Reiki Classes FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about Reiki Training…
What is your biggest question about learning Reiki?
Check out the top questions asked about learning Reiki here. Or if it’s easier, free to contact me (call or email) with your question about learning Reiki.
Get Awakening with Reiki: A Guide to Starting your Journey
Enjoy my guide which will help you decide what levels to take and explore the ways Reiki will touch your life and the lives of those around you.
What is Reiki?
“Rei” means “universal” or spiritually guided and “Ki” is “life force energy.” Reiki promotes deep relaxation and thus supports the body’s innate healing abilities.
Reiki is utilized by massage therapists, nurses, acupuncturists, counselors, estheticians and yoga teachers. Others learn Reiki to give treatments to their family, friends and pets and to practice self-Reiki.
Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction, relaxation and energy balancing. In the practice of Reiki this spiritual energy is utilized for energy balancing via in-person or long-distance treatments.
Reiki has branched off into many directions, but Reiki is Reiki. The branches are of the same tree. The important thing is finding a Reiki Teacher that you feel a connection to and resonate with.
What are the benefits of Reiki?
Reiki is deeply restorative, empowering and balancing. It reduces stress and facilitates healing and personal growth. It has a positive effect – physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. It is centering and increases intuition.
Are there any prerequisites to taking your Reiki I/II classes?
There isn’t anything you need to read or learn before taking my Reiki I/II classes. All that is truly required is simply having an interest in or being drawn to Reiki. Some students have experienced Reiki treatment before attending a workshop, while others have experienced Reiki for the first time in class.
Are there any prerequisites to taking your Reiki Master class?
My Reiki workshops are all live training either in person or on Zoom. And in my Reiki I/II workshop, students get attunements, practice self-Reiki, practice remote Reiki with other students in class, and do a hands-on Reiki treatment.
I welcome students that have taken Reiki I/II from other Reiki Masters as long as the workshop was in person (or was LIVE on Zoom) AND the Teacher guided the student through hands-on work.
These days it’s unfortunate, but there are purely online Reiki programs. These do not satisfy the prerequisite. I have many students that chose to repeat Reiki I/II with me (not because they had to, as the courses they took were in person, but because they wanted to). These students tell me how happy they are that they repeated levels with me.
Is meditation a part of Reiki?
You’ll be guided into meditation before each of your Reiki attunements, yet you don’t need to have ANY prior experience with meditation. It’s perfectly okay if you are new to meditation and don’t have any prior Reiki experience.
Is Reiki hard to learn?
The beauty of Reiki is that it is a simple yet profound system of healing that anyone can learn to practice. We all have a natural instinct for tapping into spiritual healing.
Reiki works even if you have doubts about your abilities and you feel like nothing or not much is happening. (When I first started practicing Reiki, I had doubts about whether much of anything was happening, but my Reiki clients kept coming back because they loved it).
What are Reiki attunements?
Attunements are a special process that awakens students to Reiki energy. For each level of Reiki, you’ll be guided into a deeply relaxing meditation and receive an attunement.
Hear from my students:
For a Reiki attunement, I guide students into a 15-20 minute meditation then students receive their attunements. After the attunements, I invite students to share their experiences if they wish to). In this video, I confess that students got “extra” meditation time (my oops, that worked out really well).
Is it better to learn Reiki online or take a Reiki training in-person?
I’ve been teaching Reiki for 25 years in person. When COVID-19 came along, it allowed me (or actually forced me) to teach online. The great news is learning Reiki LIVE online is just as powerful, and remote Reiki is so amazing in an online class.
Learning from home provides a nurturing environment for the Reiki learning experience. Plus, in addition to giving and receiving Reiki in class remotely with other students, you have the opportunity to be guided in giving Reiki to someone at your home (we’ve had husbands, wives, sons, daughters, siblings, and even pets receive Reiki in class).
Many people are excited to get back to in-person experiences. If you prefer, join me in Denver, Colorado, and Birmingham, Michigan.
My online Reiki workshops are just as impactful, healing, and powerful as my in-person classes. So it’s just a matter of your preference.
If you wish to be notified about my upcoming Reiki classes – click here.
Do I get hands-on experience in your online Reiki training?
