What to Expect in a Reiki Session

If you have booked your first Reiki session, or are simply curious what one involves, it is natural to wonder what actually happens. The good news is that Reiki is one of the gentlest, most undemanding treatments you can receive: there is nothing to prepare, nothing to do, and nothing that should feel uncomfortable.

Here is what to expect, from the moment you arrive to how you might feel afterwards.

Before the Session

A session usually begins with a short, friendly conversation. The practitioner may ask why you have come and what you are hoping for, whether that is relaxation, relief from stress, or support through a difficult time.

You stay fully clothed throughout Reiki, so there is no need to undress; you may simply be asked to remove your shoes, glasses or any bulky jewellery, and to make yourself comfortable. There is nothing you need to believe or do for it to work as a relaxation; an open, easy mind is all you need to bring.

The Setting

Reiki rooms are designed for calm. You will usually find soft lighting, a comfortable treatment couch, perhaps the scent of essential oils, and gentle music playing in the background to settle the atmosphere. You will lie down, fully clothed, often with a blanket for warmth, and be invited to let your eyes close and your breathing slow.

During the Session

Once you are settled, the practitioner gently places their hands on, or just above, a series of positions across your body, beginning at the head and moving slowly down, resting at each for a few minutes. The touch, where there is any, is very light; often the hands simply hover. There is usually little or no talking.

Most people find their mind quietens and their body grows heavy and deeply relaxed, and many drift into a peaceful, half-asleep state. It is, for most, simply an hour of profound rest.

How It Might Feel

Everyone’s experience is a little different, and all of them are normal. Some people feel gentle warmth or a soft tingling where the practitioner’s hands rest; some feel waves of relaxation, or a quiet welling-up of emotion; some see soft colours behind their eyes; and some feel simply, wonderfully calm, with nothing dramatic at all.

If you feel very little beyond relaxation, that is perfectly fine, and not a sign that anything is wrong. There is no right way to experience Reiki.

How Long It Lasts

A typical Reiki session lasts somewhere between forty-five minutes and an hour and a half, with around an hour being most common. The treatment itself is usually preceded and followed by a few minutes of gentle conversation, so it is worth allowing a little extra time and not rushing away the moment it ends.

After the Session

Afterwards, the practitioner will gently bring the session to a close and give you a little time to return to yourself; you may be offered a glass of water. It is common to feel deeply relaxed, a little dreamy, or pleasantly sleepy, and occasionally a touch emotional as tension releases. It is wise to drink plenty of water, take things gently for the rest of the day if you can, and simply let the calm settle.

A Few Gentle Tips

Wear comfortable, loose clothing, since you will be lying down fully dressed.
Come with an open mind, but no pressure to feel anything in particular.
Tell your practitioner if you are too warm, too cold, or uncomfortable at any point, it is your time, and it should feel good.
Choose a practitioner you feel at ease with; a personal recommendation or a properly trained, insured therapist is a good place to start.
Remember it is complementary, a lovely support for relaxation and wellbeing, but not a replacement for medical care if you are unwell.

Listen on Spotify

Curious about the kind of music that sets the tone for a session? Our Reiki Relaxation album was composed for exactly this, press play and you can feel the atmosphere for yourself.

A Reiki session asks almost nothing of you but to lie still and let go for an hour, and offers, in return, a rare and gentle kind of rest. However it unfolds for you, and whatever you feel, you can simply receive it, breathe, and enjoy the quiet. That, in the end, is the heart of it.