From Physical Therapy to Usui Reiki: How a Japanese Practitioner Bridged Anatomy and Energy Work

The passing of my grandmother was the catalyst for leaving my job at an automotive company and entering the world of physical therapy. This was my origin as a healthcare professional.

As I deepened my knowledge and clinical skills as a physical therapist, I eventually stepped into a managerial role at the age of 40. However, around that time, I began to suffer from persistent insomnia, heart palpitations, tightness in my chest and throat, and mental health challenges. It took a long time to learn that these symptoms stemmed from autonomic nervous system dysfunction, but at the time, I spent my days struggling alone, unable to fully convey my condition to those close to me.

Eventually, I made the decision to step down from my management position. From around that time, I began to think, “I want to become a source of support for people suffering from the same struggles as I did.”

This gave birth to Soramame Seitai Clinic, which I currently operate. However, at this point, I did not yet know about Reiki.

Sessions rooted in human anatomy brought relief and joy to many clients. Yet, I carried an unmistakable feeling of incompleteness that I could not shake. No matter how carefully I aligned a client’s physical structure, there were cases where the core issue remained unchanged. There was a certain number of clients where it felt as though the body itself was “longing to return to its state of imbalance.” I began to vaguely sense that within the human mind and body, there exists a “deeper realm” that physical approaches alone simply cannot reach.

In my search for answers to reach this realm, I ultimately arrived at Usui Reiki—a traditional therapy originating in Japan.

I will never forget the impact of receiving my very first Reiki session from my teacher. The touch was so extraordinarily subtle that it was almost impossible to tell whether their hands were actually making contact with my skin or not… And when their hands were held over my chest, I felt my lungs expanding as if opened by something, while my breathing rapidly became deeper and deeper.

As I delved deeper into my study, I was moved by the meaning behind the kanji characters for Reiki. The kanji Rei (靈) originates from the image of a priestess praying for rain in hopes of a bountiful harvest, while the kanji Ki (氣, energy) contains the character for rice (米). The moment I recognized that Reiki is not merely an energy therapy, but a reflection of the Japanese spirituality that has lived alongside the blessings of nature—or Yaoyorozu no Kami (*)—since ancient times, I was drawn powerfully into this world.

Having mastered up to the Okuden (advanced practitioner) level, I now offer sessions at Soramame Seitai Clinic that combine physical therapy with Reiki. The two are by no means contradictory, nor do they conflict with each other. Releasing physical tension smooths the flow of energy, and as energy fills the body, physical tension eases even further. My style is to naturally weave both practices together, guided by intuition (setting aside whether one calls this Reiji) and the physical responses of the client.

Clients began sharing reflections such as: “During the session, I felt a strange and wonderful sense of drifting through the universe,” or “It felt as though a dark, heavy knot inside my heart was dissolving.” The approach to that “deeper realm” I had once sought was finally taking tangible shape. Personally, after incorporating daily meditation and self-healing into my routine, the heart palpitations and tightness in my chest and throat that had troubled me for years naturally vanished.

Today, this peaceful Japanese-style room with tatami mats welcomes many travelers from all across the globe. What is particularly interesting is that many of the international guests who visit are already deeply connected to Reiki—whether they practice it in their home countries, attend Reiki schools, or study independently through books.

Treasuring each unrepeatable encounter (Ichigo Ichie) with every traveler who wishes to “experience authentic traditional Japanese Reiki in person,” I place great value not only on providing Reiki sessions, but also on offering heartfelt hospitality so that guests can experience Japanese culture with all their senses.

Whenever I receive heartfelt messages such as, “I am so glad I found this clinic during my stay in Japan,” or “I was truly healed by the kind service and gentle treatment,” I deeply feel the meaningful purpose of sharing Reiki from its birthplace.

Reiki is a wonderful practice born in Japan. To ensure that its healing reaches as many people throughout the world as possible, I will continue my daily training and sharing from its birthplace, right here in Japan.

(*) Yaoyorozu no Kami (八百万神)

A foundational concept in traditional Japanese Shinto, representing the belief that the divine resides in all things in nature. The term “Yaoyorozu” does not literally mean “eight million,” but rather “countless” or “infinite.” It is believed that divine presence exists not only in grand nature such as mountains, rivers, and oceans, but also in natural phenomena like sun and wind, and even in daily living tools and spaces.

Rather than worshiping a single creator, this uniquely Japanese philosophy stems from a feeling of gratitude and reverence toward nature and all existence surrounding our daily lives.

About the Author

Koji Mizuno

Physical Therapist & Traditional Usui Reiki Practitioner
Takarazuka, Hyogo, Japan

Koji Mizuno has been working as a licensed Physical Therapist in Japan since 2006, with nearly 20 years of professional experience in human anatomy, bodywork, and rehabilitation.

In 2023, he established Soramame Seitai Clinic (そらまめ整体院) in Takarazuka City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. In 2024, he completed the Okuden, the advanced level of training in traditional Usui Reiki.

Today, his work brings together his experience in physical therapy with his practice and study of traditional Usui Reiki. At Soramame Seitai Clinic, he offers traditional Usui Reiki sessions for international visitors seeking to experience Reiki in Japan.

Takarazuka City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan
Approximately 30 minutes by train from Osaka