Reiki is showing up in movies, TV shows and crossword puzzles. But did you know that there are more types of energy healing than just Reiki?

I am a Reiki Master and have explored many types of energy healing techniques. Here are thirteen that are a great place to start experimenting. And you might be surprised by some common ones that you may already do!

Let’s get started with making sure we are on the same page about what energy healing is.

types of energy healing

What is energy healing?

Everything is energy – it flows through your body. It is around your body. It is in your room. It is outside.

Energy can become blocked for many reasons. Including intense emotions, a negative exchange between two people, or a storm. Plus, many more!

When energy is blocked it can create damage. Think about when your plumbing is blocked. When you flush the water and everything else can’t go down, instead it comes up and out of the toilet. Creating an even bigger mess and causing even more problems.

Your body reacts the same way, if you have a block and the energy can’t flow the right way it creates problems.

Energy healing is used to clear and unblock your energy so that you can function at your best.

Types of Energy Healing

Now, let’s explore fifteen types of energy healing that you can use to unblock your energy.

Reiki

Reiki originated in Japan and is based on the idea that we can all heal ourselves through universal source energy. We have simply forgotten how. A practitioner is attuned to the healing energy and can deliver it to you anywhere.

It is used in hospitals and recommended as a great complimentary treatment for major health issues like cancer.

Here is an example from one of my clients.

After major back surgery she was struggling to sleep. She tried the bed, the couch, the chair – nothing worked.

Then her doctor told her to try Reiki. Though she had never heard of it before, she was willing to try anything – her anxiety over lack of sleep was getting worse. Not only was she energetically imbalanced from the major surgery, but her stress was now causing more problems.

After only one session she was relaxed enough to not panic before bed and get more sleep. After three sessions she was able to get some much-needed rest to aid her body healing from surgery.

You can learn more about Reiki Here.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is part of the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) system. It is based on the idea that our energy runs on a meridian system. This is where energy can get blocked and cause problems.

Needles are inserted at different points along the meridians to help unblock the energy and heal the body.

I have used it for a variety of issues over the years. One example for me was within about 6 sessions my practitioner fixed my anemia issues.

Requirements for practicing vary from state to state in the US. So, I recommend you look for someone with at least a masters in acupuncture.

The Mayo Clinic Has This Article on How to Pick an Acupuncturist and What to Expect.

Acupressure

Acupressure uses the same meridians that acupuncture does. The difference is that instead of needles you use firm pressure to the point.

While this can’t reach every point it is very useful when you need some quick relief. I love to use this for anxiety, migraines and vertigo.

EFT Tapping

Emotional Freedom Technique is another tool that uses the meridian system. Instead of needles and pressure you are tapping on the points. But with EFT it is very specific points. And you use them in combination with words.

It is great for not only moving energy, but also releasing limiting beliefs. It is one of my top three tools for managing emotional healing. (The other two being journaling and meditation.)

Learn more about how to learn EFT Tapping for yourself.

Chakra Healing

Chakras are also from TCM. They are centers of energy and related to different aspects of our life. There are seven main chakras. They are the Root, Sacral, Solar Plexus, Heart, Throat, Third Eye and Crown. There are other ones, but these are the main ones.

It is believed that when a chakra is blocked or open too wide that your energy gets stuck or moves too fast.

There are many ways to balance your chakras. These include:

  • Reiki
  • Sound Therapy
  • Aromatherapy
  • Crystals
  • Meditation

Learn more about Reiki and the Chakras Here.

Learn more about chakra healing on your own.

Aura Cleansing

Your Aura is an energy field around your body. You can pick up others energy there, and at the same time have your own residual energy there. This bad or stagnant energy can impact your physical, mental and emotional body.

Like Chakra Healing there are many ways that you can clear your aura. In my experience the most effective is Reiki.

You can pair this with aromatherapy to clear any residuals in your space. My preferred for this is Palo Santo.

Polarity Therapy

Polarity therapy brings together many different techniques to re-balance energy. With the focus on the electromagnetic field around your body. So instead of it being one tool, the practitioner uses many ways to balance you.

The idea is that everything works together so to bring full healing to a person you must explore all areas. For example, you can’t have a massage and then binge on ice cream and expect your energy to stay clear.

Some Polarity tools are body work, exercise, nutrition and counseling.

This is the practitioner I recommend. – Sarah Moon

Massage

Massage is a great way to get energy flowing in your body.  It helps reduce inflammation, improve circulation, reduce stress and more!

There are two types of massage that are often mentioned when talking about energy healing. Those are Craniosacral therapy and reflexology. All types of massage work but these two come up so much I will cover them briefly.

