Jenny masters an ancient healing art (From Warrington Guardian)

Jenny masters an ancient healing art

HOLISTIC therapist Jenny Smart took her family half way round the world so she could sit at the feet of a Reiki master and learn the secrets of the ancient Oriental practice.

The 25-year-old Winsford mother of one decided to embark on a spiritual quest to northern India to complete her Reiki training in a region in which the discipline was founded.

After several weeks of study, Jenny gained her long-awaited qualification and flew home to begin building her holistic therapy business.

Now back in Ways Green, Winsford, she is looking forward to using her newly honed skills to treat people.

"It was a bit of a culture shock but the experience was brillant," Jenny said.

"The journey was tremendously fulfilling and it enabled me to study this discipline in one of the places where it was founded.

"It has certainly helped me with my work and it was also good to see that the Reiki courses over there are not that different than they are here.

"But I was surprised, and quite pleased to see that Indian therapists could learn a thing or two from their British counterparts. I was astonished at some of their practices - ways of working that would not be accepted here."

Jenny, her partner Paul and their four-year-old son, Paul jnr, stayed in the ancient city of Poona.

"The weather was very hot but our son Paul quickly became acclimatised and was happy playing with the Indian children," said Jenny.

"We saw a level of poverty we had never before encountered and it made us feel very privileged."

She added: "I did my Reiki masters so I can teach other people. Now that my son is getting older, I will be able to dedicate more time to it."

Jenny's previous training at South Cheshire College, Crewe, covered beauty therapy, massage, reflexology, sports massage and counselling skills.

But she has always believed in the holistic approach to health care and took additional courses in Reiki healing - the ancient method of balancing natural energies within the body.

The highest level of Reiki training available is the Reiki Masters Degree and it was this qualification that Jenny sought on her trip to India.

She now plans to launch her own holistic therapy studio, initially working from home.

For further information Jenny can be contacted on 01606 862458.

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