January 8, 2011

Reiki is a form of energy work that promotes harmony among body, mind, and spirit, and a free ten-week Reiki for Beginners (Level I) workshop will be available at Mercy Center in the Mott Haven section of the South Bronx from February 3 to April 7, 2011. Provided by SPARK, the workshop will be held every Thursday from 2:00pm to 3:00pm.

The effects of stress on the body can be widespread. The National Cancer Institute’s FactSheet states that chronic stress can increase the risk of obesity, heart disease, and depression, and according to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, signs of stress include hypertension, increased smoking, and increased alcohol and drug use. Reiki treatment offers a means of restoring balance to the body during stressful periods.

In Winter/Spring 2011, Mercy Center will offer reiki along with other personal development programs and activities that include: yoga for beginners, the Capacitar method of stress management, spirituality groups, nutrition, gentle exercise for arthritis, and a women's movie discussion group. All programs are free of charge.

Mercy Center’s mission is to empower women and their families, men included, in the South Bronx to liberate themselves from economic poverty. Mercy Center promotes their right to an improved quality of life by addressing the needs of the whole person, developing skills for healthy family living and economic advancement, and building a community of respect, hospitality, and non-violence.

Mercy Center is located at 377 East 145th Street, Bronx, NY. For further information visit Mercy Center’s website at www.mercycenterbronx.org or call (718) 993-2789.

Dave Gorczynski is president of SPARK, a non-profit organization that has provided free energy work sessions and workshops across New York City since 2002. He writes a regular column about energy work and meditation for the Compact News in New York City's Chinatown. E-mail him at dave@sparkenergy.org.