Energy Work, Explained: Reiki, Bioenergy Healing, and What They Have in Common

Energy that belongs to everyone

Many traditions describe an energy present in every living person. Reiki and bioenergy healing draw on this idea, approaching wellbeing through attentive work with the hands.

In ABBA’s practice, universal energy is understood as part of everyone, therapist and client alike. You do not need a spiritual background, special knowledge or a particular belief to participate. We explain the process, and you can simply notice the experience in your own way.

These explanations belong to the traditions behind the practices. They are not established medical mechanisms. We offer energy work as a complementary wellness experience, without promising to treat an illness or replace medical or psychological care.

Reiki: a Japanese practice with many lineages

Modern Reiki is closely associated with Mikao Usui’s teachings in Japan in the early twentieth century. It is passed from teacher to student, so approaches vary across lineages.

A practitioner typically places their hands lightly on the body or holds them just above it while the recipient rests. Symbols are used in some forms and levels of training; they are not a useful shortcut for describing every Reiki session.

At ABBA, Reiki is offered as a group experience. It does not include massage.

Bioenergy healing: attention to the field around the body

Bioenergy healing is a broad term used by practitioners who work with the idea of an energy field around the body. Zdenko Domančić’s method is one reference within this wider field, which includes different approaches to energy work.

At ABBA, our therapists move their hands gently around the body. They describe their work as balancing the chakras—the energy centers recognized in several traditions—and opening and closing the energy field at the beginning and end of the session.

Our bioenergy practice uses no symbols. During this part of the experience, you remain comfortably clothed.

So what is the difference?

Both practices share an intention of supporting wellbeing through work with the hands. Reiki has a Japanese teaching tradition; bioenergy healing includes other approaches and methods, so it does not have one single origin or universal protocol.

The practical distinction in ABBA’s offerings is simple: group Reiki invites you to rest during a shared energy session, without massage. Bioenergy Healing Massage combines a personalized massage with our therapists’ bioenergy work.

Neither needs to be presented as more powerful or more advanced. Your choice can depend on whether you want an energy session on its own or an experience that also includes hands-on massage.

Why we begin with a massage

Bioenergy Healing Massage brings together 60 minutes of personalized massage and 30 minutes of bioenergy healing, with Tibetan singing bowls as part of the experience.

The massage comes first to give your body time to rest and help you settle into a quieter pace. Pressure and attention are adapted to your needs. The transition then creates space for a different kind of attention, while the bowls offer a sound to return to as you rest.

For us, this combination reflects care for both physical comfort and the energetic dimension of wellbeing.

Two therapists, a shared approach

Our female and male therapists complement each other in their practice, creating a shared experience with personalized attention for each of you.

For couples, that means being accompanied together by two therapists who work as a team. Each of you receives individual care while sharing the experience side by side.

Bioenergy Healing Massage is also available individually or for groups. Contact us to arrange the format and timing that suit your booking.

What you might feel

Some people describe warmth, tingling, a sense of heaviness or a quieter mind. Others notice little beyond the pleasure of slowing down. These are possible personal experiences, not sensations you are expected to produce.

Afterward, you may feel relaxed or more present. There is no required response, and no particular sensation proves that energy has moved or that the session has worked. Give yourself a little time to notice how you feel.

Who might enjoy it—and what to tell us first

This experience may appeal if you want to make space for yourself during a busy trip, explore energy work for the first time, or share a meaningful pause with a partner or friends.

Tell us about injuries, recent surgery, pregnancy or health conditions before booking, so we can discuss whether the massage needs adapting or postponing. If a condition affects what is safe for you, seek advice from your healthcare professional. Energy work is not a substitute for diagnosis, treatment or urgent care.

You can ask questions or request a pause at any time. Sessions take place at our Cancún studio or at your accommodation, subject to availability and access.

If you are curious

Make the most of your vacation with time to unwind and reconnect—with yourself or with someone you love. Ask us about Bioenergy Healing Massage for an individual, couple or group, or explore our group Reiki experience without massage. We will help you understand the options before you book.