Let’s be honest: the “New Year, New Me” energy often runs out by the second week of January.
In Malta, this time of year brings a specific kind of heaviness. The damp cold settles into our bones, the traffic returns to its peak-hour frenzy, and the pressure to set aggressive goals can leave us feeling drained before we’ve even started.
We are culturally conditioned to push harder when we feel stuck. But what if the secret to regaining your vitality wasn’t about doing more, but about charging up?
Enter reiki.
For years, reiki (pronounced ray-key) was misunderstood by the mainstream as something purely mystical or “woo-woo.” But today, the conversation has shifted. From Silicon Valley executives to patients in the world’s leading hospitals, this Japanese energy technique is being embraced as a practical tool for modern stress management.
The science of ‘the pause’
At its core, reiki is a system of natural healing that focuses on the “Ki” −or life force energy − that flows through us. Think of your body like a smartphone. You have apps running in the background constantly: work deadlines, family logistics, social anxiety, and environmental noise. Eventually, the battery drains, and the phone goes into “low power mode” − sluggish, glitchy and hot.
Reiki is the charger.
It works by shifting the nervous system from sympathetic dominance (fight or flight) to parasympathetic dominance (rest and digest). This isn’t just a feeling; it is measurable. Research suggests that reiki can lower heart rate, reduce blood pressure and increase heart rate variability (a key marker of resilience).
This is why it is no longer on the fringe. Reiki is now offered in over 800 hospitals in the US, including the prestigious Mayo Clinic and Johns Hopkins, and is used within the NHS in the UK to support cancer patients and post-operative recovery. They aren’t using it for “magic”; they are using it because a relaxed body heals faster.
Why Malta needs this now
Living on our beautiful, busy island, we are constantly over-stimulated. We are often “wired but tired” − exhausted at night, but unable to sleep because the mind is racing.
Reiki offers a space of profound silence. It releases the physical tension stored in the shoulders and jaw, but more importantly, it clears the mental fog. My clients often describe it not as “zoning out,” but as “tuning in” − returning to a state of clarity where decisions become easier and emotions feel lighter.
A five-minute ‘reiki reset’ you can do at your desk
While a session with a practitioner offers a deep nervous system overhaul, you can access the principles of reiki yourself, right now.
1. Rub your palms together vigorously for 10 seconds until you feel heat. This stimulates the minor energy centres in your hands.
2. Place your hands over your eyes (without pressing) or one hand on your heart and one on your belly.
3. Close your eyes and visualise the warmth from your palms melting the tension behind your forehead or in your chest.
4. Breathe. Inhale for a count of four, exhale for a count of six.
5. Set an intention. Silently say: “I am recharging my energy.”
Even three minutes of this practice can interrupt the stress cycle.
The 2026 mindset
If you are feeling the January slump, don’t force yourself to run a marathon just yet. Start with your energy. When your internal battery is charged, productivity, patience, and health follow naturally.
Sara Klimper is the founder of RAY Healing in Msida, bringing international expertise in reiki, Ayurveda and Yin Yoga to Malta. She helps professionals and individuals find balance through holistic therapies. For more insights or to book a session, visit www.ray-healing.com.
