The Training & Practice of Reiki
Part 3
by Peter Warnock, ITEC Dips. Reiki Master, MIPTI.

The thing that I find most disturbing about the way Reiki is being spread is the short duration of Master Courses. I fail to understand how people can expect to teach after doing a Master’s course in two or three days – let alone the one day “quickies’’.

It just seems that people are in a hurry to qualify with little concern for the effectiveness of the training. When learning to drive you would not be competent to teach this after just a few months experience – Reiki is no different.
The students need to be taken carefully through the process of becoming a Master and need ongoing support and guidance. I ask people to ask themselves honestly why they want to become a Master. Do they really

want to teach Reiki to the highest quality or are they doing it for financial reasons or even to boost their ego? Some Masters, I find, are telling students, often students trained by other Masters, that they are ready for their Master’s course without checking to ensure that they are competent or confident with Second degree.

HIGHEST GOOD

If people were only interested in becoming a instant Master without doing an ongoing Master’s course then I would question their intent. Do they have respect for what they are doing or for the people they want to do it to? If it is for the Highest Good then it needs to be done properly with full guidance from the Master.
Reiki training seems to becoming a ‘’free for all’’ with no guidelines to follow – where anything goes – and is creating confusion among students. Because of this the quality of training is dramatically dropping. Many Masters are training students from First Degree up to Master Teacher in only a few short months and allowing these new Masters to teach almost immediately. I have recently heard of a student in Cornwall taking First, Second and Third Degrees in TWO days – for a handsome fee at that! I feel that it is essential that the students take what they have learned and integrate it properly using the guidelines set out by their Master to maximise the benefits of the course. Then, if they still wish to further their knowledge they can enroll on a further course. When teaching one has to speak one’s own truth and not just learn to repeat their Master has told them. Everyone’s truth and perception is slightly different.

UTMOST IMPORTANCE

I believe that in order to attend and take maximum benefit from a Master’s course the student needs to have properly integrated both Reiki First and Second degrees (separately) and should have been working on both themselves daily and others for at least a year after taking the Second degree. It is of the utmost importance that we all set our own standards to the highest possible degree.
After careful contemplation I have split the Reiki Masters Course into two separate modules – Master Practitioner and Master Teacher.
The duration of the Reiki Master Practitioner (RMP) modules four days with time allowed to absorb and practice that which is learnt. It is for those who are truly dedicated to integrating Reiki into their lives and who feel passionate about keeping the standards of Reiki practice as high as possible. It is also very important that students should prepare themselves for the Masters course by practice, practice and yet more practice of everything they have previously learnt – self treatments, treatments on others, distance healing, sending to the past – anything and everything.
Part One of the R.M.P. training is a two day intensive workshop in which students learn the mantras (sounds) and yantras (symbols) and the use of the traditional Usui and the Tibetan Reiki Master symbols. There are specific exercises to practice daily during the following month to maximise the benefits of the integration period. Case studies are also a part of this practice and integration.
Part Two is a day learning new techniques – again followed by a month of daily practice and integration.
Part Three is a day reinforcing everything that has been and practiced. Problems and queries are ironed out and techniques honed. Students will then be assessed to see if they are ready to receive the RMP Certificate. If not then further practice may be necessary.

DEDICATED LIVING

The Reiki Master Teacher (RMT) module will be held several months after the Reiki Master Practitioner (RMP) module has been awarded and is only for those who are dedicated to living and teaching Reiki – it is not a part time commitment and there should be no rush to take it - if students are in a hurry to do it then the chances are that they are not ready for it!
The format of training is similar to the RMP course and covers the process of attunement and how to run Reiki courses. Again daily practice exercises are given and time is allowed to assimilate that which is learnt. Monitoring and observing other First and Second Degree classes is required so that following assessments the new Master will be fully competent and confident in running classes.
Those I train to become Master Teachers are asked to give an undertaking that their own teaching will follow similar guidelines as those under which they are taught. This includes establishing their students own personal commitment, teaching in small groups and insisting on a substantial integration period between students taking First, Second and Master courses. This helps to ensure that what I believe to be an honest and high standard of Reiki training is maintained and will grow.
Shorter courses may be cheaper, and I repeat only MAY be cheaper, but inevitably they lack in knowledge, understanding and training. Reiki is about Universal Love and not money or ego so may those who truly wish to spread the light of Reiki shine for all to see. If this is the path you wish to travel then I ask you to look carefully at your options.
I personally believe that everyone, especially therapists and healers of other disciplines, would benefit from being attuned to Reiki. Not only does it boost the effectiveness of all therapies but gives one the tools to take responsibility of their own health and healing. I know this to be true throughout my experience of practicing and teaching but also by speaking to therapists who have been attuned either by myself or other Reiki Masters. I personally teach with a conviction and passion for Reiki and feel that this passion is necessary in order to teach to the best of my ability.
I do not say that my way is the only way or even the best way but I do ask those who teach to constantly evaluate their training and to set the highest standards possible. It is up to all of us to strive to ensure that such a pure and sacred art does not become tarnished and disreputable because of the actions of a few.

