Reiki Healing FAQ Simplified: Everything You Need to Know Without Feeling Overwhelmed (and the 5 Reiki Principles Everyone Should Follow!)

Reiki healing FAQ simplified: Do you have lots of questions about Reiki healing and don't know where to begin? You've heard all the hype, but can Reiki help YOU? Read on for a simplified beginners guide to Reiki healing.

What is Reiki Healing?

Reiki healing is a beautiful, non-invasive energy healing technique.

It promotes relaxation, stress reduction, and kick starts your body’s natural healing process. Reiki (pronounced ‘ray-key’) means ‘universal life energy’ in Japanese. It is an organic and holistic approach to your health, and puts you into a well-needed deep relaxation.

Where does Reiki come from?

Reiki actually dates back about 2500 years, but was redeveloped by Dr. Mikao Usui in Japan in 1922. Dr. Usui opened a clinic to treat and teach Reiki and had many students, who then gradually brought Reiki to the UK and other parts of the world in the late 1900s. Other variations of Reiki are also now available and widely practiced.

How does Reiki healing work?

Everything is made of energy. We are alive because energy is flowing through us. Reiki practitioners receive attunements in their training and this enables them to transfer and move Reiki energy through their hands to their client. Reiki symbols are also taught and can amplify the energy and effectiveness of the treatment. Moving stuck and stagnant energy gives a smoother, balanced flow throughout the body and mind and improves your overall wellbeing.

How does distance, or remote, Reiki healing work?

Energy can’t be destroyed. It is not bound by space, time, or geographics.

Reiki works regardless of distance because it’s energy and it’s quantum. During your online Reiki treatment, you will feel all the same sensations as if you were sat in my therapy room. Some people prefer this method to face-to-face because they don't have to leave their house. This can be beneficial if, for example, you have young children at home and want to arrange your Reiki session for when they’re asleep or if you struggle to get out of the house due to physical or mental health conditions. Some people feel more comfortable having this treatment in their own bed or sofa.

What can Reiki healing help with and what are the benefits?

Reiki healing has so many health benefits but it also has this beautiful domino effect on the rest of your life.

It gives you clarity and positivity and helps you manage life better when it occasionally kicks you in the balls. Reiki for pain, Reiki for anxiety, Reiki for grief...there are many ailments it can help with, including:

• Sleep and insomnia

• Stress reduction

• Anxiety

• Energy levels

• Medication side-effects

• Menopause symptoms

• Chronic and acute pain

• Blood pressure

• Chronic diseases such as arthritis, diabetes, and fibromyalgia>

• Grief, living grief, and bereavement

• Low mood

This is not an exhaustive list. If you are in discomfort, feeling stuck, or struggling to manage a stressful life then Reiki can help. It kickstarts and promotes your body's natural healing abilities and helps with both physical and mental health.

Often we don’t put our health first and we rarely go into a deep relaxation anymore. There is too much going on, too many societal pressures, too long of a to-do list. But we NEED to go into this relaxation, to tune back into our intuition, and temporarily clear our minds. Our brain needs rest too!

What sensations do you feel during a Reiki healing session?

Everyone experiences their own unique sensations during a Reiki healing treatment, and they never cease to amaze me.

I’ve had clients who have seen colours, flashes of light, had out-of-body experiences, and even seen my guardian angels over my shoulder! Many people feel heat from my hands, tingling throughout their body, feel melted into the bed, or feel very floaty and light. You will go into a deep relaxation and feel stagnant energy leave your body, and experience a much nicer flow of energy throughout your body and mind. You may be light-headed or dizzy when you sit up, and you may feel tired. These are all short-term temporary sensations.

What to expect from a face-to-face Reiki healing session

Reiki healing treatments vary from therapist to therapist.

In my Reiki sessions, you will first sit down with me for a consultation. I like to get to know you and your lifestyle so I can tailor your treatment to your needs.

You'll lie on the therapy bed, fully clothed except for shoes. I use a hands-on approach; don’t worry, they are placed on you very gently. I will begin over your eyes, and then work my way down to your feet. I will feel for different sensations and energies at each point, open up and cleanse your chakras, move any stuck or stagnant energy, and put you into a lovely deep relaxation. There will be soft music, lavender oil, singing bowls, and incense. You will feel like you're in a spa or a forest retreat.

When I'm finished, I will bring you gently back into the room and feedback what I found. I do not diagnose and no Reiki practitioner should unless they are also medically qualified.

What other holistic services are on offer?

I offer other holistic treatments, which you can have as a stand-alone treatment or as a Reiki add-on. Sometimes your Reiki session comes to an end and you are so relaxed and comfortable that you don’t want to get up. This is the perfect time to finish your treatment off with something else, such as a Thai foot massage or Hopi ear candling. Unfortunately you will have to eventually get up though, sorry!

How many Reiki sessions do I need?