For the hands-on portion of the Reiki I training I demonstrate a Reiki treatment. And then I guide you in giving a hands-on Reiki treatment to someone at your home.
Note: If you don’t have someone (a person or a pet) you can work on at home that’s no problem. Instead of working on someone hands-on in-person you’ll be guided in giving an entire “hands-on” Reiki treatment remotely. This combines the power of a longer Reiki treatment with the power of long-distance Reiki.
Here is how several of my students practiced at home:
- Karen worked with her “client” seated at her house.
- LouAnn gave a treatment while her “client” relaxed on a yoga mat on the living room floor
- Anna, Kristen, and Courtney had their “clients” relax massage tables at their homes.
- Kelly worked on her adorable puppy (see below)
- Serena worked remotely on a friend of mine.
- Jenny did remote/long-distance remote Reiki on a client.
- Neil learned by pure observation.
Here are shares from students:
Do I get hands-on experience in your in-person training?
Sure thing! For the hands-on portion of the Reiki I class, you are guided in giving a hands-on Reiki treatment to and receive a Reiki treatment from one or more of your classmates. In Reiki II, we practice remote Reiki in small groups. In the Master class, there is hand-on treatment of the Energetic Release Technique. In the Teacher class, you are guided in giving your first attunement.
Note: In the remote classes, we practice all of the above. Instead of being in the same physical space with classmates, you enjoy the energetic connection and this does not lessen the impact of Reiki.
What will I learn in your Reiki classes?
- You’ll experience a healing environment and be supported in building your confidence in your practice of Reiki.
- Reiki I gives you the foundation for all of Reiki and teaches you how to put Reiki into practice. You learn the hand positions for self-treatment and for working on others. Experiential components include the Reiki I attunement, self-Reiki, and hands-on practice.
- In Reiki II, you learn the power, harmony, and connection symbols. You also learn how to do long-distance Reiki. Experiential components include learning/drawing the symbols, guided remote/long-distance Reiki practice, and the Reiki II attunement.
- Reiki Master is the highest level for practicing Reiki. The experiential components include the Master attunement, receiving the Master symbol, and learning and practicing Energetic Release Technique.
- The Reiki Teacher training is not just for people who want to teach Reiki. In this class, you go behind the scenes of giving an attunement and get to practice the attunements with a classmate. Get a 360-degree viewpoint on just how transformative Reiki is. Learn how to teach Reiki one-on-one or in small groups, online or in-person. Take this class to enhance your Reiki practice, or get started with teaching a Reiki I class or a Reiki self-care class.
- My students love how hands-on my online and in-person classes are.
- Learn more about the curriculum of the Reiki levels here
What levels of Reiki is it best for me to sign up for?
Reiki can be practiced hand-on or above the body.
Nearly 90% of my students choose to take all levels of Reiki. You can start with just Reiki I and II and then later sign up for Reiki Master and Teacher. There is a unique synergy in learning the entire curriculum on the same weekend, and there is something nice about taking time between those levels. The choice is yours. If you have any doubts, you can take Reiki I/II and then decide in class (or later on) to enroll in the Master and Teacher training.
Are there any prerequisites to taking the Reiki Master or Reiki Teacher class with you?
There aren’t any prerequisites to enrolling in my Reiki I/II classes.
To take the Master training requires having previously taken a LIVE (in-person or Zoom) Reiki I/II training that was between 10-12 hours or more of classroom training.
To take my Teacher level requires taking my Master level or if you’ve already taken Reiki I, II, and Master, you can take Reiki I/II and then take the Teacher’s class.
Should I take time between the Reiki levels?
This is a personal preference. Most of my students take Reiki I, II, and the Reiki Master training at my weekend workshops or take all levels (and love it)! However, some students prefer to take Reiki I/II and return for the Reiki Master and Reiki Teacher training.
Is there an opportunity for continued learning, Reiki practice, and growth? A mentorship of sorts?
YES! I have a Reiki mentorship program that you’re eligible to join after taking a Reiki workshop with me. The ENERGI Reiki mentorship program is a LIVE on Zoom community to practice self-Reiki, give and receive Reiki, and grow or expand your Reiki classes or practice. This mentorship is open to students who have taken Reiki I, II, and Masters with Lisa Guyman and to students from other lineages, provided the class was not purely online (i.e., must have been in person or on Zoom). The doors to ENERGI once a year.
