Celebrating Black Health and Wellness Through Reiki

As part of Mass General’s ongoing Black History Month celebrations, MGH Radiology Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and the MGH Office of Equity and Community Health hosted a Staff Healing and Relaxation Day Feb. 18. Staff were invited to relax and recharge during 15-minute reiki treatments provided by fellow MGHers certified in the practice.

“This year, the theme for Black History Month happens to be Black Health and Wellness,” says Carmen Alvarez, director of MGH Radiology Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and reiki master. “We thought it would be nice to provide a series of events focused on wellness, including a day for staff to receive reiki sessions.”

Those who receive reiki treatments do so to relieve stress and pain, induce relaxation, accelerate natural healing and support other medical modalities. During a session, the practitioner sends healing energy towards an individual, group, event or a situation in the past, present or future.

A total of 56 MGH staff members from across 28 departments attended the Staff Healing and Relaxation Day, with 64% of them reporting reduced feelings of stress after their reiki session in a post-event survey. Words like “calming,” “healing” and “relaxing” were used by participants to describe their experiences.

More than 15 MGHers are certified reiki practitioners and serve as providers for staff events. Alvarez hopes to continue growing this community of practitioners for future reiki events. Certified reiki practitioners interested in volunteering for future events can sign up here.

“This event was possible only because of the amazing practitioners,” Alvarez says. “All of the practitioners donated their time generously – some came in on their days off to do this. We are also grateful for our sponsors, MGH Equity and Community Health, MGH Radiology and MGH Spiritual Care, for their vision and support.”





A second Staff Healing and Relaxation Day will be held virtually tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 25, from 7 am to 5 pm.