What to Expect From Your First Reiki Session
If you've been thinking about booking a session and wondering what to expect from your first reiki session, I want you to know — that mix of curiosity and uncertainty is completely normal. Almost every person who comes to me says the same thing: "I've been interested in this for a while, but I didn't know where to start." Maybe a friend told you about their experience, or you've been carrying stress that nothing else seems to move. Whatever brought you here, I'm glad you're looking into it. In this post, I'm going to walk you through everything: how to prepare, what a session actually looks and feels like, what to do afterward, and why distance Reiki works just as powerfully as in-person.
Whether you're nervous, curious, or just ready to try something new, this guide covers everything you need to know before, during, and after your first reiki session. From what to wear to what you might feel — and why every experience is valid and complete.
What Is Reiki? (A Quick Refresher)
Reiki is a form of energy healing rooted in Japanese tradition. The word itself breaks down simply: rei means "universal" and ki means "life energy" — the same concept as chi in Chinese medicine or prana in Ayurveda. A trained Reiki practitioner channels that energy through their hands (or, in distance sessions, through focused intention) to support the body's natural ability to heal and rebalance.
Reiki doesn't diagnose or treat specific conditions, and it isn't a replacement for medical care. What it does is create the conditions — deep rest, nervous system calm, energetic flow — in which the body can do what it's already wired to do. Most people leave a session feeling lighter, clearer, and more settled than they have in a long time. It's gentle, non-invasive, and safe for just about anyone.
If you're completely new to energy work, don't worry. You don't need to understand the mechanics for it to work. An open mind is more than enough.
Before Your Session: How to Prepare
One of the most common questions I get from first-timers is: "Do I need to do anything special beforehand?" The answer is: nothing complicated. A little intentional preparation goes a long way, though.
Wear comfortable clothing. You'll stay fully clothed throughout the session, so choose something loose and breathable — think yoga pants, a soft t-shirt, anything you'd wear to rest in. Avoid tight waistbands or stiff fabrics that might distract you.
Hydrate. Drink water before and after your session. Energy work can have a detoxifying effect on the body, and staying hydrated supports that process.
Set an intention. You don't need a specific goal — but if something has been weighing on you, it can be meaningful to hold that gently in mind as you begin. Even a simple intention like "I'm open to receiving what I need" is enough.
Avoid a heavy meal. Try not to eat a large meal in the hour or two before your session. A lighter stomach helps you relax more fully.
Arrive with an open mind. This one matters more than any of the others. Reiki works whether or not you fully believe in it — but releasing expectations about what "should" happen lets you receive whatever your body actually needs.
For distance sessions: Find a quiet room where you won't be interrupted. Lie down on your bed or a comfortable surface. Have at least 60 minutes completely free. Turn your phone to silent (not just vibrate), dim the lights if you like, and have a blanket nearby — some people get cool as they deeply relax.
What Happens During a Reiki Session
Understanding what happens during reiki can take a lot of the mystery — and the nerves — out of it. Here's what a typical session looks like from start to finish.
The intake conversation (5–10 minutes). We start by talking briefly. I'll ask what's been going on for you lately — physically, emotionally, energetically. You don't need to share more than you're comfortable with. This helps me tune into where your energy might need the most support.
Getting settled. For in-person sessions, you'll lie fully clothed on a comfortable treatment table. I'll cover you with a light blanket if you'd like, and soft, grounding music plays in the background. For distance sessions, you'll be lying down in your own space at our scheduled time — I'll be in my space, channeling Reiki with the same intention and focus.
The Reiki flow (45–50 minutes). This is the heart of what happens during reiki. I work through a series of hand positions — resting gently on or just above the body — moving from the head down through the torso, legs, and feet. Each position holds for several minutes, allowing the energy to move where it's needed. In distance sessions, I use a proxy method and directed intention to achieve the same energetic connection across space.
Closing. I'll gently signal when we're wrapping up, give you a moment to come back to full awareness, and then share any observations from the session — anything I noticed energetically, areas that felt particularly active or quiet. You're welcome to share what you experienced too.
What happens during reiki is ultimately simple: your nervous system is invited to downshift from its constant state of alertness, and your energy has the space to move and rebalance. That's the whole thing. The rest is just your body doing its work.
What to Expect From Your First Reiki Session: Feelings and Sensations
This is the section most people want to jump to first — and I get it. The reiki session experience is different for everyone, and knowing the range of what's normal can help you let go of any pressure to feel a specific thing.
Here's what people commonly experience:
Deep relaxation. This is the most universal response. Many people describe it as the deepest rest they've had in years — that half-awake, half-dreaming place where the body is completely still but the mind is softly present. Some people fall fully asleep.