Peter would welcome comments and questions. Please write to him here at I.P.T.I. or direct at

Healing Connections, Garden Cottage, The Old House,
The Street, Eyke, Suffolk IP12 2QW.
or by e-mail peter@reikitraining.plus.com

Therapists and the Law

In this issue our contributor outlines the responsibilities the owners of salons and clinics have in relation to work related illness. Work related illness is likely to be as important to the independent therapist since a livelihood is at stake. Risk awareness and self-assessment on similar lines is important – and you may be an employer yourself one day.

THE SALON, CLINIC AND WORK RELATED ILLNESS

Work Related Illness (WRI) is defined in various H&S Regulations. In essence it describes any illness or condition an employee suffers due to hazards at work. You, the employer, are responsible for preventing an employee being made ill by their work. I will discuss three of the more significant risks below, however, these are not the only risks in any salon or clinic.

MUSCULOSKELTAL DISORDERS (MSD)

Musculoskeltal Disorders are always high risk. A poor working environment, high levels of force or grip, highly repetitive work, excessive bending or stretching or any combinations of these cause MSD.
I can hear you say, “I do not allow any of these”. I say think again. Do you have any of the following? Staff who are frequently asked to do massages; more than four full body massages in a day is excessive. Tall staff who have to stoop to work on a client. Nail technicians who have heavy workloads; they can have high hand repetition rates. Equipment that cannot be easily adjusted to suit both client and staff needs place a strain on the staff member.
Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1992 (MHSWR) and Manual Handling Regulations 1992 (MHOR) give advice and are available as Stationery Office Publications.

DERMATITIS

In the H&S statistics of 1996/97 hairdressers and beauticians are listed as the most common professions associated with dermatitis, 9.9% of all cases. The causes are varied and may involve the exposure to common substances, however the exposure is at a higher frequency than normal. Wet working and frequent hand washing are also frequent causes of dermatitis. Management are responsible for assessing the risks and then deciding the best corrective action. MHSWR and COSHH regulations are sources of guidance.

RESPIRATORY SENSITISATION

This is an area in which the risk will vary greatly between salons and clinics and work that is undertaken. The sources of risk are treatments where the staff breathe in chemical vapours. Examples are nail treatments, aromatherapy and other treatments using volatile substances. Sometimes even the use of joss sticks used to create ‘atmosphere’ in some therapy situations may apply. (You may also recall reference to the now banned glutaraldehyde in a previous issue. Ed.).

HIDING THE CAUSE

The symptoms are asthma attacks, rhinitis and conjunctivitis. However these symptoms often do not occur at work but a few hours, months or even years after exposure and thus are often not initially attributed to work.
Once sensitization has occurred it is irreversible and the symptoms can then occur immediately on exposure. If they are delayed they are worse during the evening or night, again hiding the cause. MHSWR AND COSHH give advice on preventative action.

THE IMPORTANCE OF WRI

Leaving aside the ethical and moral considerations surrounding work related illness it is of importance to salon owners and managers for two cost reasons. WRI will cause increased costs due to time off work, loss of staff and the recruitment of new staff, retraining, low productivity and low staff morale.
The second cost reason is compensation for the injured person. Compensation claims are increasing both in frequency and value and such claims may also affect the employer’s insurance premiums. Reducing the health risks at work produces less fatigue, improved staff morale and motivation and increased productivity and profits.

THE MANAGEMENT OF RISKS

Management and staff must be motivated and must work together to ensure that the risks are identified and controlled. This requires a sound management plan to identify the sources of risk by reviewing the workplace looking specifically for WRI hazards.
corrective action
The review must include talking to the staff, reviewing sickness records, watching staff work and contacting all suppliers to obtain guidance and Safety Data Sheets for all products supplied. If problems are found then a decision must be taken to correct it. The result must be affordable and preferably should not include the use of Personal Protective Clothing (PPE).
PPE is considered the last resort, however in many cases it is the only method of handling chemicals that cannot be replaced with non-toxic alternatives.
Corrective action must be explained to staff and then implemented. On completion of the implementation phase the results should be monitored to ensure the results were as expected and that over the months the treatments do not change rendering the corrective action irrelevant.
Work related illness costs you and your staff money and it is not worth the hassle when good safety management can solve problems - corrective action costs much less than a court fine and possible compensation.

