Find Reiki Healing Classes near you

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FAQs:

What is Reiki?

The term “reiki” comes from the Japanese words “rei,” meaning universal, and “ki,” which means vital life force energy that flows through all living things. Some practitioners describe reiki as acupuncture without needles.

Reiki is a complementary health approach in which practitioners place their hands on or just above different areas of the body. It’s based on an Eastern medical belief that living beings have energy fields that support their health and vitality.

Energy blocks, on the other hand, impede the innate flow of energy, causing not only health problems but also negative life circumstances like financial troubles or relationship problems, according to belief. Energy blocks of any living being can be treated, according to belief, which is why some practitioners also work on animals and plants. Reiki practitioners focus on sensing energy blocks and moving the energy for the greatest good of the client.

How Does Reiki Work?

You lie on a massage table, fully dressed, while a practitioner places their palms on or just over different body parts that are thought to be hubs for energy. The practitioner positions their hands in up to 15 different ways. They decide how long to leave their palms in each spot based on the flow of energy that they perceive they’re feeling through their hands.

Even though you’re resting on a massage table, the practitioner isn’t giving a massage, using pressure, or manipulating your joints. They’re simply using gentle touch at most.

You might feel sensations like heat, tingling, or pulsing where your hands are, or throughout your body. Or you might not notice any changes. Some people get so relaxed that they fall asleep.

What Does Science Say about Reiki Healing?

Although Reiki is growing in popularity, there is little evidence that it provides any clinical benefit. Practitioners claim that Reiki can enable relaxation, reduce pain, speed healing, and improve some symptoms. However, few research findings support any specific health benefits.

Critics say that it flies in the face of our current understanding of the laws of nature. However, some limited studies have drawn links between Reiki and a reduction in feelings of pain and anxiety. Scientists note that high-quality research into its effectiveness is lacking. According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, no study has shown Reiki to have any health-related benefit.

In 2015, a review of studies on Reiki and the treatment of anxiety and depression concluded that there was “insufficient evidence to say whether or not Reiki is useful for people over 16 years of age with anxiety or depression or both.” Of the few studies that the review assessed, most were of low quality, with small sample sizes, no peer review, or no control group, according to the authors.

In contrast, a review article in the Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine found “reasonably strong support” for Reiki being more effective than a placebo in reducing pain and anxiety in people with chronic health conditions. However, the author of the review is a member of the Australasian Usui Reiki Association, so bias is possible.

More recently, Annie Harrington told MNT that the U.K. Reiki Federation currently has a “large document cataloging many research trials.”

Can Reiki Replace Traditional Treatments?

No. Reiki treatment should not be used as a substitute for the consultation of a physician or a psychotherapist. Reiki complements other types of medical and therapeutic treatments, and it can increase the efficacy of other types of healing. If you’re already in good health, though, regular reiki treatments can enhance your ability to respond to stress and serve as a form of preventive medicine.

What Does Reiki Feel Like?  

You may experience the energy in the form of sensations like heat, tingling, or pulsing where the Reiki practitioner has placed their hands. Sometimes, people feel sensations moving throughout the body, while other people do not perceive any change at all. Most people feel very relaxed and peaceful during reiki treatment, and many fall asleep during the process.

Does Reiki Have Risks or Side Effects?

Reiki is non-invasive and thought to be safe. It doesn’t have any known harmful side effects. For those with past trauma, lying quietly in a dim room with someone close to you might be uncomfortable. Reiki is not intended to replace any doctor-approved treatment plan.

What Should You Wear to a Reiki Session?

Wear comfortable clothes that you can relax in. If you’re coming from the office, feel free to bring a change of clothes — just be sure to check with the practitioner before your session to make sure there’s a place for you to change. It is recommended to dress in layers so you can add or remove clothing during the session if needed. Finally, make sure you remove belts and other bulky items before the session starts. 

How Often Should I Get Reiki Treatment?  

Sometimes one Reiki session is enough to resolve whatever the issue is, and sometimes it takes several sessions. Your Reiki practitioner may be able to give you a better idea of how often you should go, depending on the issue you’d like to address.

You can space out the sessions according to your needs and schedule. The University of Minnesota Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing recommends trying out at least four sessions to evaluate the potential benefits of the practice.

Keep in mind though that Reiki is a spiritual practice, and you can receive it as often as you’d like. Clients who come once a month for relaxation and stress management, whereas other clients treat themselves to a Reiki session for their birthday every year.

How Much Does Reiki Cost?

Currently, Reiki is only covered by health insurance when it is part of treatment such as physical therapy, massage, or palliative care that is covered by your insurance or when it is delivered by a nurse or licensed care professional as part of routine care during a hospital stay. So, if you visit a Reiki practitioner, plan on paying out of pocket.

