In a typical one-hour Reiki healing session, the practitioner begins by creating a calm and peaceful environment. Soft lighting, soothing music, and perhaps aromatherapy are used to enhance relaxation. The session starts with a brief conversation where the practitioner explains the process and answers any questions, followed by an intention-setting, allowing the recipient to focus on areas they wish to heal or bring balance to.

The recipient then lies fully clothed on a massage table, either on their back or in a comfortable position. The practitioner uses gentle hand placements, either just above or lightly touching the body, starting from the head and working down to the feet, focusing on key energy centers, or chakras. As the practitioner channels energy, they may spend more time on areas where energy feels blocked or imbalanced.

The recipient typically experiences a sense of warmth or tingling in the areas being treated, along with deep relaxation, similar to a meditative state. Some people may feel emotional release or mental clarity during the session. Throughout the process, the practitioner remains attuned to the recipient’s energy flow, adjusting as needed.

The session concludes with a few minutes of grounding to bring the recipient back to full awareness. Afterward, the practitioner offers a brief reflection, discussing any observations and encouraging the recipient to drink water and take it easy for the rest of the day to integrate the healing energy.

Overall, a Reiki session promotes stress relief, energy balance, and emotional healing, often leaving the recipient feeling peaceful, rejuvenated, and centered.

During the session, the practitioner encourages the client to pay close attention to subtle body sensations, such as areas of tightness, warmth, or discomfort, and invites them to explore these sensations with curiosity rather than judgment. Through mindful movement and breathing techniques, the client learns to release tension and cultivate a deeper understanding of how emotions and past experiences may be stored in the body. The process can be deeply personal, often bringing a sense of emotional release or new insights into unconscious patterns.

Unlike more passive healing modalities, Somatic Embodiment is an active practice that empowers the client to engage with their own healing process. Clients are invited to move, stretch, or even vocalize as they reconnect with their bodies and process emotions in real time. By the end of the session, many clients report feeling more present, calm, and attuned to their physical and emotional state, fostering a sense of autonomy and resilience in their ongoing journey of self-awareness and healing.