This article is written as a general article on Health and Safety. It is not authoritative and is meant to serve as a pointer to where to gain detailed information. I will happily provide specific information for salons but
only by visiting the salon and undertaking an assessment. For further information please telephone or fax
me on 01267 238143.

R.H.Hacon Williams, MIIRSM, MILog.

The Data Protection Act 1998

You were probably exempt before - but are you now? Since the introduction of the Act in 1998 many small businesses have been exempt compliance – but no longer!

From October 24th. this year the Act has applied to all businesses, regardless of size, will have to ‘notify’ the Information Commissioner – there will be few exceptions. Whether you are a sole trader, a partnership or limited company failure to ‘notify’ as a data controller could result in penalties with limits in excess of £5,000.
The purpose of the Act is to protect people about whom businesses hold and process (use) stored personal information. The Act also give individuals (Data subjects) right of access to the stored information and certain rights concerning its use.
The Act also places obligations on the holders of the information – the data controllers – for safe keeping and avoidance of loss or misuse together with other safeguards.
Businesses that rely solely on manual (non-automated) records are not required to notify themselves to the commissioner but are advised to assume that the personal records that they hold and use for business purposes fall within the definition of the Act and should be treated accordingly.
There is a lot of information and straight forward help and advice on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.dataprotection.gov.uk This includes a new publication, “The Data Protection Act 1998 – Legal Guidance” available as a download or free on request, from Publications, Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire,
SK9 5AF. (Tel: 01625 545745)
A Self-assessment guide to notification exemption and application form are also available.

I.P.T.I. - hitherto an exempt organisation – has to comply with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998 that came into force on the 24th, October 2001. We have to inform all members of the circumstances under which personal information is held and may be used. This is an important notice and we would ask you to read it carefully.

NOTICE TO MEMBERS PROCESSING AND USE OF INFORMATION

1/ Personal Data
Any information you may provide may be held by HSBC Insurance Brokers Limited and insurers in connection with the insurance cover which you have asked us to arrange. It may be used by HSBC Insurance Brokers Limited or insurers, relevant staff in making a decision concerning your insurance application and for the purpose of servicing any cover which may be arranged including claims handling which for such purposes may necessitate the provision of your information to third parties.
2/ Claims and Underwriting Exchange Register
Insurers pass information to the Claims and Underwriting Exchange Register, run by Insurance Database Services Ltd. (IDS Ltd.). The aim is to help check information provided and also to prevent fraudulent claims.
When we deal with your request for insurance, insurers may search the register. When you tell us about an incident (such as fire, water damage or theft) which may or may not give rise to a claim, insurers pass information relating to it to the register. You can ask for more information about this. You should show this notice to anyone who has an interest in the property insured under the policy
3/ Credit References
Insurers may search files of credit reference agencies in connection with your insurance. They may keep a record of the search.
Further checks and searches maybe carried out from time to time for the purposes of fraud prevention, identity checks and credit control. Credit reference agencies may be given detail of any non-payment by you in the event that a demand is made but no satisfactory proposal received for business payment.

Please note: Under the data protection legislation you can ask in writing for a copy of certain personal records held about you.
A charge may be made for this service.

Shiatsu : A Complementary Medicine
by Tom Litten MA, BEd, DS, FSI, BRCP, Dip IHBC

Dear John Cragg

I offer this in response to your article “Insurance for Therapy Practitioners” (Positive Health, December 2000) and to bring together aspects of a conversation that we have been having for many years.
The trigger provided by your article was the omission of any reference to insurance that covers the practitioner making diagnosis of a client’s need and constructing a treatment that is focussed on that diagnosis. As you know, ICM argues that “medicine” is the appropriate label for a modality that has a basis for diagnosis and can treat in a manner specific to the diagnosis. This definition is often quoted as the nub of the differences that exist between the ICM and BCMA.

MAJOR INFLUENCE

The two most significant reports on CAM in recent years chose to duck the question as too divisive to be helpful. The EU report, that started life as the Lannoye Report, coined the phrase “non-conventional medical discipline” and the FIM report “the Next Five Years” simply called the field “CAM”.
Both acknowledge that some of the modes claimed to diagnose and others did not, then listed what they believed to be the predominant modes in the field.
So, what about Shiatsu? The major influence in British Shiatsu has been the Shiatsu Society. They are the oldest register and, probably, the biggest. Other registers have come into existence, frequently as a direct result of dissatisfaction with the Society, but all of them have been influenced by the Society. I can speak of the BRCP, Shiatsu International and the Society.
All of these have some general agreements about their requirement, even if specific points are contentious. The three most important points of agreements for this discussion are:
• Practitioners should know and be facile with at least two different models of Shiatsu;
• Practitioners should know and be facile with at least two different models of Shiatsu diagnosis;
• Final assessment of candidates for registration should include some independent evaluation and validation.
The three bodies referred to earlier all have these requirements and all offer insurance that covers registered practitioner to make diagnoses and treatments that respond to the diagnoses.

