“What Even Is Reiki?”

(And why it’s not as weird as it sounds)

If you’ve ever googled “What is Reiki?” you’ve probably seen some version of this: “Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It’s administered by laying on hands and is based on the idea that an unseen life force energy flows through us.”

That’s from William Rand, who’s one of the main teachers of Reiki in the U.S., and while technically true, most people read that and go:
“Okay…but what the hell does that actually mean?”

So let me break it down the way I explain it to clients who’ve never had a Reiki session, don’t know what a chakra is, and think energy healing might be a little…out there.

Reiki is…like an energetic reset button.

You know how your phone starts acting weird when too many apps are open or the battery’s drained? You don’t need a new phone—you just need to reboot it.

Reiki is like that. It helps reset your nervous system. It helps your body stop running in survival mode. It gives you space to breathe again, emotionally and physically.

No incense required. (Unless you like it. I do.)

You don’t have to “believe” in Reiki for it to work.

This isn’t religion. It’s not based on belief. It’s based on what your body already knows how to do—heal itself when given the chance.

You don’t have to understand how Wi-Fi works to use the internet, right? Same deal.

Here’s what actually happens in a session:

You lie down on my Reiki table fully clothed.
I place my hands lightly on or just above your body.
You breathe.
I tune into your energy.
Your body does the rest.

Most people feel heat, tingling, or waves of calm. Some fall asleep. Some cry (in a good way). Some feel lighter afterward, like something heavy has finally lifted.

No, I’m not “fixing” you. I’m creating a space for your system to finally exhale.

Reiki helps when you’re burnt out, anxious, stuck, or just tired of holding it all together. It’s not magic. It’s not fluff. It’s just support.

We live in a world that rarely gives us time to pause. Reiki gives you that pause. It meets you where you are and helps shift the energy underneath whatever’s going on.

Whether that’s grief, stress, confusion, or just the feeling that something’s “off.”

Reiki might sound strange until you experience it. But once you do, it feels…familiar. Like your body remembering something it forgot it knew.

And that? That’s the real power of it.