Perceived relaxation as a function of restorative yoga combined with Reiki for cancer survivors. Author: DiScipio WJ1 Affiliation: <sup>1</sup>Fighting Chance, Inc., P.O. Box 1358, Sag Harbor, New York 1358, USA. Electronic address: wdiscipio@fightingchance.org. Conference/Journal: Complement Ther Clin Pract. Date published: 2016 Aug Other: Volume ID: 24 , Pages: 116-22 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2016.05.003. Epub 2016 May 8. , Word Count: 142 AIMS & OBJECTIVES: Twenty-six cancer survivor volunteers participated in a study of the efficacy of perceived relaxation after performing restorative yoga combined with Reiki. RESULTS: Subjects scoring high ratings of Meaning and Peace in life demonstrated greater perception of depth of relaxation. A comparison of subjects receiving concurrent Reiki (19) and restorative yoga with those who only received restorative yoga (7) showed that Reiki subjects experienced greater perceived depth of relaxation than subjects who were not afforded the Reiki intervention. Non-Reiki participants also showed more difficulty overcoming intrusive fearful thoughts than the Reiki group. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical implications suggest that patients should be screened and treated for trauma-like symptoms including intrusive thoughts linked to anxiety and depression before referral to complementary programs that offer meditative or relaxation interventions. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. KEYWORDS: Cancer; Intrusive thoughts; Reiki; Relaxation; Yoga PMID: 27502811 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2016.05.003