FAQ’s

Q. Can Reiki heal all conditions?  How quickly will it work?

A. Although there are many healing stories anecdotally, Reiki does not claim to ‘cure’ anything.  It promotes relaxation of the body and the mind, which in turn assists the body’s natural ability to maintain and improve health and wellbeing.

Healing takes its own time and some people require more Reiki sessions than others. Reiki is a complementary therapy. It is NOT a replacement for the medical care that a client is already receiving or is advised to seek.

Q. What kind of experience does one have during a Reiki session?

A. Clients often report a feeling of some degree of relaxation and may experience warmth, tingling or even coolness from the Reiki practitioner’s hands.  Individuals receiving Reiki may experience slight body movement such as twitching and stomach rumbles. A recipient may feel sleepy and fall asleep for part of the Reiki session. Clients may experience an emotional release during or after the treatment.

If any of these experiences are uncomfortable the client must let their practitioner know. Otherwise they should relax and enjoy the experience. The number and frequency of Reiki sessions should be discussed with your practitioner. There are no set rules so you should choose a plan that you feel comfortable with. Initial sessions may be more frequent with wider-spaced maintenance sessions to follow.

Q. Does Reiki interfere with any medical treatment or medication?

A. Reiki is a gentle care plan that can be combined with any conventional and natural therapy. It supports the reduction of the stress felt by a client from the side-effects of medicines, treatments, surgery, chronic medical conditions and disorders.

It is advisable that clients inform their doctor they are having Reiki treatments so that they are aware of any additional care plan that the client is choosing.

Reiki practitioners will take extra care if the client has injury, haemorrhage, bone fracture or a pacemaker, and they may by-pass the area or place their hands off the body. The practitioner will check with the client which is the most comfortable position for them to take when receiving Reiki i.e. sitting, lying on the back, lying on the side etc, and will ensure that the client is supported with pillows and blankets as required.

It is very important for clients to inform their Reiki practitioner of all their medical conditions before receiving a treatment.

Some of our practitioners are trained in other modalities including conventional medicine and may have taken additional training to deal with medical conditions, or work in or with a medical team. Some Reiki practitioners are insured through the Public Liability Insurance Scheme offered by Reiki NZ Inc.

Q. How much does a Reiki session cost?

A. The cost of a Reiki session varies from practitioner to practitioner.  Generally in Aotearoa New Zealand, an hour session of Reiki will range between $50 and $100 if the practitioner is working from home.  At clinics and spas, the session may be more expensive.

Q. Is there anything else to be aware of when receiving a Reiki session?

A. Reiki sessions are non-intrusive, non-verbal and non-psychic. Make sure that your practitioner explains what they are going to do during the session and that you feel comfortable with it.

During the session if you feel any discomfort, either physically or emotionally, you are welcome to talk to the practitioner. Sometimes you may need to go to the bathroom in the middle of a session. If you fall asleep whilst receiving Reiki it is perfectly safe and quite usual.

The Reiki practitioner will advise you to take it easy after the session, suggest drinking an appropriate amount of water, and refraining from excess alcohol or caffeine.  Rest after your Reiki session if you can. Some clients experience the body’s natural release response, such as runny nose, coughs or tiredness/sleepiness, or surfacing emotions.  They are all normal healing responses but if you are unsure please contact your practitioner.

Q. What does the term ‘Reiki Master’ mean?

A. It is generally understood to mean Reiki Teacher.  Some people may call Level 3A students ‘Master’, ‘Master Practitioner’ or ‘Master/Practitioner’.  It is important to talk with your Reiki Teacher to clarify the levels of Reiki that they teach before proceeding to training.

Q. How many levels are there in Reiki training?

A. They vary according to the lineage (family tree or whakapapa of Reiki).  All Reiki students are given a record of their lineage that is traced back to the founder of Reiki, Mikao Usui in Japan.

More traditional lineages have three levels – Level 1, Level 2 and Master.

More recent lineages have four levels – Level 1, Level 2, Level 3A (sometimes called ‘Master Practitioner’),  and Level 3B Master/Teacher.

Q. What is expected from Reiki training?

A. Reiki in your hands. You will be able to perform Reiki on yourself and others.  In class you will be given plenty of practice time, as well as theory to assist you to understand Reiki and how it works.