DELIBERATE DECISION

There has been a growth in the use of the word “Shiatsu” and in the teaching of short courses of Shiatsu-like techniques for therapists from other modalities.
Some of the Shiatsu registers have shunned such courses and their students, but one (Shiatsu International) has created a register specifically for these “relaxation and feel-good Shiatsu” therapists, and an insurance that is appropriate to their level of skill. This is a deliberate decision to embrace these therapists and to encourage them to aspire to the full levels of training and skill. It also enables students of Shiatsu to be registered and earning whilst still studying for their full “medical Shiatsu” recognition.
So Shiatsu meets the ICM definition and holds to the concomitant claim that its Practitioners should continue to practice autonomously and that clients should have the right to choose their treatment mode.

Mr. Litten taught mathematics at Comprehensive schools in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire until taking early retirement in 1992. He undertook training in body massage and then in Shiatsu. He believes that Shiatsu is a true ‘complementary medicine’ and works to achieve that recognition. He has been vice-chair of the Shiatsu Society, is a Shiatsu advisor to the BRCP, a shiatsu delegate to BGCCM and a member of the Advisory Group of Shiatsu International, for whom he is a representative on the General Shiatsu Council, the newly formed forum hoping to bring the profession together into a recognised regulatory body.

The issues raised by Mr. Litten are particularly relevant at this time when the future of Complementary and Alternative therapies are under so much discussion.

Readers’ views and comments are welcome and will be sent on to our correspondent.

Dodge the Data Dodge

A bogus Data Collection Enforcement Agency has been condemned by the Advertising Standard Authority.
The so-called agency sends out “Final Notices” to companies warning that failure to register is a criminal offence and demands £95 + VAT.
The organisation is wholly unofficial and the Information Commissioner (formerly the Data Protection Registrar) has confirmed this noting also that the official registration fee is £35 and no VAT.
If you receive such a demand ignore it or better still report it to your local trading standards office – in the meantime do check your own need to comply or exemption as advertised in the main article.

B.C.M.A. NEWS The Professional Register. The Association is promoting its Register to provide direct referral of professional therapists direct to the increasing number of enquiries from members of the public

The B.M.C.A. is well known to libraries, the N.H.S. careers advisers health care organisations and an entry in the Register provides added professional status and creditability. Members on the register are given a copy of the logo with ‘B.C.M.A. Registered’ for advertising and promotional purposes and may use the letters BCMA (Reg.) and you receive a copy of the B.C.M.A. newsletter ‘The Journal’ which will help you keep abreast of changes and developments in Complementary and Alternative Medicine here in the UK and also throughout the EU.
The register is cross referenced and those practising multiple therapies or from different premises may include all relevant information; all for a current annual fee of £29.50
The Association’s website, if you elect to be entered on it, will provide you with further direct connection with potential clients.
For further information contact the BCMA direct on 0845 345 5977 or by post to P.O.Box 2074, Seaford, BN15 1HQ

The B.C.M.A. Away-day

We received a letter from our member Iain Naylor of Crieff, Scotland who attended the Away-day held at Centre Parc, Thetford, Norfolk. He writes,
‘From the information received from the B.M.C.A. I along with most of the other attendees was a little unsure as to what to expect. There were representatives from a diverse range of complementary therapies all of whom seemed to be there to discover what the B.C.M.A. is doing for us. We had come together to share our ideas in a relaxed informal atmosphere.’
After introductions, the morning session resumed with several participants having agreed to demonstrate some of the lesser known therapies – magnet therapy, spinal touch, kinesiology.
All the talks were very informative and everyone was involved in one way or another, all of us sharing a simple massage technique with one another.
After lunch took a break from therapy and joined in an activity fun-time challenge. A team building exercise which brought together our group of ‘strangers’. With time to spare I was asked to give an impromptu lesson in Tai Chi, in the best place possible, on a green surrounded by trees next to a lake. I closed this with a simple demonstration of the power of Tai Chi, a moving body demonstration which I am pleased to say worked with everyone who was tempted to try.
The Day closed with a recap of the day’s events and a brainstorming session ‘Further ways ahead for the B.C.M.A.’
The aim was for members to get to know each other, to create a desire to work together and to prepare to meet the challenging times that out therapies face in the next few years. Organised by the Vice-Chairman Terry Cullen he explained the purpose saying, “This is the first time this has been done and it will work if everyone pulls together. When we find out about what others do we can better help one another. We then have more knowledge without feeling threatened and are better able to create links with each other for the benefit of our Practitioners and the public as a whole”