What types of Reiki treatments do I learn in your Reiki workshops?
You learn Reiki self-treatments (the foundation of Reiki), and you learn to give Reiki to others. You learn to administer Reiki “hands-on,” “hand above the body,” and “long distance.” You learn how to practice Reiki on pets. In my workshops, you’ll learn how flexible Reiki practice can be.
Who learns Reiki?
People from all walks of life learn Reiki. Some take Reiki just because they are drawn to it. Others learn Reiki because of their interest in energy work. Others take Reiki for their own personal growth and/or to work on family and friends. Also, many healing professionals take Reiki to incorporate it into their work. I’ve had people from across the gamut take Reiki: doctors, nurses, psychologists, nuns, attorneys, massage therapists, teachers, artisans, engineers, students of life, and so on.
What do your students say about learning Reiki?
After Lisa’s class, I am so passionate about Reiki and can’t wait to use this gift to help others! I love it!
“Reiki kept popping up in my life for a while, and Lisa was the first person I was drawn to while researching classes. It took me 2 years to feel like it was time, and it never crossed my mind to go anywhere but to Lisa! I was hesitant about the online classes due to covid, but I’m glad I jumped in anyway. Lisa is a very fun, loving, gifted teacher. I have already recommended her to everyone who asks about the class.
Now I know why Reiki came across my path and wouldn’t leave. After Lisa’s class I am so passionate about Reiki and can’t wait to use this gift to help others! I love it!
This is real!
This is absolutely amazing!
I was meant for this! To heal myself, my family and friends. When the time is right, I will change my whole career and do Reiki only. I am so excited. “ Sunny
The classes were amazing, and I have found myself using Reiki in ALL areas of my life already.
“Reiki I and II classes: “I have been wanting to learn Reiki for the past 5 years or so to add to my massage practice. I am so grateful to have found your website on Google, Lisa! The classes were amazing, and I have found myself using Reiki in ALL areas of my life already. I have already used Reiki with willing massage clients just a day after the classes were completed!
Reiki Master & Reiki Teacher classes: “I felt the Reiki even stronger than I did in the Reiki I and II class! I am so excited to be adding this very special modality to my massage practice! Lisa is an amazing teacher AND a beautiful soul. So grateful to have found her!” Jill
Does Reiki require certain spiritual beliefs?
It doesn’t. That is one of the beautiful things about Reiki! Anyone from any background and from any belief system can practice Reiki. Students attending a Reiki class may consider themselves Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, Spiritual (non- religious) or agnostic. You can maintain and in fact deepen your connection to your spiritual practice. Reiki, while spiritual, doesn’t have any religious doctrine nor any other beliefs one must adapt to learn or to practice.
Can Reiki be used in everyday life or is it just used in treatments?
Reiki is energy, so Reiki can positively affect anyone and anything. We are a wellspring of energy, so we affect everyone and everything around us just by our presence. Reiki is such a powerful and healing system!
- Reiki can be used for peace and relaxation anytime.
- It can be used before meditation, yoga, prayer, sleep, etc.
- It can be used to support healing. The body’s natural healing abilities are heightened when the parasympathetic nervous system is activated i.e. when we experience deep relaxation. Relaxation can help with headaches, injuries, cramps and before and after surgery, etc. Reiki is offered in some hospice centers and as a complementary modality in cancer care.
- Reiki can be used for the protection of personal space, home, auto, etc.
- It can be used before, during and after medical or dental visits.
- Reiki can be done on pets and wildlife.
- Reiki can be done on plants.
- Reiki can also be applied to goals and situations
- Reiki can be used in conjunction with affirmations.
- We can also Reiki our food and drink.
What are some of the Reiki experiences you and your students have had?
Click here for Reiki stories and here for student testimonials.
How is Reiki transmitted?
Research summarized in the book Vibrational Medicine, written by Richard Gerber, M.D., found that during the process of hands-on healing, a brain wave synchronization effect often occurs between the practitioner and the recipient. It appears that the practitioner and the recipient become aligned with the earth’s magnetic field and that light is emitted through the palms. Reiki is said to come through the crown chakra, fill the practitioner, and be transmitted through the hands.
