What Happens in a Reiki Session?

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In a Reiki session, you remain fully clothed and rest comfortably while the practitioner places their hands lightly on, or just above, different areas of the body. The practical side is simple. The experience itself can be much harder to put into words: some people notice warmth, tingling, emotion, deep stillness or a sense of drifting; others simply feel rested. There is no particular sensation you have to produce for Reiki to be meaningful.

What is actually happening during Reiki?

This is where Reiki becomes difficult to explain only with the intellect.

Within the Reiki tradition I was taught, Reiki is understood as a form of universal life-force energy. A practitioner is not trying to force, manufacture or mentally direct an outcome. We create the conditions, connect with Reiki and allow the energy to work in the way it needs to.

Much of what we know about Reiki has been passed from teacher to student through lineage, beginning with the teachings associated with Mikao Usui and developing as Reiki travelled through different masters, countries and generations. Along the way, practitioners have also contributed their own understanding through years of direct experience with the energy.

That matters to me. Reiki is not only an intellectual idea to analyse from the outside. It is also an experience. I believe there is immense potential in fields of experience that the human mind may not yet be able to fully explain or comprehend. At the same time, I think it is important to be clear about which ideas come from Reiki tradition, which come from practitioner experience, and which have been established through scientific research.

Arriving and settling in

Your session begins with a private conversation and time to arrive. We talk about what has brought you in, how you have been feeling, and what you hope the time might offer. This is also where you can ask questions and tell me about any mobility, sensory or comfort needs.

You do not need to prepare a perfect intention. Wanting to rest is enough.

Many women arrive saying they find it hard to switch off. I do not expect you to. Sometimes the first part of Reiki is simply allowing yourself to realise that, for this hour, nothing is being demanded of you.

What happens on the treatment table?

You remain fully clothed and rest in whatever position feels comfortable. Most people lie on a treatment table, usually on their back to begin. Blankets and supports can be adjusted, and seated Reiki is available if lying down is not comfortable.

I place my hands lightly on, or just above, a series of areas such as the head, shoulders, torso, knees and feet. We agree on touch beforehand. You can request hands-off Reiki for the whole session or for any area, and you can change your mind at any time.

There is no massage or physical manipulation. The external part of a Reiki treatment can look very quiet and simple. What you experience internally may be equally quiet — or it may feel surprisingly profound.

Can Reiki be done without touching me?

Yes. Reiki can be offered completely hands-off, with my hands held just above the body. You can choose hands-off Reiki for the whole session or only for particular areas.

What should I wear?

Wear anything comfortable. You stay fully clothed throughout the session, so there is no special preparation or clothing required.

Do I need to talk during the session?

No. Some women prefer complete quiet, while others need a few words before they can settle. There is no pressure to talk once the Reiki begins.

What might Reiki feel like?

There is no single way Reiki is supposed to feel. People sometimes describe warmth, coolness, tingling, pulsing, heaviness, lightness, colours or imagery, gentle emotion, a sense of spaciousness, or drifting toward sleep. Others simply feel very rested. Experiences can also change from one session to another.

I do not treat any one sensation as proof that Reiki is or is not happening. The experience does not need to be dramatic to be valuable.

What if I don’t feel anything during Reiki?

Nothing is wrong. Some people notice a great deal during Reiki; others experience very little beyond having an hour to rest. I do not use sensations as a scorecard for whether a session was “successful.”

For me, Reiki is something to experience rather than perform. You do not have to concentrate, visualise correctly or convince yourself that something is happening.

Is it normal to fall asleep during Reiki?

Yes. It happens often. You do not need to stay alert or consciously follow the session. If your body wants to rest, I let it rest.

Is it normal to feel emotional during Reiki?

Yes, emotion can arise. Sometimes there are tears without a clear story attached; sometimes something familiar comes to the surface; sometimes there is simply a feeling of release.

Within my Reiki practice, I understand this as the body and energy sometimes releasing what is ready to be released. I do not turn that into a diagnosis or insist on an interpretation. There is no judgement and no pressure to explain what you are feeling. I simply hold the space and allow your experience to unfold at its own pace.

What does the practitioner experience during Reiki?

A Reiki session is not only something I “do” to another person. I am also listening — with my hands, attention and intuition — while allowing Reiki to flow.

I may notice sensations such as warmth, changes in the quality of the energy, an intuitive impression, an image, a word or an emotional tone. These are part of my experience as a practitioner, not medical findings. If something feels useful to share, I may mention it afterwards as a reflection and leave you completely free to decide whether it resonates.

This distinction is important to me: your experience remains yours. I do not want Reiki to replace your own inner knowing with somebody else’s interpretation.

What happens after a Reiki session?

There is time to come back slowly before you leave. We can talk about what you noticed, or keep the close quiet.

Some people leave feeling very relaxed, clear or grounded. Others simply notice they are quieter than when they arrived. Occasionally an insight or emotion makes more sense later rather than during the treatment itself. There is no correct after-effect you should expect.

Most people can continue with their day. If possible, I suggest leaving a little space afterwards rather than rushing immediately into something demanding.

How many Reiki sessions will I need?

There is no universal schedule. One session may offer a useful pause. Many clients return periodically as part of their self-care, while others come back when life feels like too much and they need their cup filled so they can keep going.

I do not believe Reiki should be sold through fear or promises. You will not be pressured into a package or promised a cure.

How long does a Reiki session take?

An in-person Reiki session in my practice is approximately 60–75 minutes. That gives us enough time for you to arrive, settle, receive Reiki without being rushed, and come back gently afterwards.

Do I need to believe in Reiki for a session to work?

You do not need to arrive with a particular belief system. You can be deeply spiritual, sceptical, curious, unsure or simply exhausted.

I believe Reiki is ultimately experiential. Rather than trying to intellectually decide in advance what it must be, you can allow yourself to receive the session and notice your own experience. You remain free to give that experience whatever meaning feels true to you.

Is Reiki a substitute for medical or psychological care?

No. Reiki is a complementary practice. I do not diagnose medical or psychological conditions, prescribe treatment or ask anyone to stop care recommended by a qualified health professional.

You do not have to choose between being open to Reiki and using conventional healthcare. They answer different kinds of needs and can sit alongside one another.

Sources and further reading

• Better Health Channel, Victoria — Reiki: practical description of a Reiki session, complementary-care guidance and practitioner considerations.
• National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health — Reiki: overview of Reiki research, evidence and safety.
• International Center for Reiki Training — Reiki FAQs: a Reiki-lineage perspective on treatment, practice and teaching.
• International Center for Reiki Training — A Working Definition of Reiki: one established Reiki organisation’s description of lineage, attunement and spiritually guided practice.

If you are looking for an in-person session, I offer private women-centred Reiki in Mitcham, in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs. You can read more about my Reiki healing sessions or Reiki in Mitcham and Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.