The cost of a session varies according to the experience of the provider, whether or not they are professionals in full-time public practice and the local economy, but fees are generally upward of $50-75 for a session. Reiki students may offer Reiki for a lower fee as they gather clinical experience, and there are also Reiki clinics or community circles where sessions are available by donation or for a low fee.

Is Reiki Covered by Insurance?

Many insurance companies don’t cover the cost of Reiki treatments, though some do, according to the International Center for Reiki Training. You may receive coverage if Reiki is part of a treatment plan recommended by your doctor, or if it’s given during a hospital stay by a nurse or licensed care professional, according to the University of Minnesota. Check with your insurance provider to find out about the terms of coverage.

The History of Reiki

There are at least 30 slightly different branches of reiki, but Usui is by far the most popular form. Usui is the method practiced and taught in Japan as early as the 1900s by Makao Usui, who is credited as the founder of modern Reiki.

Usui reiki came to the West via Hawaii in the 1930s thanks to a Japanese-American woman named Hawayo Takata. She traveled back to her native Japan to seek healing for her own physical and mental ailments, including a lung condition, asthma, and a nervous breakdown after the death of her husband. One of Makao Usui’s students, Dr. Chujiro Hayashi, taught reiki to Takata. Her healing experience was so profound that Takata returned to Hawaii and became the first person to teach reiki in the West.

However, due to the abundance of anti-Japanese and anti-Asian sentiments in the United States around World War II, Takata shied away from using the name “reiki” and instead referred to her establishment on the island of Kauai as a “healing studio,” according to researcher Nat Newton, Ph.D., a Usui reiki master in Orange County, California.

“Takata modified some of the teachings for her English-speaking students and ended up training 22 students in reiki as we know it today,” says Newton. Today, thousands of people worldwide are trained in Usui and similar reiki methods.

The Principles of Reiki

The philosophy of Reiki is rooted in five principles. These principles guide healing and balancing your Reiki energy. Let’s look at each one more closely.

1. Just for today, I release angry thoughts

It’s normal to feel angry sometimes. This emotion can be triggered by many scenarios. But according to Reiki, anger doesn’t come from these outside events. Instead, it stems from angry energy already within you. This principle aims to help you release this energy. It encourages you to recognize anger and to let it go, allowing you to invite happiness into your life.

2. Just for today, I release thoughts of worry

Many of us worry about things that haven’t happened yet. And while it’s easy to feel like that worry comes from an external source, Reiki maintains that it starts from within. If you’re holding on to worry energy, thinking about future events can produce negative emotions. However, if you’re able to release this energy, you may have an easier time living in the present moment and worrying less about the future.

3. Just for today, I’m grateful

This is a reminder to express gratitude for all that you have. By slowing down and recognizing the good in your life, it may help you foster more positive energy.

4. Just for today, I expand my consciousness

In Reiki, actively practicing mindfulness is key to balancing your energy. This principle encourages you to recognize how you’ve been more conscious about appreciating the present moment.

5. Just for today, I’m gentle with all beings

This principle focuses on how being kind to others lets you receive positive energy in return. It includes being gentle with yourself, which is essential for spiritual health.

Common Types Of Reiki Energy Healing Techniques

If you are going for Reiki energy healing, you must keep a check on every little aspect of the treatment to understand the procedure. There are six primary types of energy healing techniques, including:

• 1. Centering

• 2. Clearing

• 3. Beaming

• 4. Extracting harmful energy

• 5. Infusing

• 6. Smoothing and raking the aura

The majority of the Reiki practitioners use their palms as a source of collective energy but some use crystals and chakra healing wands for healing surmounting levels of negative energy.

Common Conditions that Reiki Treats

Conditions that people have used Reiki to help treat include:

• 1. cancer

• 2. heart disease

• 3. anxiety

• 4. depression

• 5. chronic pain

• 6. infertility

• 7. neurodegenerative disorders

• 8. autism

• 9. Crohn’s disease

• 10. fatigue

It is important to note that Reiki should never take the place of medical treatments.

However, people living with certain health conditions may be interested in trying Reiki alongside their regular treatment. For instance, some people with cancer may find Reiki beneficial as it may help them relax. The gentle nature of Reiki therapy may have a soothing effect on patients who find that they become overwhelmed with invasive therapy, fear, and stress.

Individuals report different experiences. Some say that the practitioner’s hands become hot, others report cooling hands, and some feel pulsating waves. The most common reports are of a release of stress and deep relaxation.

5 Health Benefits of Reiki

1. Relieves Pain, Anxiety, and Fatigue

According to a review of randomized trials, reiki may help to reduce pain and anxiety, though more research is needed. It may also help to reduce fatigue.