What does it feel like to receive Reiki?
Reiki is transmitted through very light contact, above the body, or long-distance and is deeply relaxing. Many of my clients report that Reiki is more relaxing and centering than massage and almost dreamlike. Countless clients of mine have said, “That’s the most relaxed I’ve ever felt in my life.” Reiki is like a meditation induced through the medium of hands-on placements and as a spa for the mind/body and soul. When we go into a state of deep relaxation, we experience a sense of greater emotional well-being and physical well-being.
How does Reiki help with world healing?
One of the most impactful ways to change the world is through elevating individual consciousness (as well as taking meaningful action in the world). Every time we meditate or practice Reiki, we help generate a field of greater peace and coherence for ourselves.
Meditation and long-distance Reiki generate healing fields for the planet and the world.
I offered a guided meditation called Lightworkers Ignite during the pandemic. It was meant as a one-time gathering, but it was so popular I offered 21 free LIVE sessions over the next couple of years.
Lightworkers Ignite Guided Meditation
I’ve heard about the principles of Reiki. What are the Reiki principles?
Some sources state that the principles were created by Mikao Usui (the founder of Reiki), and others state that the Emperor of Japan created them them. Either way, Mikao Usui was said to have recited these principles daily. There are various versions of the Reiki Principles. I believe that in life, we need to choose expressions, principles, and affirmations that resonate with us.
Here are several different versions that incorporate the essence of the Reiki principles:
Traditional
For today only
anger not, worry not.
Be grateful and humble.
Do your work with appreciation.
Be kind to all beings
Modern Reiki Principles:
Just for today, I will not worry
Just for today, I will not anger
Today, I will live honestly
Just for today, I will respect the oneness of all life
Just for today, I will be kind to everyone I meet
Just for today, I will show gratitude to all living things
Reiki Principles in Affirmation Form
Today, I choose to live in the now and let go of worry.
Today, I choose to be free of anger and judgment
Today, I will live honestly and with integrity
I respect and honor the oneness of all life
I choose to be kind to everyone I meet and also kind to myself
I choose to feel and show gratitude to all living things
Another Version
Today, I choose to be FREE of Worry
Today, I choose to be FREE of Anger or Impatience.
Today, I choose to be grateful.
Today, I choose to be kind and compassionate toward all, including myself.
Today,a I choose to work and live in integrity.
What can I expect in a Reiki treatment?
A Reiki treatment is generally anywhere from 20 minutes to 90 minutes. The standard treatment time for an in-person treatment is 60 minutes.
In-person Reiki treatments are done while the client relaxes fully clothed on a massage table.
Long-distance Reiki treatments may be offered entirely remotely by phone, Zoom, or Skype.
What are some of the benefits that can be experienced from a single session of Reiki?
There is a study published in 2019 by Harvard University on Reiki treatments
This is from the Center for Reiki Research:
“It’s been a long time coming, but the Reiki study conducted at Harvard by members of the Center for Reiki Research (Dr. Natalie Trent, Dr. Ann Baldwin, and William Rand) in 2015 and 2016 has now been accepted for publication in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine! This is the largest prospective Reiki study to date and hopefully will lead to more research.
A total of 1411 Reiki sessions were conducted and included in the analysis. Statistically significant improvements were observed for all outcomes of psychological and physical health, including pain, drowsiness, tiredness, nausea, appetite, shortness of breath, anxiety, depression, mood, and overall wellbeing, with moderate to large effect.
The results from this large-scale multi-site effectiveness trial suggest that a single session of Reiki improves physical and psychological health.”
Center of Reiki Research
Should I use Reiki instead of consulting my medical Doctor?
No, Reiki is not a substitute for medical help. You should always seek medical advice from a Doctor. Reiki can be used in conjunction with Western/allopathic medicine and is considered complementary care.
Should I use Reiki instead of counseling?
Reiki is not a substitute for professional counseling through a counselor, psychologist, or psychiatrist. You should always seek psychological well-being/treatment advice from a mental health care professional. Reiki can be used in conjunction with therapy. If you have any concerns about receiving Reiki, talk to your counselor.
