Cycling Champ Credits Comeback to Reiki

Two in a row for Roulston
The Southland Times (New Zealand) Monday, 12 November 2007

The name being engraved into the Tour of Southland winner's trophy was the same as last year – but according to the man himself it was a different person.

Hayden Roulston became just the fifth rider to win consecutive Southland tours in the race's 51 year history when he rode across the line with the bunch at the Gala St finish on Saturday.

"I'm actually a totally different person. I owe a lot of that to Reiki, it's changed me, to be honest," Roulston told The Southland Times.

"I'm more relaxed, more patient – hey, I can still throw a wobbly, but I'm definitely a totally different type of guy and I owe it all to the Japanese healing technique Reiki."

"I've had my personal Reiki lady July down here this week with the team," Roulston said. "Four of us have been having it pretty much every night, it's an amazing thing, it really is."

Roulston sought out the alternative therapy after he was discovered with a career-ending heart complaint last year.

After a temporary retirement he stormed back onto the national scene, winning the PowerNet-sponsored tour for the first time at the end of the year.

Now he's eyeing a return to Europe where he was once one of New Zealand's most promising riders overseas, signing with Lance Armstrong's Discovery Channel team.

You might quibble at the therapy, but there's no doubting the results.

Roulston has been anything but the surly character he was 12 months ago, when he grew increasingly irritated at the constant reference to his heart problem.

He may have even found a few Reiki converts in his Trek Zookeepers team. "I brought her down here for me personally, but for all their use. They are using her and loving it. I think a couple of them will be converted."