About
Mandee Gill
Reiki Master + Certified Yoga Nidra Facilitator
Mandee Gill is an experienced yoga teacher and Reiki master currently living in Missoula, Montana. She specializes in yoga nidra (the yoga of sleep) and Reiki for children. Mandee has had a strong spiritual calling since she was young and felt called to study yoga and share it with others so that she, along with others, may heal from trauma. She discovered the beauty of yoga in 2007 and pursued her 200-hour certification through Bhumi Yoga in 2012. Additionally, she completed her yoga nidra certification through the Amrit Yoga Institute. She is trained in Usui Reiki through Inner Peace Reiki.
She felt called to experience Reiki energy healing in 2021 after a traumatic family loss and found that the peaceful process it provided helped her reset her nervous system. Now, she loves giving Reiki to her children among her clientele and has enjoyed teaching children’s yoga as well. She is also a certified nutritionist & health coach through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and is currently finishing her Applied Astrology certification through Debra Silverman. Mandee’s specialties lie in using yoga, meditation, yoga nidra, and Reiki to deal with grief, trauma, loss and children.
What is Reiki?
Reiki is an energy healing technique that originated in Japan and was codified by Mikao Usui in the early 1900’s. The most popular form of Reiki practiced today is Usui Reiki, although the practice of energy healing is as old as humankind itself. The word Reiki itself translates to “life force energy” and the practitioner of Reiki uses their hands to become a conduit for the life force energy to flow through. The hands are placed on or above certain areas of the body, using specific positions, mantras, and symbols depending on the level of attunement the practitioner is trained in.
To practice Reiki, one must sit in the presence of a Reiki master and become attuned through a specific process. There are three levels of Reiki practitioners: level 1, 2, and 3 (Master). When one becomes a Reiki Master, they can then attune others to the art of Reiki.
Reiki is performed fully clothed and is very safe. The hands are used to deliver healing to the body, whether it’s physical, mental, emotional or spiritual. It can help promote relaxation while reducing stress and anxiety. Reiki can also help develop a meditative state, stimulate immunity, promote self-healing, and relieve pain. During and after a session, one may experience feelings of peace, relaxation, security and well-being.
During a Reiki treatment, one may feel heat or tingling sensations over certain areas, or nothing at all. One may even fall asleep, which is also okay. Reiki is a wonderful complementary therapy for a variety of conditions including grief, loss, PTSD, cancer treatment, post-partum depression and more.
What is Yoga Nidra?
Yoga nidra is the yoga of sleep and it is said that 45 minutes of yoga nidra practice can equal up to three hours of restful sleep. It is performed laying down in the pose savasana, with options to support oneself with cushions or an eye mask. It can be performed at any time of the day and is often prescribed for relaxation before sleeping. Because of it’s restorative and restful nature, it is particularly useful for stress-relief from a variety of modern-day conditions such as dealing with depression, anxiety, insomnia, and more.
Falling asleep during a yoga nidra session may happen, but the actual purpose is to remain awake and consciously aware. It is akin to a long guided meditation, with elements such as body scan awareness, breathing, visualization, intention setting, and more. Yoga nidra will relax the parasympathetic nervous system, also known as the rest and digest system, therefore resetting and rewiring the body for well-being and letting go of toxic thoughts and habits one no longer needs.