Because Reiki is a purely healing energy and knows just where to go for each client it can never be harmful. It is a very safe practice that can only do good for a person’s physical and mental/emotional healing. Some people don’t feel any special effects except a sense of calmness and relaxation throughout the session, while others may feel the energy more tangibly. In either case the energy works for the client’s highest healing- it even stays with the client and works for a few days to a week after a session. For this reason it is important for the client to drink lots of water, get adequate rest, stay nourished and stay alert as to the ways in which Reiki may be helping them in the days and weeks following their session.
Reiki can help to alleviate physical pain and tension as well as stress and anxiety. It may help a person feel more balanced, focused, happy, calm, and non-reactive to daily situations and challenges. It can help promote good sleep quality, and it can help to heal illnesses of any kind. It is not a substitute for medicine, medical intervention or lifestyle changes- instead, it can complement medical treatments and help clients make healthy changes in their lives. If a client wants help quitting a bad habit then it can help with that, too. It does all of this through removing mental, emotional and physical blockages that cause illness- like negative thoughts and beliefs about oneself- and promotes the healthy flow of Ki, which heals the body and encourages positive thoughts about oneself.
I would like to reiterate that Reiki has the potential to help with pretty much anything you need it to. It might not cure something all by itself nor should we expect it to, but it certainly won’t hurt and in many cases can help significantly. For this reason, if you are thinking about giving a Reiki a try for a specific reason or for no particular reason at all, just do it! It could really help and it certainly won’t hurt anything. I think that the benefits of just laying still in a dark, quiet room for an hour are enough all by themselves, so adding Reiki into the mix is a huge bonus to help you relax and heal.
Client Testimonials
I’ve heard a variety of responses from clients in my 6 months of practicing Reiki. I always love hearing from my clients what they experience, as sometimes the responses are similar and some are way “out there.” I never know how a Reiki session will affect a client, so I keep an open mind, intend for the Reiki to go wherever is needed, and let the client know they are free to ask me to move or stop if they are uncomfortable.
Many clients feel heat directly from my hands throughout the session. Some have felt freezing cold for periods of time. Some feel tingling throughout their body or in specific areas. Some feel soothing pressure like a weighted blanket, or lightness in certain limbs or in their whole body. Some feel pressure, as if the energy is pushing on them, and some feel a pull of energy like a magnet. Some have pain that is alleviated or goes away altogether.
I’ve had clients say things like,
“I haven’t been able to move my neck this far in years!”
“It feels like a nap and warm hug all in one.”
“That was so relaxing. I completely lost track of time.”
“I felt light, focused and more calm the few days after the session.”
“Wait, were you using hot stones? I was sure you used something to heat up your hands!”
Many clients have fallen asleep and started snoring. Some clients have felt as though their body orientation changed during the session, and slowly felt it go back to normal as the session went on. Some see colors, or have random memories, images and thoughts come up. Some clients have gotten emotional and cried during or after the session. An emotional break is relatively rare, it just depends on what Reiki brings up for the client. I believe it helps the clients process through and release anything they are ready to release.
I always debrief after my sessions and ask the client what they experienced and how they felt about it. This helps the client to process in a non-judgemental environment, and I love hearing my clients’ experience if they are willing share it.