Reiki is a gentle Japanese practice based on the flow of universal life energy, also called prana or chi in other traditions. It is complementary healing bodywork, aiming to harmonise body, mind and spirit. In the Reiki tradition, the practitioner does not direct or force that flow. The hands are offered as a quiet contact, and the session is there for the body to settle in its own time.

During a session you lie on your back, fully clothed. I place my hands lightly on or just above selected areas along the front of the body, often resting at each place long enough for the breath to slow. There is no oil, deep pressure or stretching. You can notice warmth under my hands, feel a wave of tiredness, or of something loosening.

A 2024 meta-analysis in BMC Palliative Care brought together 13 studies and 824 adults, and found that Reiki had a significant effect on anxiety. Short-term Reiki of up to three sessions, and courses of six to eight sessions, reduced health and procedural anxiety in people with chronic conditions such as fibromyalgia and depression, in people undergoing gastrointestinal endoscopy, and in the general population.

Many people find Reiki deeply relaxing, or experience it as a cleansing, and some drift into sleep. Others describe feeling lighter, more positive, and more connected with their sense of well-being. Each session is a personal experience. A single visit is enough to feel the quiet.