Getting Started with Reiki: What to Expect During Your First Session

1,733 words, 9 minutes read time

As more people look for ways to support their overall wellbeing of mind, body, and soul, it’s natural to feel both excited and a little apprehensive about trying something new.

If you’re curious about Reiki but aren’t quite sure what to expect during your first session, you’re in the right place!

Maybe you’ve heard of Reiki before but have never experienced it yourself. Maybe you’ve had other forms of energy work and are curious about how Reiki compares. Or maybe you’re simply feeling drawn to exploring what energy healing might offer you.

Whatever brought you here, this guide will walk you through what typically happens before, during, and after your first Reiki session with me, so you can arrive feeling comfortable, prepared, and open to the experience.

So First, What is Reiki?

Reiki is an energy healing practice that works with the body’s subtle energy to encourage balance, relaxation, and a sense of wellbeing. 

The word Reiki is often translated as “universal life energy.” The practice is based on the understanding that energy flows through and around us, and that when we experience physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual stress, our energy can become stagnant or out of balance.

During a Reiki session, a practitioner uses a series of hand positions either with light touch or with their hands held just above the body. 

At Along the Way Wellness, Reiki is approached as a whole-person practice. As a Siam Reiki Master, I am trained to notice how the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual wellbeing are all interconnected, and your session is tailored to what you may need in that moment.

You don’t need to know much about Reiki before your first session. You don’t need to know where your chakras are or understand how energy healing works.

You simply need to be open to experiencing it.

Now that we have a super basic overview of Reiki, what does an initial session entail?

Let’s take a look at what typically happens before, during, and after your first session.

Before Your Session:

• Scheduling your appointment: When booking your first Reiki session, you’ll have the opportunity to share a little about what is bringing you in and what you’d like support with.
  You may have a specific intention for your session, such as wanting to feel more grounded, finding emotional balance, moving through a period of change, or simply creating some much-needed space for yourself.
  You may also have no idea what your intention is, and that’s completely okay.
  Your first session may include some additional time for conversation so we can get to know you, discuss what you’re experiencing, answer questions, and create an approach that feels right for you.
• What to wear: Reiki is performed fully clothed. Comfortable clothing is recommended, particularly because you’ll be resting or reclining for much of the session. You want to feel relaxed and unrestricted. You will be asked to remove any metals, jewelry, and Smart watches or devices that you are wearing and placed aside for the entirety of the session.

Arriving at Your Appointment:

• Intake and consultation: When you arrive, we’ll begin with a conversation about how you’re feeling and what you’d like to explore during your session.
  I’ll explain what you can expect, talk through the different ways Reiki may be offered, and make sure you’re comfortable with the process.
  We’ll also discuss your intention for the session, if you have one.
  This is a great opportunity to ask questions, share anything you’d like me to know, or let me know if there are particular areas you’d like us to focus on.

• The atmosphere: Your Reiki session takes place in a calm, peaceful environment designed to help you settle into a state of relaxation.
  You’ll typically be comfortably reclined or lying down on a treatment table, surrounded by soothing music and a quiet atmosphere.
  The intention is to create a space where you can step away from the demands of everyday life and simply be present with yourself.
• Setting an intention: An intention can help provide some direction for your session, but it isn’t a requirement.
  Your intention might be something specific, such as “I want to feel more clear and less foggy,” or it might be as simple as “I need to let go.”
  Sometimes your intention changes once you’re on the table and begin to relax, and that’s okay too.
  Reiki is responsive to where you are in the moment, and we allow the session to unfold rather than trying to force a particular outcome.

During Your Session:

• The process: Once you’re comfortably settled, the Reiki session will begin.
  Reiki may be offered through gentle touch or with my hands held just above your body, depending on your preferences and what feels appropriate for your session.
  I’ll move through a series of hand positions, working intuitively with the energy of your body and allowing the session to unfold naturally. Starting with three different hand positions at the head, then the collar bone area, followed by the heart or upper chest, the upper abdomen, the hips, the knees, and finally ending at the feet. The intention is to support the flow and balance of energy throughout the body from head to toe.
• Crystal healing: If you’re open to it, and it feels like the session is calling for it, crystal healing may also be included during the session. This simply involves placing crystals on or around the body to assist or amplify the energy healing by using the energetic properties of the stones.
• Relaxation: Reiki can create a deeply relaxing experience.
  You may feel your body becoming heavier and more relaxed as the session progresses. You may find your breathing naturally slows, your mind becomes quieter, or you may drift into a light sleep.
  Some people remain completely awake throughout the session and simply enjoy the stillness.
  There is no right or wrong way to experience Reiki.
  If your mind wanders, let it wander. If you fall asleep, let yourself sleep.