A 2015 study found that people being treated for cancer who received distant reiki in addition to regular medical care had lower levels of pain, anxiety, and fatigue. These levels were significantly lower than the control group, which only received medical care. Participants had 30-minute sessions of distant reiki for five days.

In another 2015 study, researchers looked at the effects of reiki on women following cesarean delivery. They found that reiki significantly reduced pain, anxiety, and the breathing rate in women 1-2 days after having a cesarean delivery. The need for and the number of analgesic painkillers was also reduced. Reiki didn’t affect blood pressure or pulse rate.

A 2018 study compared the use of reiki to physiotherapy for relieving lower back pain in people with herniated disks. Both treatments were found to be equally effective at relieving pain, but reiki was more cost-effective and, in some cases, resulted in faster treatment.

2. Treats depression

Reiki treatments may be used as part of a treatment plan to help relieve depression. In a small 2010 study, researchers looked at the effects of reiki on older adults experiencing pain, depression, or anxiety. The participants reported an improvement in their physical symptoms, mood, and well-being. They also reported more feelings of relaxation, increased curiosity, and enhanced levels of self-care.

3. Enhances quality of life

The positive benefits of reiki can enhance your overall well-being. Researchers in a small 2016 study found that reiki helped improve the quality of life for women with cancer. Women who had reiki showed improvements in their sleep patterns, self-confidence, and depression levels. They noted a sense of calm, inner peace, and relaxation.

4. Boosts mood

Reiki may help to improve your mood by relieving anxiety and depression. According to results from a 2011 study, people who had reiki felt greater mood benefits compared to people who didn’t have reiki. The study participants who had six 30-minute sessions over two to eight weeks showed improvements in their mood.

5. May improve some symptoms and conditions

Reiki may also be used to treat headaches, tension, insomnia, and nausea. The relaxation response that happens with Reiki may benefit these symptoms. However, specific research is needed to determine the efficacy of reiki for the treatment of these symptoms and conditions.

What to Do Before Your Reiki Session

1. Relax and reflect.

Give yourself at least 30 minutes prior to the session to sit and reflect. Check in with how your body is feeling and take note of any emotions, thoughts, or physical sensations you are experiencing. Take some time to breathe and tend to whatever your body's needs might be on that given day. You may also want to reflect on any intentions you want to set for your session and anything you want to share with your practitioner before you begin.

2. Eat and hydrate.

You’ll want to be sure you've eaten and hydrated a few hours before the session—mostly so you will be comfortable and not distracted by hunger or thirst. Avoid eating a heavy meal beforehand, however, as you don’t want all of your body’s energy to be directed toward digesting while you’re receiving your treatment.

3. Get comfortable.

Most practitioners will have you lying down for the majority of your session since comfort is key if you want to be open to taking on and integrating the Reiki energy.

Be sure you are wearing loose and breathable clothes. I usually tell my clients to either wear or bring socks since shoes are removed during the session and the feet can get cold. You’ll also want to use the restroom before the session. If the position you are in for your session is uncomfortable in any way, communicate this to your practitioner, as they will also want to be sure you are as relaxed as possible.

What Happens During a Reiki Session

A typical reiki session lasts between 20 and 90 minutes. At your first appointment, you’ll meet with your reiki practitioner. You’ll have a short introduction or chat about the process and your expectations or intentions. Let your practitioner know about any symptoms you want to be addressed or if there are places in the body on which you’d like them to focus. Also, let the practitioner know if you have any injuries or places that are sensitive to touch.

You’ll be instructed to lie down on a treatment table or mat. They will cover you with a blanket. Usually, soft, relaxing music will be playing in the background. For the most part, there won’t be any talking during the session, but you can feel free to let your practitioner know if there’s something you need to feel more comfortable with or to share what you’re experiencing.

The practitioner will move their hands around your body. They may touch you lightly or have their hands just above your body.

You may experience sensations in the body such as heat or tingling. Some people report seeing visualizations such as colors or pictures, or having memories appear. Try to allow whatever arises to pass without attaching too much meaning to it. Your experiences may become deeper the more you continue with reiki.

What to Do After Your Reiki Session

1. Integrate.

Many of the benefits of Reiki can occur soon after the session ends. As such, it’s important to find somewhere quiet and relaxing to integrate what may arise. I recommend that my clients take at least 15-20 minutes after the session to meditate, lie down, go for a walk in nature, or even take a nap. Try not to book or schedule anything immediately after your session.