Some positive change in your life may occur. Reiki training can gently invite you to re-assess areas of your life: diet, exercise, lifestyle, relationships, career, areas of interest, etc. Generally you will be more aware of your well-being and want to be proactive about improving it.

A new group of friends.  Your Reiki teacher is likely to host a Reiki Share Group so you can share Reiki with like-minded people regularly.  Irrespective of whether you are a member, Reiki NZ Inc. provides various learning and networking opportunities to meet with Reiki practitioners and teachers across Aotearoa New Zealand.

Q. What support is available after learning Reiki?

A. Your primary support and advice will come from your Reiki Master/Teacher and friends in the Reiki community such as Reiki Share Groups.

If you become a member of Reiki NZ Inc. you will be supported by the other members of the organisation and the dedicated Board of volunteer Reiki Masters and Practitioners. Reiki Counsel, a small team of senior members of Reiki NZ Inc., support our Board.

Our website and Facebook page is regularly updated with news and upcoming Reiki events. Reiki NZ Inc. has a Professional Development Team that organises and facilitates ongoing training courses, development days and retreats open to all Reiki practitioners.

Don’t forget your daily Reiki treatment which is always your first line of support!

Q. Choosing a Reiki Master/Teacher

A. Please search the ‘Directory’ tab on our website and then select ‘Teacher’ and your geographical location to see which teachers live close by. Some people feel intuitively drawn to a particular teacher. Before signing up to learn Reiki from anyone, it is recommended that you call or email the teacher to ask questions. It may be best to meet them in person before making a decision. Most teachers are happy to meet you and explain in person what their classes are like.

Questions you may want to ask them include:

How long are the classes for each Level and how much will it cost?

What are the contents of each Level?

How many Levels do you teach?

Do I receive manuals and a certificate of completion?

Do you belong to Reiki NZ Inc. (if you find a teacher from other sources than our Teacher Directory)?

What is your Reiki lineage?

Does your Reiki have a name other than Reiki (eg. Usui Reiki, Gendai Reiki, Komyo Reiki, etc.) Can you explain what this means in more detail?

Q. What are the requirements to practice Reiki professionally in New Zealand?

A. Training and Certification (Reiki NZ Inc. recommends to at least Level 2) from a qualified Reiki Master/Teacher.
Compliance with all relevant New Zealand laws such as The Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992, The Privacy Act 2020 etc.

Q. What are the benefits of becoming a member of Reiki NZ Inc?

A. Through Reiki NZ Inc. you will meet a group of like-minded people and become part of our Reiki community.

Our official newsletter The Reiki News is published quarterly, exclusively for members.  It is full of inspiring Reiki stories and details of Reiki events and activities.

Reiki NZ Inc. offers promotional flyers for purchase.

Inexpensive advertising and promotion via Reiki News.

Free use of the ‘Member of Reiki NZ Inc.’ logo in your own promotion materials such as flyers and business cards.

Free hire of the Reiki NZ Inc. pull-up banner for your Reiki events (bond required).

Your names and details appear in the Practitioners list (Reiki Levels 2 and above) and/or the Teachers list on our website directory.

The support of Reiki Share Groups.

Reiki events including the biannual International Reiki Conference (with overseas and local guest speakers), workshops, training courses and retreats. Members receive discount for many of the events.

Offer of Insurance and First-Aid training opportunities.

Learning and upskilling opportunities and Resources.

Reiki NZ Inc is an affiliate of Natural Health Practitioners of New Zealand (NHPNZ) and members who fulfil the relevant criteria can be accredited to the NHPNZ.

Q. Do you have any suggestion how to explain Reiki to someone who doesn’t know it?

A. Reiki is a Japanese-originated natural healing method which, to a client, is a passive experience of relaxation and of being cared for, as the practitioner lays their hands on or over the fully clothed client as they lie on a massage table or sit in a chair. The Reiki Practitioner will place their hands lightly on or near the recipient’s body in various non-intrusive positions.

These positions are mapped out to cover the whole body to assist relaxation. Most people begin to relax very quickly and will often fall asleep during the session. After the Reiki session which is usually about an hour, clients often report a sense of relaxation, revitalization and peacefulness.

Reiki can also be learned easily by most people for self treatment.