There is no right answer to this. I do believe that having just a one-off session, although beneficial, doesn’t quite cut it. This is not an upsell! I just don't want you to be incorrectly led to believe that one session of Reiki will transform your life. To start with, if you haven’t had Reiki before then you may take a little longer to go into that relaxation as it may feel a little alien to you. The general recommendation is 3-4 weekly or fortnightly sessions initially, and then once a month (or as you feel you need it) as ‘maintenance’ treatment. This will keep your energy levels balanced and calm.

What are the side effects of Reiki healing?

Reiki healing is considered a safe treatment with only the possibility of mild side-effects.

However, in the most extreme (and rare) case, you can have what is called a ‘healing crisis’. This sounds quite dramatic but it isn’t bad. You may experience cold-like symptoms, digestive issues, or mood swings. These shouldn’t last more than a day or two. Think of it in a positive way: it means you have had a big energy shift during your session and your body is readjusting. You can get some milder side-effects such as cold-like symptoms, lethargy, and headaches. Again, they won’t last long and this is your body’s way of getting rid of all those nasty toxins.

What about aftercare advice?

Drink, drink, drink! No, not alcohol unfortunately. Water! And when you think you’ve had enough, have a little more. Just like other treatments, such as massage, you need to flush out toxins after your treatment. You may find initially that you feel quite tired, so you should find some time to relax or rest afterwards. Don’t go into a full, busy day otherwise you will just eradicate all the lovely benefits you have achieved during the session.

What are the different types of Reiki healing and Reiki Practitioners?

The most well-known form of Reiki healing is Usui Reiki.

Usui Reiki is where my training background lies, but there are other variations: Angelic Reiki, Kundalini Reiki, and Tibetan Reiki to name a few. They all branched out from Usui Reiki and have their own unique approaches.

Different practitioners have different techniques and methods. Some practitioners use a hands-on approach, some use a hands-off. Some may incorporate other modalities such as singing bowls, meditation, or massage. No two Reiki sessions are ever the same.

What are the reiki myths?

Right, lets clear a few things up:

Reiki is not a religion!

Reiki is not witchcraft!

Reiki isn’t a heal-all practice!

Reiki is not an alternative to medicine!

What does Reiki training entail?

There are 3 levels of Reiki. Level I is very much focusing on you and your inner healing. It enables you to self-Reiki and practice for free on family and friends. Level II means you can practice professionally, get insured, and charge people for treatments. Level III, or Master level, or Master Teacher level, means you can also teach Reiki to others. At each level you receive an attunement. With level II you receive Reiki symbols, and you receive an extra Reiki symbol when you train in Masters.

Want to train in Reiki? Visit my training school page here.

Is Reiki regulated?

As Reiki healing is not regulated in the UK, it is important to choose your practitioner carefully.

Ensure they hold at least a level 2 qualification, are fully insured, and ideally a member of a Reiki association or other body such as the UK Reiki Federation, The Reiki Association, or the Complementary Medical Asoociation (CMA).

Before booking a service, it’is probably useful to ask your potential therapist a few questions:

• The cost of treatment

• How long the treatment will last and what it entails

• Any preparation needed beforehand

• If there is anyone that shouldn’t use this treatment

• Possible side effects

• Proof of qualifications, association, and insurance

• Experience

You could spend a lot of time and money on this practitioner, so you need to ensure they are right for you.

Is Reiki healing available on the NHS?

Reiki healing is available in many hospices as a complementary therapy.

Complementary and alternative therapy (CAM) generally falls outside of mainstream healthcare. If you use a CAM in addition to your mainstream healthcare, it is ‘complementary’. If you use it instead of your mainstream healthcare, it is ‘alternative’. Your practitioner should NEVER advise you to replace any healthcare with a CAM.

I volunteer weekly at the Primrose Hospice and the difference in my patients’ quality of life is incredible. These could be patients who are bereaved, at end-of-life, or have a life-debilitating illness. I give them 4 weekly Reiki sessions and the feedback is always so positive. Many don’t sleep properly, feel low in energy, are depressed, can’t relax, or are in constant worry. Reiki switches them off, puts them into a deep relaxation, improves their sleep, makes them feel more positive and has an incredible knock-on effect on the rest of their day-to-day life. The only downside is the waiting list for these treatments, as the reliance is on practitioners giving up some time to volunteer rather than paid employees. I absolutely love volunteering here, I have needed them far more than they have needed me, so I can’t say it has been entirely selfless!

What are the 5 principles of Reiki?

Just for today:

Do not anger

Do not worry

Be grateful

Work with diligence

Be kind

These are lovely principles to follow whether you practice Reiki or not. And of course we are all human; it only takes someone to erratically cut me up on the road for my ‘do not anger’ to go right out the window. But that’s ok, don’t tell yourself off, just reset!

What do I do now?

Not 100% sure if Reiki is for you?

Then book a free no-obligation telephone consultation with me.

Hopefully I have covered any questions you may have had about Reiki. If not, get in touch!

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