For many people, the idea of hands-on alternative therapies sits somewhere between a curiosity and something that is too “out there” to consider.
While most of us understand the value of a good massage, Reiki, lymphatic massage and other gentle ‘hands on’ body based practices are attracting a growing number of people quietly turning to them when stress, illness or burnout refuses to shift, and doctors are no help.
What draws people in is not always belief. Sometimes it is simply exhaustion.
Reiki, a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation, is based on the idea that a life force energy flows through the body. When that energy is low or blocked, people may feel unwell, overwhelmed or disconnected. When it flows freely, the body is thought to move more easily toward balance.
Reiki is administered through gentle touch, or simply resting hands on or just above the body, and is often described by recipients as deeply calming.
Jasmine admits she did not expect much when she had her first Reiki session.
“I honestly went along for a bit of a lark,” she said. “A friend had cancelled and I took her spot to fill in some time.”
About three minutes in, that attitude began to shift.
“This woman had her hands resting on my shoulders and I was just sitting there feeling a bit stupid,” Jasmine said. “Then suddenly my ears popped. It was really noticeable, like when you’re coming down a mountain.”
Jasmine had been dealing with persistent dizziness for months.
“I didn’t tell her about it, and she hadn’t touched my head or anything. But after that, the dizziness was noticeably better. Not magically cured, but improved enough that I noticed it straight away.”
That sense of gentle, unexpected change is something many people report, even when they remain unsure how or why it works.
Lymphatic massage sits on more familiar physiological ground, yet is just as often overlooked. The lymphatic system plays a crucial role in immune function and fluid balance, but unlike the circulatory system, it has no pump of its own. When lymph flow becomes sluggish, people can experience swelling, heaviness, fatigue and a general sense of feeling unwell.
Lymphatic massage uses slow, light movements to encourage lymph flow and support the body’s natural detoxification processes. It is not deep or forceful, and many people are surprised by how subtle it feels.
In Tamworth, practitioner of both Reiki and lymphatic massage Donna Hend at Hands on Healing says the shift toward gentler therapies reflects how overloaded many nervous systems have become.
“My work is rooted in creating safe, nurturing spaces where people can breathe, settle, and come home to themselves,” she said. “I believe in slow, embodied healing.”
With more than 27 years of experience across lymphatic therapy, remedial massage and breathwork, Donna’s approach is shaped as much by listening as it is by technique.
“I specialise in nervous-system regulation, lymphatic health, and somatic breathwork, blending clinical training with a deeply grounded, compassionate approach,” she said.
Breathing, she says, is often the missing piece.
“Slow, rhythmic breathing is one of the simplest ways to support your lymphatic system,” Donna said.
“When you lengthen your exhale, your diaphragm moves more fully, creating a natural pump that helps lymph flow and signals safety to your nervous system.”
Even a few minutes can make a difference.
“Just two minutes of this can reduce tension and help your body reset.”
Hands on therapies are not about instant transformation or dramatic claims. For many, they offer something quieter but increasingly rare: a pause, a sense of being supported, and a chance for the body to settle.
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