I don't think the area where I live would be considered in the "bible belt" but certainly there are members of certain churches who regard energy work and even yoga as being contrary to their faith. At one time I had a massage therapist working in my clinic doing "medical massage" and she also taught classes in Reiki at another location. She had a notice on our bulletin board advertising her classes. One of her clients saw the advertisement and asked her in horror, if she was a devil worshiper! This is a rather extreme reaction, but I also know people who think that the meditation of yoga opens the mind to satan.
On another level, there are clients who attend their massage therapist for physical modalities only and do not believe energy work is effective. They would probably resent paying for a treatment that included energy work.

Stephen Jeffrey said:

Hi Lee, are there problems for therapists in " the bible belt " ?
I certainly would not include intentional energy work without prior consent.

lee kalpin said:

I thnk it is very important to discuss with the client before combining energy work and massage. It does not have to necessarily be a discussion about exactly how much time will be spent on each, but rather to determine what the client's expectations are for their massage.
Some people are not receptive to the idea of energy work and would be upset or even frightened if they were aware that it was being done. Members of some churches believe that energy work comes from the devil!

This is an interesting reference for some Catholic clients. http://www.catholic.net/index.php?option=zenit&id=25540

I think there is a distinct difference between Reiki and practices based in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) however. TCM has years of practical application and published materials, with a good portion of the world viewing it as a primary health care method. Touch for health, light touch meridian therapies, and five element energy therapies are based in TCM. This differs from less documented forms of energy work.

These case studies might be useful when talking to clients.
http://www.innersource.net/em/resources/case-histories.html

i visit my church each saturday, and i have a lot of client who visit mi own church, and it's difficult to me even try to talk about reiki with them. i just don't touch the theme, because they have a different concept about energy work. so i really understand your point. but someones comes to me and at massage session ask about energy works and what i think, i first listen to them and then i give them the education about energy work, but others is better even try to talk about energyworks.

personally i not have problem with my faith and energy, i think God is a Great Energy, and give us the gift to be a energy tool to bring energy to others. but not everbody think like me :o)
For me, in my opinion according to my understanding of the Bible, I conclude that the apostles were practitioners of Reiki, its being connected with the Divine Energy to imposition of hands and healing the sick. but it's just my opinion.

lee kalpin said:

I don't think the area where I live would be considered in the "bible belt" but certainly there are members of certain churches who regard energy work and even yoga as being contrary to their faith. At one time I had a massage therapist working in my clinic doing "medical massage" and she also taught classes in Reiki at another location. She had a notice on our bulletin board advertising her classes. One of her clients saw the advertisement and asked her in horror, if she was a devil worshiper! This is a rather extreme reaction, but I also know people who think that the meditation of yoga opens the mind to satan.
On another level, there are clients who attend their massage therapist for physical modalities only and do not believe energy work is effective. They would probably resent paying for a treatment that included energy work.

Stephen Jeffrey said:

Hi Lee, are there problems for therapists in " the bible belt " ?
I certainly would not include intentional energy work without prior consent.

lee kalpin said:

I thnk it is very important to discuss with the client before combining energy work and massage. It does not have to necessarily be a discussion about exactly how much time will be spent on each, but rather to determine what the client's expectations are for their massage.
Some people are not receptive to the idea of energy work and would be upset or even frightened if they were aware that it was being done. Members of some churches believe that energy work comes from the devil!