Reiki Seated Treatments are wonderful any time, anywhere
Seated Treatments are the most practical and versatile way to give Reiki to others
Not every Reiki practitioner wants to give full professional Reiki treatments, either professionally or privately.
Not every Reiki practitioner has a Reiki table, either. Reiki Seated treatments are the mostly frequently used way of giving some Reiki to help others, whether for 10 mins or up to 20 – 30 mins (it’s not comfortable for most people to sit longer)
Reiki Seated treatments are great for …
10 minutes for the office colleague who has a headache,
Elderly people who just don’t want to – or can’t, get on a table,
Your child who has sports aches and pains,
Your partner who comes home from work stressed to the max,
Your friend who gets migraines and knows Reiki reduces the effects and often, even heads the migraine off ….
Of course, you will find some variations in the hand positions which are taught, but I use pretty much the same hand positions all the time.
Simply because I noticed my students felt more confident faster and then found it easier to offer Reiki to people - rather than hold back as ‘newbies’ in case they did not ‘do it properly’.
Is your client new to experiencing Reiki?
Take care of their (often unspoken) concerns by letting them know briefly -
What your hands will do and where you start
Briefly describing that your hands are placed gently in one position for approx 2 – 3 minutes and then they move to the next position on their head for the same amount of time.
How long you will stay in each position (say ‘a few minutes depending on how much Reiki you are taking’)
Like Self Treatments, the normal time per hand position is 3 minutes which allows your client time to relax into the Reiki energy. This way, they will take in more Reiki faster and at deeper levels
It may not be appropriate given any time constraints – someone may need to get back to work by a certain time, elderly people may worry if they have too much Reiki they won’t sleep at night, children may not stay still for too long etc.
Watch the time for your client
Both of you agree to any time constraints and you implement them e.g., “OK. You can give me Reiki but I only have 10 mins for a lunch break”. If that’s the case, allow at least a couple of minutes after for them to ‘come out’ slowly.
There are 3 parts to preparing yourself and your client (discreetly) for a successful Seated Reiki Treatment
1st - make your client comfortable
Without fussing -
1: Check their feet are flat on the floor – perhaps they need a cushion under their feet?
2: Check their back is straight – they may need a cushion at their back?
3: Suggest they place their palms flat on the legs in a comfortable position
4: Suggest they close their eyes and keep them closed as long as they like after the treatment
5: NB: Elderly people may prefer to sit in their favourite chair. Be sensitive to what makes your client the most at ease – and do it for them.
Quietly suggest to your client to “relax and receive” as Reiki will always go where it’s needed.
2nd - make yourself comfortable
You will be standing and don’t want to wobble or get sore afterwards, so check FIRST that …
Your feet are shoulder-width apart
Close to, but never have any part of your body touching your client except your hands
Check and keep checking you have relaxed shoulders and elbows
Begin with one hand at a time placed gently on the shoulders then stepping hands to the crown of the head
3rd - Begin your Reiki Seated Treatment
Suggested hand positions for a full seated treatment
Always start any seated treatment from behind your client, using your ‘Reiki Stepping Hands’ to begin for a few moments on their shoulders.
Stay 3 minutes in each of these positions, whenever possible then stepping hands to -
Crown of the head
Ears – 1 cupped hand over each ear
Sides of the neck – cupped hands about 1-2 cms away from skin, resting lightly on the shoulders
Shoulders – 1st shoulder position begins with the thumbs against base of neck
Shoulders – 2nd hand position is 1 hand-width across from the 1st
Shoulders/upper arms – cupped hands over shoulder joints
KEEPING LIGHT BODY CONTACT, MOVE TO THE SIDE OF THE CHAIR, PARALLEL TO THE CHAIR, PLACING …
1 hand on the forehead and the other at the base of the skull
Throat (please don’t touch their throat but stay about 1-2 inches away - many people panic or feel like they may choke) and back of neck
1 hand flat on the upper chest at the base of throat and the other hand on same place on back of body (if possible – this often depends on the style of the chair and the length of your client’s trunk)
1 hand close to the heart chakra (centre of chest, not on but above breast) – if appropriate and the other hand on the same place on back of the body. Adjust this hand position to slightly higher to avoid any invasion of privacy in this area.
1 hand on each shoulder to complete
To finish, remove hands slowly and respectfully
Sit quietly staying silent. Avoid eye contact with your client and wait for your client to open their eyes OR … quietly suggest to your client that they ‘gently open their eyes in their own time’.
Reiki Practitioners never diagnose … ever
Allow your client to stay as long as they like in the chair
I say – “Just keep your eyer closed and rest for a few minutes”.
While they are doing this, you sit too. Don't leave the room, don't bang around, be sensitive, gentle and hold this beautiful space discreetly for your client
When they open their eyes
Have a glass of water ready to hand to your client – no eye contact at this time or your client will jump out of their nice alpha-beta Reiki state and try to be all alert instead of taking their time.
“How are you feeling?” is the only question you need to ask after any Reiki treatment
The only thing you never need to ask your client after any Reiki Treatment is “How are you Feeling?” then listen, listen, LISTEN
At this stage, there is no need for any conversation (or diagnosis ever) other than ‘how are you feeling’ and just listening to their response
If you’re asked a question, reply simply by saying – ‘That’s how you were taking the Reiki energy in that position’
Your experience of giving Reiki is not necessarily the same as theirs
e.g., you may feel heat in your hands in a certain hand position (which means they are taking a lot of Reiki energy to balance and harmonise in that particular area) and they may feel nothing unusual in that area!
Your Reiki client’s experience is their experience, not yours
Never disempower your client by giving them your diagnosis, an explanation or telling them any intuitive insights you may have experienced.
If in any doubt, always stick with listening to ‘how are you feeling’ and affirm their experience.
NB: You can always say to your client, ‘I’m not sure, I will check with my Reiki Teacher and let you know’. PLEASE DO xxx.
Enjoy using your Reiki – you will have many wonderful experiences and be thrilled at how quickly ‘A small amount of Reiki, rather than none’ (Mrs Takata) will help friends and loved ones.
4th - Help your client get the Benefits of their Reiki treatment
Include 5 mins or so for the client to come out of the experience in their own time without rushing or opening their eyes immediately;
Tell them this will happen and you will watch the time for them so they may ‘have no concerns’;
While they are resting for this time, have a glass of water handy for both of you as it is preferable not to leave the room until they are ‘back’ and well grounded.
Be aware that it may take time, trust and personal experience for many busy and capable people to relax with anything which is new, different or unknown.
Have your Reiki 'After Care' Guidelines printed & ready
Usui Reiki students do not diagnose or ever give any kind of psychic feedback as the client’s experience is completely their own.
If a client asks you to, the only thing you need to share with them is where you felt they received or took more Reiki – that’s all.
Please give them Reiki Treatment After Care guidelines re
Drinking extra water
Take extra rest or sleep for the next few days after their Treatment - if needed
Some more information on the Benefits of Reiki for them to take with them
A copy of 'Complimentary Care' from your Usui Reiki 1st Degree Manual is excellent to give them to read later and take with them.
Some extra Reiki hand positions
Extra Reiki hand positions can be added according to the individual’s needs
e.g.
a headache – stay longer over the forehead or temples and back of head;
RSI – extra Reiki over affected shoulder, elbow and wrist joints, often with hands not touching the painful areas;
Back and shoulder stress and tension – extra over the shoulders, upper arms and collarbones;
Broken bones and wounds – extra Reiki with hands 1-2 cm above the area or dressing / cast.
