How a Reiki Session Works, Step by Step

If you have never been to a Reiki session, it is normal not to know what to expect. And the unknown is usually the main reason people put it off.

So let me tell you exactly what happens, step by step.

Before the session

You do not need to prepare in any particular way. No fasting, no meditating beforehand, no reading.

Two practical things help: dress comfortably, because you will be lying down for a while, and avoid arriving in a rush, straight out of a hectic day. Five minutes of settling beforehand makes a difference.

If the session is online, all you need is a quiet place where you will not be interrupted.

The conversation at the start

We begin with a few minutes of talking. I ask what brings you: how you sleep, how your energy is, whether this is a harder stretch, whether something keeps coming back.

You do not need a diagnosis or a prepared explanation. You do not have to know what is "wrong" with you. It is enough to say what you notice, in your own words.

If you would rather not go into detail, that is fine too. Some people come and say only "I am tired". That is enough.

The working part

You settle comfortably, lying down or in a chair, whichever suits you better. You stay fully clothed. Reiki involves no undressing, no massage and no physical manipulation. You can take off just your shoes and anything that feels tight.

I work with my palms resting on the body or a little way off it, moving through a number of positions. We work in silence or with quiet music, whichever you prefer.

Throughout all of this you have nothing to do. You do not need to concentrate, visualise, breathe in any particular way or believe in anything. You can fall asleep. Many people do, and that is perfectly fine.

What you might feel

Responses vary a great deal from person to person:

• warmth or, more rarely, coolness in the areas where I am working
• light tingling
• waves of relaxation, sometimes quite sudden
• drowsiness or sleep
• emotions rising to the surface, sometimes with no story attached
• or, quite simply, nothing in particular

All of these are normal responses. I insist on this because people who feel nothing dramatic sometimes leave disappointed, convinced that "it did not work". The intensity of the sensation says nothing about how well the session went. The effects often show up in the following days, in your sleep and in how you feel generally.

At the end

I give you a few minutes to come back to your own rhythm, without hurrying. Then I tell you what I noticed during the work and give you a few simple pointers for the days ahead.

Usually: drink more water than you normally would, leave yourself a little room to rest that day, and pay attention to what comes up - sleep, dreams, decisions that suddenly become simple.

In the days afterwards

The effects usually settle over two or three days. Some people feel lighter straight away. Others first feel a gentle tiredness, like after a release, followed by feeling better.

If emotions come up, do not be alarmed and do not force them: they usually pass by themselves within a few days.

Practical questions I get often

Do I have to talk about what happened to me? No. You can say only "I am tired" and that is enough. Reiki does not work through the story.

What happens if I fall asleep? Nothing bad, quite the opposite. Sleeping during the session is a good sign, not a failure.

What if I cry? It happens and it is fine. Sometimes emotions rise with no story attached. You do not have to explain anything and we do not rush anything.

Can I come if I am sceptical? Yes, and sceptical people come often. You are not asked to believe in anything in order to lie down and rest for an hour.

Do I need to do anything afterwards? No. Just drink more water and, if you can, do not fill up the rest of your day straight afterwards.

Children, older people, pregnant women

Reiki is a gentle practice with no known contraindications, and sessions can be shorter for children, who usually get bored quickly.

For any medical situation - pregnancy, chronic illness, ongoing treatment - the rule stays the same: see your doctor first and continue your treatment. Energy work can go alongside it, never instead of medical care. If you tell me you are in a situation like that, I will tell you the same thing.

How long and how often

A session lasts around an hour, including the conversation.

How often it makes sense depends on the situation. For one difficult stretch, a single session can be enough. For older things, two or three sessions a few weeks apart usually make sense. I will tell you honestly when I think you no longer need to come.

Distance sessions

They go the same way, with the difference that you stay at home, within a time slot we agree together. For people who are not in the Cluj area or cannot travel, this is the practical option.

If you want to try

Write to me briefly about what you are going through and we will find a suitable time for a session. If I am not sure I can help you, I will say so openly.

And if you would rather understand first what it is all about, I have written a complete guide to what Reiki is and where it comes from.