Reiki is new to me, what should I expect?

As someone who has been receiving and practicing reiki for several years, I've found that many newcomers to the service have similar questions about it. So for anyone who is reiki curious, here are my answers to a few commonly asked questions. I hope they can help you decide if reiki healing is something you'd like to explore in your wellness journey.

 

How long is a reiki session?

A typical reiki session will last for about an hour (however, the makeup of the session can vary greatly depending on your practitioner).

Do you talk during the reiki session?

Again, it depends: You may have an in-person session where you and the reiki practitioner start by speaking for a while, more similar to a therapy session or counseling. Then you may do some healing exercises such as breathwork or  before lying down on a massage table (fully clothed) for the reiki portion, which could last around 35 to 45 minutes.

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What should I expect to feel during a session?

While most people feel the effects of reiki right away, others may feel the impacts after their session. Common feelings include tingling, warmth, and deep relaxation. (You may even fall asleep because you become so relaxed and wake up from your session with a new sense of awareness, clarity, and/or connection.) Some say they feel as though a hand is touching a part of their body, when, in fact, it is not.

Each person is very different in how they feel and experience the reiki energy. This practice will also continue to shift and change and feel slightly different every time, similar to a meditation. Trust that your experience is exactly what it needs to be on that day.

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Does reiki require touching?

Reiki is typically all hands-off; however, in my lineage, we touch the back of the head and the feet. Clients are always fully clothed, and I will often put a blanket over them so they can feel warm and relaxed. Again, each practitioner is different, and some may touch other areas of the body, like the knees, shoulders, or arms.

A practitioner should never touch the genitals or breasts, and they will never ask you to disrobe.

Do I need to go into a reiki session with a specific problem I want to fix?

Not at all. While many people come in for sessions because they are feeling things like pain, overwhelm, depletion, or anxiousness, reiki can support us in so many other aspects of life. I love working with clients who just want to receive reiki with no intention or expectation. That way, there is a whole world that can be explored during the session.

If there is something specific you want to address in a session, it's important to let your practitioner know that upon booking so they can make sure to connect to it during the healing.

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