The first time Emily Heuberger came across a reiki practitioner she was 22, wandering through a farmer’s market and uninterested in experiencing what was referred to as “energy healing.”
“But for some reason, the word ‘reiki’ stuck with me,” she said.
And so, when she came upon it again in 2019 – at a metaphysical fair she attended with the goal of finding a way to help her mother cope with her recent Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis – she decided to try it.
“I was blown away; in 15 minutes I felt like I was electrically charged and connected to all positive possibilities in my life…” Heuberger recalled. “So, I left there, knowing that I was going to take a reiki course, what I was going to do with it afterwards I did not know, but I was hoping it would help my mom.”
Japanese in origin, reiki is based on the theory that all bodies have a constant flow of life force energy (or “ki”) flowing through them and that when that flow is blocked by stress or trauma, physical and emotional pain can result.
“A reiki treatment works by balancing the body’s energy flow and removing any blocks in the energy body that may have been built up for years… [leaving] you feeling reenergized, revitalized, and motivated,” Heuberger said.
It’s how she felt after just one 15-minute treatment. Which is why, in 2020 she began Fire Reiki I and II training.
“The first month after the class you are advised to focus on you and your own healing and growth before you offer reiki to others,” Heuberger remembered. “So, I did self-reiki sessions every day and then I started sharing with my family and friends.”
Including her mom.
“I send Reiki to my mom when she is confused, has high anxiety or sadness due to the diagnoses,” Heuberger said. “It has helped tremendously… Just being able to transmute the fear emotion into love is all it takes sometimes.”
Inspired by her own self-work, her sessions with her mom and the encouragement of friends, Heuberger opened her own practice – True to You Reiki – on Third Street in Stayton in 2021.
“I chose this name because I remember my mom always telling me, be true to yourself…” Heuberger said. “And I feel that reiki brings out this aspect in ourselves… your session means that you are going to receive what you need at this time so your reiki session will look nothing like somebody else’s because you are not somebody else you are you.”
Open for two years, True to You Reiki was a success, but when Heuberger became her mom’s full-time caregiver in 2023 she decided to close the doors and focus on her family.
“It felt like 10 years of emotional, spiritual growth was put into two years,” Heuberger said. “I’m definitely a different, more patient, empathetic and kind person not only to others but to myself and for me that’s what I needed to step into my next evolution of existence.”
Training as a Holy Fire Karuna Reiki Master in the past year, Heuberger decided to not only open another reiki practice, NW Healing Alternatives, LLC – this time in her hometown of Sublimity – but to also begin offering reiki training as well.
“Teaching reiki is so different than mainstream subjects. Yes, there’s plenty of book work but… the students leave feeling like a new person with new insights about themselves, knowledge and usually a whole lot of energetic weight and baggage lifted off of them,” Heuberger said. “They not only leave with the feeling that sky’s the limit and now I have an energetic tool to assist in making it happen but also the knowledge to conduct a reiki healing session for themselves and others.”
Keeping class sizes small – no more than four students can register at a time – Heuberger hopes to offer one weekend session each month as a way of keeping up with demand.
“The reason why I decided to teach reiki is because I saw all of the ways that it has helped me become a better mom, wife, daughter and person,” Heuberger said. The courses aren’t just for those who want to offer reiki professionally.
“I look at reiki as a tool in my life’s toolbox that makes life easier, more enjoyable and expansive. I feel everyone can and should be attuned to reiki energy because life can be tough and having something that eases that discomfort can be life changing.”
Which is why, after receiving her first reiki session with Heuberger, Jana Carp signed up for a class.
“During my session, I felt so deeply peaceful, such a sense of belonging in my body and in the world, that before it was over I knew I wanted to learn how to do it myself,” Carp said. “That came as a surprise to me, but all I can say is that it felt right.”
Additionally offering a variety of reiki sessions, reiki shares – a time for reiki practitioners to connect, timeline activation sessions provide clients with an energy “clean sweep” and partnerships with other healing modalities, Heuberger is looking forward to taking NW Healing Alternatives to the next level.
“[M]y intention is to let it grow and evolve in a way that it will be able to help more people step into a life, mindset and life experiences that they deserve and desire,” she said.
NW Healing Alternatives
Offering reiki appointments and Timeline Activation Sessions as well as monthly reiki training courses and Reiki Shares for fellow practitioners.
103 S. Center St., Sublimity
406-552-8444
www.nwhealingalternatives.com
