Students Practice Reiki on Volunteers in South Philadelphia
Learn Reiki Philadelphia has announced an expanded course offering and additional location for their Fall 2009/Winter 2010 season. The organization, which provides treatments and training in the Japanese touch therapy of Reiki at a price chosen by the student or client by using a sliding payment scale has seen a surge in enrollment in recent months despite an ailing local and national economy.
Reiki is a gentle, effective method with no side effects, often used to speed physical healing, to provide relief from pain and anxiety, and to support emotional well being. The practice is used in dozens of American hospitals including The Hospital at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, but is most commonly found in high end Spas. Reiki can be easily learned and applied by anyone in a matter of weeks or months.
Danielle Stimpson founded Learn Reiki Philadelphia to bring Reiki out of the Spa and into the many working class neighborhoods of Philadelphia, operating out of other socially responsible small businesses and community spaces to limit overhead costs. Using an affordable sliding payment scale, students and clients choose their own price for services. “I like the sliding scale, it lets people decide what price works for them without having to justify their finances to anyone else,” says Danielle. Her program has been well received in West Philadelphia's Cedar Park and South Philadelphia's Hawthorne sections, leading her to expand into a third location in West Philadelphia.
In addition to the health benefits of receiving Reiki, learning to practice Reiki can be a lucrative career skill. To date, two graduates of Learn Reiki Philadelphia have started seeing clients of their own-a fact that Ms. Stimpson, herself only a High School graduate, is most proud of. “To me, that is the most inspiring thing, to see a student blossom into a professional bodyworker.”
Enrollment is currently open for Levels 1 and 2 as well as 4-week basic trainings in South and West Philadelphia. More classes are expected to be announced in the coming weeks. For class dates and to enroll, visit Learn Reiki Philadelphia's website at www.learnreikiphiladelphia.com or contact Danielle Stimpson at learnreikiphiladelphia@