Cranio sacral therapy relieves compression in bones of head, spine, and sacrum. normalize flow of cerebrospinal fluid in nervous system.

Reflexology like acupressure uses points on the body to stimulate your energy flow. But instead of pushing on a point, you massage the point.

The most common place for reflexology is the feet. There are many points connected to the entire body on the foot.

You don’t have to pay someone to get the benefits of massage. Self-massage is equally as beneficial. Not sure what to do? I follow Rachel Richards Massage on YouTube and love her easy-to-follow videos. She is a practicing massage therapist and does videos for specific issues. One of my favorites – ear massage!

Yoga

Yoga was originally developed to physically prepare for meditation. As you go through the poses and allow the energy to flow it releases energy and emotions! Yoga can even trigger crying due to the movement of stuck energy. There are even yoga classes taught as therapy.

I do recommend you go to a traditional yoga studio to get the most benefits. Many yoga classes have become westernized and are now workouts instead of more traditional yoga. Not that this is bad, but for the benefit of energy healing you will want one not focused on exercise.

My favorites are hatha, flow, restorative and yin yoga.

yoga for energy healing

Qigong

Qigong is part of TCM. The exercises are designed to optimize energy. Bringing together the mind, body and spirit.

It has many different variations. Including Tai Chi. While Tai Chi was originally developed as a martial art, it can be used as a healing tool. When it is used for healing, it is considered part of the Qi Gong family.

It is a nice “rolling” form of exercise. I would call it a cross between exercise and meditation. While you won’t get your heart elevated like you would with a program like Insanity, you will be surprised at the benefits.

In person classes are a nice way to learn this. If you aren’t sure, it is right for you there are YouTube videos you can try to see if you like it. If you do, then you can look for local classes.

Learn more about Qigong.

Breathwork

There are many different types of breath work. From simple deep breathing to more advanced techniques like rapid fire of breath.

Each type of breath work has a target on what it is supposed to do. For example, deep breathing with the focus on the exhale being longer helps us to reduce stress. It does this by moving us into the parasympathetic nervous system.

While the technique of alternate nostril breathing helps us balance the brain hemispheres.

I recommend that other than simple breathwork techniques that you search for a local class or teacher. Many of the advanced types can cause light headiness and should only be done with a practitioner with you.

Crystals

Crystals will help move energy and transform it. Because everything is energy when we interact with a crystal, the energy of the crystal changes our energy.

Each crystal holds different energies that impact different areas. So, one crystal may impact our physical body, and another may impact our emotional health.

crystals for energy healing

I personally don’t use this as a primary tool. I do, however, use them regularly to supplement the other energy healing methods. For example, when I have migraines, I use Lapis. I even have it made into earrings and a bracelet that I can wear when I think I may get one.

The two books I recommend to understand what each crystal does are: The Crystal Bible and Crystal Prescriptions.

Ecstatic Dance

Dance has been a consistent element in rituals for many centuries. Especially in Shamanic cultures. Where the Shaman would use movement while channeling helping spits. Often accompanied by drums and rattles.

Ecstatic dance today is where you simply move to the music in the way that feels right to you. It allows for the release of energy. Dance therapy is a great way to let the emotions move through your body. This then allows you to address the root causes of energy blocks with a therapist.

Research has shown that after a session of dance therapy if you journal or talk to a counselor you can process through trauma faster.

Sound Healing

Turn on your favorite song when you are feeling bad, and you feel happier.  How does this happen? Music is made up of a range of sounds all at different wavelengths. This energy interacts with our bodies. This can impact what state our brain is in.

Even a simple singing bowl meditation can have big impacts. In this study they showed a reduction in anxiety, pain and fatigue.

I use The Sonic Yogi on Youtube for sound healing of the chakras specifically.

How to Pick the Right Energy Healing Tool for You

Everyone is different – I know you have heard this probably a million times. But it is true! What works for me might not work for you. What works for your sibling might not work for you. So, you need to pick one and start trying them out.

You won’t know till you try! I recommend giving each one a few sessions before you decide if it works or not. Depending on how much blockage you have in your energy, you might need multiple sessions for it to work.

Also try more than one at a time, this can improve the benefits and clear your energy faster. For example, when I do self-massage, I will pair it with an essential oil for extra healing. And add in a sound therapy song.  I try to make them all align to what I am working on.

When I have a migraine, it will be a foot massage focusing on reflexology points with peppermint oil and a third eye sound healing track.

Keep experimenting until you find the right combination for you.

Free Weekly Tips on Personal and Spiritual Growth Delivered Right to Your Inbox!

More Articles To Explore