2. Eat and hydrate (again!)

It’s important to hydrate after doing any type of energy work. Be sure to drink 1-2 glasses of water after your session. I find adding electrolytes to your water is also a good idea, as it helps to replenish the body. Energy work is often hungry work, and you may find yourself feeling peckish immediately after your session too. Be sure you listen to your body and choose a healthy snack or meal afterward if needed. Eating can also help ground the body and as a bonus, you may find that a piece of dark chocolate tastes extra good after energy work.

3. Reflect

It’s often helpful to spend some time after the session reflecting—whether that means journaling, drawing, or somehow capturing any insights you had during the experience. You may also decide to meditate afterward or listen to calming and/or inspirational music. Whatever you choose to do, find an activity that helps you connect to what you've experienced so you can draw on it in the future.

4. Contact your practitioner if challenges arise.

Reiki is extremely gentle and yet, since energy blockages are being cleared in the body during a session, discomfort can arise. Find out what the best way is to contact your practitioner and get in touch if anything feels physically or emotionally painful after your session.

General Caution for Reiki

Reiki is not a treatment for illness or disease. Reiki is a complementary therapy in that it works alongside other medical and therapeutic techniques. Some reiki practitioners claim they can heal serious diseases, such as cancer. This may prompt a person with cancer to abandon medically proven treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy.

Always be guided by your doctor or specialist. Be very wary of any reiki practitioner who advises you to abandon your conventional medical treatment.

Do not stop any medical treatments on the advice of your reiki practitioner.

How to Find Credible Reiki Classes Near Me

Here are some points to consider when choosing a Reiki class and Reiki master:

1. The teacher’s Reiki competence

Does she practice daily self-treatment? A teacher who practices daily hands-on self-treatment values and understands the practice with greater depth than teachers who don’t have consistent, committed self-practice. Also inquire: What was her Reiki training? What is her Reiki lineage? Was she a Reiki professional offering treatment to the public before becoming a Reiki master? What teaching experience does she have? What avenues has she created to offer students continuing support? Keep in mind it takes time to become a skilled Reiki master/teacher — and I mean years.

2. The Reiki teacher’s presence

Is she welcoming, non-judgmental, even-tempered, professional, and anything else you feel is important in a teacher? Does she have clear boundaries? Does she communicate clearly?

3. Your rapport with the Reiki teacher

This is an important relationship, so contemplate your values. If you are choosing between a teacher you like vs. one with more experience or a bigger reputation, I’d go with the one you like, especially if she will continue to be accessible to you, as long as she is qualified and committed to her students.

4. First-degree Reiki only class

Give yourself the benefit of taking a class that is devoted to basic hands-on practice, with a focus on daily Reiki self-treatment. The class should include the four First degree initiations; protocols for self-practice and informally practicing Reiki on others (this is not professional training); an accurate overview of the history of the practice, starting with Mikao Usui; and ample in-class practice time to practice on yourself and, if in-person, to practice with the other students. The most important goal is for you to feel comfortable continuing your daily self-treatment at home by the time the class ends. If you aren’t comfortable and confident, it’s unlikely you’ll continue practicing, and that’s why you took the class, right?

5. Reiki class time

Ten to twelve hours is a reasonable amount of time for a small group class. The class should be spread out over at least two days, so you have the opportunity to practice at home and bring your questions to the next session.

6. Accessibility of Reiki class location

If you’re keen on an in-person class, is it necessary for the class to be easily accessible, or is it possible for you to travel to study with a Reiki master you feel drawn to? And is there anything you need to know about the accessibility of the location itself, such as stairs or elevators, suitable for wheelchairs, etc.?

7. Reiki class fee

Did your mom ever tell you (as mine did), “You get what you pay for?” Low fees might indicate low confidence, little experience, or lack of grounding. You want a teacher who appreciates the value of Reiki practice in today’s world. After all, you live in today’s world, don’t you? Your First degree Reiki class is a one-time investment that brings dividends for life; it makes sense to be generous to yourself.

8. Daily Reiki self-practice

There are 2 parts to this. First, does the training include learning hands-on self practice and will you practice together in class?

Second — and equally important — does the teacher herself practice hands-on self-Reiki every day? And I mean every day, without fail. Given that the main way we develop as Reiki practitioners is by actually practicing, the teacher who relies on her self-practice daily will always understand the practice with greater depth and nuance. She’ll also have more respectful boundaries. A teacher who practices daily self-Reiki knows how much benefit comes from self-practice and won’t feel the need to push the students. If the teacher doesn’t practice daily hands-on self-Reiki, keep looking.

Sources:

Better Health

Forbes Health

Healthline

Taking Charge

Medical News Today

Cleveland Clinic

WebMD

Everyday Health

Matrrix

MBG Mindfulness

Reiki in Medicine