Can Reiki help to facilitate emotional healing?
The Harvard study showed that Reiki can help with depression, mood, and overall well-being. It’s not uncommon for Reiki recipients to experience an emotional clearing during a Reiki treatment or attunement.
It seems that there is some division in the Reiki world. Why is this?
Some teachers or schools of Reiki don’t acknowledge other teachers or schools of Reiki as real. Ironically, some Reiki organizations claim that Reiki is not real if it wasn’t learned from a lineage linked to Takata. Takata was an excellent teacher of Reiki, and we can thank her for bringing Reiki to the West, but she was never named as a President of Reiki. Dr. Usui wrote: “Reiki can never and will never belong to one person or one organization. It is the spiritual heritage of all humanity.”
Are there Reiki professional organizations that I might want to consider joining?
I’ve been a member of the International Association of Reiki Professionals for countless years. You do not need to join the IARP, but if you choose to practice professionally, this adds extra credibility (https://iarp.org). Upon receiving your certificate of completion, you can join the IARP. Also, the IARP provides various forms you can use in your practice.
Do I need to have insurance to practice Reiki?
If you wish to practice Reiki professionally, you may also opt for liability insurance coverage. You can find links to insurance companies through the IARP. If you decide to practice out of your home, you’ll need to get an additional rider to your homeowner’s insurance policy.
How do I become a certified Reiki practitioner?
It’s a common misconception that you can be legally recognized as a certified Reiki practitioner, unlike massage therapy,wo which is a certified/licensed practice in most states. After attending a Reiki class with me, you will receive a certificate from me acknowledging the Reiki levels you’ve completed. This certificate allows you to join the International Association of Reiki Professionals and get liability insurance through them if you wish. You may see other teachers offering “certification,” but if you check with your state’s licensing board, you’ll find that there isn’t a category for Reiki. Ironically, this is excellent because Reiki, like other forms of spiritual work, is not highly regulated (other than in Florida, where Reiki practitioners must be licensed massage therapists).
As an example of favorable legislation regarding Reiki, the State of Colorado has a wonderful law called the “right to practice.” This legislation gives natural health practitioners a legal right to provide services in Colorado and benefits individuals who practice Reiki or other natural health practices. This legislation requires practitioners to provide a written disclosure (see sample). This law specifically prohibits using the words certified, registered, or licensed regarding Reiki and other practices that fall under this umbrella.
If you need help understanding your state’s status, send me an email.
How long have you been teaching Reiki?
Lisa Guyman, Reiki Master & Chopra Center Meditation Instructor. Kauai -2021.
Hi! I’m Lisa Guyman. I’ve been teaching Reiki for 25 years. I moved from Michigan to Colorado in 1997 (without knowing anyone in Denver) to start a massage therapy practice. I soon took a Reiki class and fell in love with it. I began teaching Reiki and guiding meditation ten months later. Since 1998, I’ve taught Reiki and meditation workshops across the country, and then in 2020, I took the leap and also started teaching online.
Here’s some additional background: full bio, lineage, & resume.
I hope you join me at one of my Reiki workshops or for my ENERGI Reiki mentorship. I promise you’ll absolutely love learning and practicing Reiki.
Where can I take Reiki Classes with you?
Learn Reiki from anywhere in the world in one of my LIVE online Reiki workshops. Click for the current Reiki training schedule.
Click below to get notified of future Reiki training.
Note: There is no question that my online Reiki workshops are just as, if not more impactful, healing, and powerful as my in-person classes. I offer a Happiness Guarantee when you register, so why postpone?
Online – click here – to be notified of all online classes plus other classes.
Denver – click here – to be notified of my next in-person Reiki workshops in Colorado.
Detroit/Birmingham – click here – to be notified of my next in-person Reiki workshops in Michigan
Why wait when you can…?
To get updates and inspiring articles, join Lisa Guyman’s Newsletter/Mailing List!
To learn what is covered in my Reiki I, II, Master & Teacher classes – Click for Course Content/Curriculum
Still, have questions about learning Reiki?
Feel free to contact me (call or email) with your questions about learning Reiki.