Warmth or tingling. Feeling heat under or around my hands — even in distance sessions — is very common. Some people feel a gentle tingling or pulsing sensation. These are signs of energy moving.
Emotional release. Sometimes tears come, or a wave of emotion surfaces without any clear reason. This is a completely healthy response. Emotions are stored in the body, and when the nervous system finally lets go, what was held sometimes rises to the surface. You don't need to analyze it — just let it move through.
Seeing colors or imagery. Some people experience soft colors, geometric shapes, or vivid imagery behind their closed eyes. This is more common than you might think and simply reflects the brain's response to deep rest and energetic shifts.
Nothing unusual at all. And this is equally valid. If your reiki session experience feels like a very peaceful nap and nothing more — that's a complete session. Your body received what it needed. The shifts often become apparent in the hours and days after, not during.
I want to be clear about this: there is no "right" reiki session experience. Comparing your session to someone else's is like comparing dreams — they're all different, and none is more real or valuable than another. What to expect from your first reiki session is simply whatever arises, held with openness.
After Your Session: Integration Tips
How you spend the hours after a session matters. Reiki continues working after you leave the table — energetic and emotional shifts can unfold over the next 24 to 72 hours. Supporting that process gently makes a real difference.
Drink plenty of water. Hydration supports the body's natural clearing process. Aim for more than your usual intake that day.
Rest if you need to. Don't schedule your first reiki session on a day packed with high-intensity activities or demanding obligations. Give yourself permission to move slowly, nap, or simply be quiet afterward.
Journal. Even a few minutes of freewriting — what you noticed, how you feel, anything that surfaced — can help you integrate the experience and notice patterns over time. You don't need to write beautifully. Just write honestly.
Be gentle with yourself. Skip the intense workout, the crowded event, the emotionally heavy conversation if you can. Protect the softness the session creates.
Notice what comes up. Over the next few days, pay attention to your mood, your sleep, your body. Some people notice shifts immediately. Others notice them subtly — a dream that stands out, a situation they respond to differently, a craving that changes. These are all part of the reiki session experience continuing to unfold.
Distance Reiki: Does It Work the Same Way?
If you're new to energy healing, the idea of receiving Reiki across a distance might seem like the hardest thing to accept. I understand that. I was skeptical too, once.
Here's what I've come to know through years of practice: energy is not confined by physical location. This isn't just a spiritual belief — it's consistent with how physicists understand non-locality, the way particles remain connected regardless of the space between them. Reiki practitioners use the same principle. The energetic connection doesn't require proximity.
In a distance session with me, you'll receive a scheduled appointment time. At that time, you lie down in a quiet space and simply receive. I'm in my space, holding your name and intention, moving through the same hand positions I would use in person — translated through focused intention rather than physical presence. The sensations my distance clients report are identical to what in-person clients describe: warmth, tingling, deep relaxation, emotional release.
Distance Reiki is how I work with most of my clients — people across time zones, people who can't leave home, people who simply find it more comfortable to receive healing in their own space. It works. Full stop.
If you've been on the fence about what to expect from your first reiki session done remotely, know this: the energetic connection I hold for you is just as present and intentional as if you were lying on a table in front of me.
Is Reiki Right for You?
Reiki for beginners works best when there's at least a thread of openness — you don't need certainty, just willingness. That said, there are a few common experiences that tend to make someone a particularly good fit for energy healing.
You might benefit from a session if:
- You're carrying chronic stress or anxiety that hasn't fully responded to other approaches. Reiki's effect on the nervous system is real and often felt immediately.
- You feel stuck — emotionally, creatively, or in some area of your life — and can't quite identify why. Energy work often moves what logic can't.
- You're seeking a deeper connection to yourself, your intuition, or your sense of purpose. Reiki has a way of clarifying what matters.
- You're going through a life transition — a loss, a change, an ending or beginning — and want support that meets you where you are, not where you're "supposed" to be.
- You're simply curious about energy healing and want to experience it for yourself. Reiki for beginners doesn't require a dramatic reason. Curiosity is enough.
If you recognize yourself in any of those, your first reiki session might be one of the best gifts you give yourself this season.
Ready to Book Your First Session?
I know it can feel like a leap — especially if energy work is new to you. But most of my clients say the same thing afterward: "I wish I'd done this sooner."
What to expect from your first reiki session with me is simple: a safe, warm, unhurried space where your only job is to receive. I'll hold the rest. Whether you're navigating stress, seeking clarity, or just curious about what this kind of healing feels like, I'm here for it — and for you.
My Distance Reiki Sessions are 60 minutes and offered at $55. You'll receive a confirmation with everything you need to know to prepare, and a follow-up note after your session with my observations and any guidance for integration.
If you're ready to experience what Reiki can do, book your Distance Reiki Session here. I'd be honored to hold space for you.