Reiki is a form of energy healing that originated in Japan in the early 20th century, according to the Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality and Healing.

It’s based on the idea that we all have an unseen “life force energy” that flows through our bodies, according to the International Center for Reiki Training. A Reiki practitioner gently moves her hands just above or on the client’s clothed body, with the intention of reducing stress and promoting healing by encouraging a healthy flow of energy.