, body, and spirit. The space offers holistic services and treatments to promote overall health and wellness. At the Loft, you can choose from a wide range of treatments, from energy healing sessions to yoga classes; you can find a treatment that is right for you.
The Holistic Loft Founder and Reiki Master, Eleanor Mila, created the space to provide a welcoming environment, particularly for women undergoing change and transition. Eleanor wants the Loft to be a place where even those without experience in reiki or spirituality can find something they are missing. She is also passionate about empowering her fellow practitioners and creating a ripple effect of positivity.
Reiki
Reiki is a holistic energy healing system developed in 1922 by Mikao Usui, a Japanese Buddhist. It is a practice that encourages energy flow to restore balance and harmony to the body and mind. Reiki practitioners use the hands to transfer universal energy to the body, either on or just above the body, to promote relaxation, stress relief, and healing.
Mikao Usui believed that Reiki was a way to help people heal themselves, with the power to heal not only physical ailments but also emotional, mental, and spiritual issues. Reiki is a gentle, non-invasive healing form that helps with various physical and emotional problems. It is said to help relieve pain, reduce stress and anxiety, increase relaxation, and promote emotional and spiritual well-being.
Q&A
Q: How have you added a modern twist to traditional Japanese Reiki?
A: Traditional Usui Reiki involves being a conduit for healing energy and allowing life-force energy to pass through both you and the receiver. In recent years, a few places have offered Reiki with a shamanic twist that includes sage and crystals, as well as a specific language and package. However, this type of Reiki wasn't the right fit for everyone, so I decided to start my own more mainstream version. I started practicing as a twenty-something millennial dealing with the stress of figuring out my career and navigating relationships; I wanted to provide Reiki that was more relatable and accessible. By making my type of Reiki more mainstream, I made it more flexible and inclusive for people of all different backgrounds and experiences.
Q: How do you explain Reiki to skeptics or people who fear it?
A: Many people skeptical of Reiki are fact-based and science-driven. Even those who feel they may be doing something wrong when Reiki works for them can find comfort that it is an extension of their spirituality and religion rather than a replacement. I grew up Catholic, and when I started practicing and went to training, I always thought of it in this way. I had already begun to meditate and journal before I found Reiki, and I felt closer to God every time I did it. I considered Reiki a magnifier of my connection to God rather than a substitute. Clergy have even echoed this point of view. I have had clergy come to me for Reiki treatments, and they've often been the least fearful of my patients. They have even told me that they were taught similar practices in seminary school, though it was simply called something different. This further affirms the idea that Reiki is a connection to source, and when we connect to God, we connect to source.
Q: With all the other wellness trends, what do you think differentiates Reiki?
I believe that a Reiki session's guidance component is critical to effectively debrief what occurred during the session. Reiki is energy work, which can be incredibly powerful and effective on its own, but the session's guidance portion helps validate the client's feelings. Some clients come in with emotions they are unsure of or a problem they feel stuck on. Through Reiki, the client can be unblocked and start taking practical action steps. The guidance portion is far more than just talking or meditating. It's a combination of mental, spiritual, and physical components that can be used to help the client move forward holistically. Here, the client can gain insight into their feelings and take steps to start making positive changes in their life.
Q: Why should someone try Reiki?
A: If you have been exploring spiritual practices such as yoga, meditation, and others and feel like something is missing, or if you are transitioning through a significant life event and could use some guidance, Reiki is worth looking into. This is what I did when I discovered Reiki, and it has been beneficial in my journey. Reiki is a powerful tool that can help bring healing and clarity to those who practice it.
Q: What to do before & after your session to prepare?
A: Honestly, because it's energy, you don't need to do anything to prepare – come as is. Many first-time clients feel stressed, worried, and often apologetic for being in that mind. The Holistic Loft is an excellent place for women to be themselves. We are all so used to pleasing people and often put on a persona, but here it's all about letting go and taking an exhale – whether that's through crying, moving, or simply venting. After the session, there's no need to do anything to reap the benefits; however, I always advise clients to take my guidance and do the homework I suggest during the debrief. In addition to that, I also encourage clients to follow their intuition and do whatever makes them feel most relaxed and comfortable. This could be taking a bubble bath, canceling plans, or whatever else they feel drawn to do. Clients who have experienced the most significant shifts are the ones who come in consistently and do the homework so that when they return, they are already in step two, not redoing step one.
Q: How often must one go to Reiki to reap the benefits?
A: The frequency of reiki treatment will depend on why you are seeking the practice. For example, if you are in a 'red flag life transition,' coming in weekly or every other week is recommended, as this will help to calm down any static energy and provide a space to pause, breathe and gain clarity. On the other hand, for those beginning a transitional phase, coming in every two weeks is suggested, followed by monthly and quarterly maintenance. Consistent treatment will provide measurable and noticeable results.
