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Virtual Reiki: What to Expect and How to Prepare for your Session

  • Writer: Kimberly Brooks
    Kimberly Brooks
  • Jul 22, 2024
  • 5 min read

Updated: Apr 17

Written By: Kim Brooks



There's something that happens in the body when it finally gets uninterrupted space. A release that isn't quite sleep, isn't quite meditation. Something that actually reaches the body, not just the mind.

 

Most of the people who find their way to this work are already doing a lot of the right things. Yoga. Journaling. Deep breaths in the car before they walk through the door. They know the tools. What they haven't had is space where nothing is required of them except arriving and being open to receive.

 

That's what a virtual Reiki or Energy Reset session is designed to create. And if you're preparing for one, this guide walks through exactly what to expect, so you arrive feeling ready rather than uncertain.



What is Reiki?


Reiki is a Japanese healing technique. The term comes from the Japanese words 'rei,' meaning universal, and 'ki,' meaning life energy. You may have heard 'ki' called 'prana' in yoga and Ayurveda, or 'qi' in Traditional Chinese Medicine. It is the vital energy that runs through all living beings.

 

If you're unsure what that means in practice, try this: squeeze your hands into tight fists, tensing all the way up through your shoulders, neck, and jaw. Then slowly release. Notice the sensation that moves through your body as you do. That's energy. It's a subtle noticing, but once you start paying attention to it, it becomes unmistakable.

 

Reiki is a gentle technique that promotes relaxation and supports the body's natural capacity to restore itself. Hands do not need to be placed on or near the body for it to be effective. The energy flows where it's needed.


If you've booked an Energy Reset:


The Energy Reset is a 90-minute session that moves through more than Reiki alone. We begin with movement to release what the body has been holding, breathwork to regulate the nervous system, meditation to bring you into stillness, and then the Reiki to restore energetic flow and clear what's been sitting in your body.

 

Everything in this guide applies fully to your session. The preparation is the same, and what you may experience during is the same. The difference is that by the time we arrive at the energy work, your body has already begun to release and can receive more readily.

 

Think of the Energy Reset as a personalized solo retreat. You bring what you're carrying emotionally, mentally, and in your physical body. We work with it together. You leave having set down what you carried in.


Why Virtual Reiki Sessions Work:


There's something particular about receiving this kind of session in your own space. You don't have to perform okayness in a waiting room. You don't have to drive home afterward, still soft and open, managing traffic. When the session ends, you're already there. You can stay horizontal. You can let the quiet continue.

 

Many clients find that receiving in a familiar environment actually deepens the work. The nervous system relaxes more readily in a known space. And practitioners like me can work with your energy just as effectively across distance as in person. The energy doesn't require proximity. It requires presence.



How to prepare:


Before your session:


  • Find a quiet, comfortable space where you won't be disturbed, somewhere you can move and lie down fully

  • Gather what helps you relax: a blanket, bolster or pillow for under your knees, an eye mask, essential oils, a candle, or soothing music

  • Wear something comfortable to move and breathe in. Loose layers if you tend to run cold. Socks are welcome. Remove watches and jewelry.

  • Arrive feeling nourished and hydrated, not too full, not hungry. Have water nearby.

  • Check that Zoom is updated and your audio and video are working.

  • Log on a few minutes early. Silence your phone and give yourself a few minutes before we begin to simply arrive.

  • You may wish to set an intention, such as releasing tension, gaining clarity, or simply being open to whatever the session brings.

  • Set aside additional quiet time after the session to integrate. Journaling or drawing your reflections can be helpful.

During the Session:

From the moment you book, you have opened the doorway. During our call, I'll ask about your intention and may guide you through a brief grounding exercise before we begin.

 

From there, every session is different. You may feel warmth or temperature changes, tingling, heaviness, or deep relaxation as the energy moves. Some people fall asleep. Others notice visuals, memories, or emotions moving through. All of it is welcome and normal. You are always in control of your experience and your breath is always there to return to.

After the session:

We'll take a few minutes together to reflect on what arose. If you need a moment to integrate before speaking, just let me know.

 

•   Set aside quiet time to rest. A short walk, journaling, or sitting still with a cup of tea can help the shift settle.

•   Drink extra water. Be gentle with what you eat, consume, and take in for the next few days.

•   You may notice more vivid dreams. When you wake, let yourself write before the images fade.

•   I'll share any insights or resources that came up during our time together.

 

Be gentle with yourself for the rest of the day. Rest, reflect, take a walk in nature, journal, read, or move slowly.


What Does the Research Say About Reiki?


Reiki is a complementary therapy with a growing body of research behind it. Meta-analyses and systematic reviews report that Reiki can improve psychological and physical health outcomes, including reduced anxiety, depression, and pain, and increased relaxation and wellbeing, under randomized controlled conditions.


A few articles for further reading:

•    Evaluation of a Distance Reiki Program for Frontline Healthcare Workers' Health-Related Quality of Life During the COVID-19 Pandemic — journals.sagepub.com

•    A Large-Scale Effectiveness Trial of Reiki for Physical and Psychological Health — pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31638407

•    Effect of Reiki Therapy on Pain and Anxiety in Adults —pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24582620


Ready when you are:


Your body already knows how to release. It just needs uninterrupted space and a trained practitioner to guide you.

 

If you've been the one who holds everything together and you're ready for a space where you don't have to, the Energy Reset is where that begins. Ninety minutes. Fully yours.



Prefer a 60-minute Reiki session? Book here.




More from Kim

Further reading and listening you may find helpful:


You'll find additional media publications here. Just scroll to the bottom of this page.


If you want to experience a taste of this work before booking, download the free 5-Minute Energy Reset, a short guided video practice you can use anywhere, anytime. It's a good place to start: kimbrooksyoga-wellness.com/free-5-minute-energy-reset


To receive ongoing wellbeing resources and tips, subscribe to Kim's email community:






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