What actually happens during a Reiki session?
If you've ever been curious about Reiki but weren't quite sure what to expect, you're not alone.
One of the most common things we often hear after someone's first session is: "I didn't know I needed that."
So today, we want to gently walk you through exactly what a Reiki session feels like -- from the moment you walk through our doors to the moment you leave feeling grounded, clear, and reset.
When you arrive, you will be welcomed into a quiet, calming space. There's no rush, no pressure, no performance required. Our Clinical Reiki Master, Marilyn Roman, will briefly check in about how you have been feeling and what you would like support with -- physically, emotionally, or energetically.
You don't have to have the "right" words. Even "I just feel off" is enough.
You will remain fully clothed the entire time. We recommend wearing something comfortable -- soft layers, relaxed clothing, anything you would wear to rest or take a gentle yoga class. You will remove shoes and settle onto a massage table with blankets and bolsters for comfort.
During the session, you will lie comfortably on your back (and sometimes your stomach, if you'd like). Soft music may play in the background, or we may sit in quiet stillness. Marilyn will place her hands lightly on or just above different areas of your body. Reiki can be either gentle touch or completely hands-off — whichever feels most comfortable to you. There is no massage or manipulation of muscles.
Many people wonder, "What am I supposed to do?"
The answer: Nothing at all.
You don't have to meditate. You don't have to clear your mind. You don't have to feel anything specific. Just rest.
Every experience is unique, but clients often describe feeling:
Warmth or gentle heat where hands are placed
Tingling or subtle waves of sensation
Deep relaxation, like drifting between awake and asleep
Emotional release or unexpected clarity
A sense of heaviness (groundedness) or lightness
Some people feel a lot. Some feel very little in the moment and notice shifts later. There is no "right" way to experience Reiki.
Reiki works by supporting your nervous system in shifting into a parasympathetic (rest-and-digest) state. When your body feels safe, it can soften. When it softens, it can recalibrate.
Many of us move through life in a constant, low-grade stress response. Reiki creates intentional space to pause that pattern. And often, that pause is what we didn't realize we needed.
When the session ends, you will be invited to slowly reorient. We will check in about what you noticed and answer any questions. Most people leave feeling clearer, calmer, more grounded in their body, less mentally "noisy," and emotionally lighter. Sometimes the shift is subtle. Sometimes it's profound. Sometimes it unfolds over the next 24-48 hours. But almost always, there's a deep exhale.
And that's when we hear it: "I didn't know I needed that."
If you've been curious, consider this your gentle invitation. Reiki is beginner-friendly, low-pressure, and designed to meet you exactly where you are.
If you have questions, we are always happy to talk them through. And if you're ready to experience it for yourself, we would love to hold that space for you.