• What you may feel: Everyone experiences Reiki differently, and even your own experience can vary from one session to another.
  You may notice warmth, coolness, tingling, pulsing, heaviness, lightness, or a sensation of energy moving through or around different areas of your body. You may see colours, shapes, or light.
  Some people experience a feeling of spaciousness or expansion. Others become aware of areas that feel particularly active or still.
  You may also notice emotions coming to the surface. You might feel peaceful, joyful, emotional, reflective, or even surprised by what arises.
  Some people experience very little sensation during the session and simply notice a deep sense of relaxation.
  Again, there is no particular experience you need to have. You don’t need to feel energy moving through your body for Reiki to be working with you. 
• The focus: Reiki is a whole-person practice.
  Rather than focusing only on one physical symptom or one particular emotion, a Reiki session works with you as a whole – body, mind, emotions, and spirit.
  Your intention may help guide the session, while the energy work itself is allowed to move where it is needed.
  Sometimes you may come in thinking you need support in one particular area and find that something completely different becomes the focus. This is one of the reasons why each session is unique.
• Personalized and intuitive care: No two Reiki sessions are exactly alike.
  Your session is shaped by what you’re experiencing, what you’d like to explore, and what presents itself during the treatment.
  I may spend more time in certain areas or return to particular energy centers or positions based on what I intuitively notice during your session. If you are open to messages, you may receive them. You may be guided through a visualization or meditation if you are open to it. Breathing exercises or small movements may be incorporated to assist the movement of the energy.
  Your feedback is always welcome and encouraged.
  If you experience something you’d like to share, feel free to let me know. If you’d rather remain quiet and simply receive, that’s perfectly fine too.

After Your Session:

• What you may feel: After your Reiki session, you may notice a deep sense of relaxation, peace, grounding, or lightness.
  Some people describe feeling refreshed or energized, while others feel calm and sleepy. You may notice that your mind feels quieter or that you have a greater sense of clarity.
  You may also find that emotions continue to move or that something you experienced during the session stays with you for a little while afterward. Some people notice increased thirst, urination, or bowel movements after sessions.
  Everyone responds differently, and there is no “right” feeling to have after Reiki.
• Allowing the experience to settle: If possible, give yourself a little space after your session rather than immediately jumping back into a busy schedule.
  You may want to enjoy some quiet time, take a gentle walk, drink some water, journal, or simply notice how you’re feeling.
  There’s no need to immediately analyze your experience.
  Sometimes the meaning of something that comes up during Reiki becomes clearer with a little time and space.
• Self-care: You may be encouraged to stay hydrated, rest, and pay attention to what you’re noticing in the hours and days following your session.
  You might notice subtle shifts in your emotions, energy, thoughts, or overall sense of wellbeing.
  Simply observe without judgment. Your experience and feedback can also be helpful in shaping future sessions.
• What happens next: Your first Reiki session gives us an opportunity to begin understanding how you might respond to energy work and what feels most supportive for you.
  Some people choose to book Reiki when they feel they need a reset or additional support. Others enjoy incorporating it into a regular wellness practice.
  Your needs will naturally change as you move through different seasons of life, and your sessions can change with you.

Your First Reiki Session Is a Chance to Receive

Man of us are often caring for others, managing responsibilities, solving problems, staying busy, holding everything together. We’re often so accustomed to giving that receiving can feel surprisingly unfamiliar.

Reiki gives you permission to pause, listen inward, and simply receive. 

If you’re curious about Reiki and ready to experience it for yourself, I’d love to welcome you into a calm, supportive space where you can slow down, reconnect, and explore what Reiki may have to offer you.