People are much more open to Reiki as a holistic therapy now – I have seen Reiki therapists in many settings, including hospitals and clinical settings. Integrative and complementary medicine has become much more widely known and there are many possibilities for creating a thriving business doing it.

BUT FIRST, how do we even get started? If you are completely new to Reiki, my first thought is to try a Reiki session for your Self first! Most of the regular clients I had for years then went on to do a Reiki training course after their experiences with Reiki on their own journey. The same goes for many other holistic therapies. Do some research in finding a local Reiki therapist and trust your intuition when it comes to choosing them. You may want to get in touch first and ask some questions, especially if there is something specific you are interested in (Examples: stress release or working on your emotional Self).

BEFORE you start a Reiki practice – The Foundations

Start by investing your time, energy and money in a Reiki course. I think this is very important. Do not rush the process of finding a course and Master teacher that you truly connect with. Depending on where you are in the world, there may be many ways to gain your certification and different ways that the course is taught. Here are some of my thoughts on this.

Here are 2 main points to start your research:

1. Do you trust and connect to the person who is going to be your teacher? You are going to be learning energy therapy so finding a teacher that you feel energetically inspired by is essential. Each teacher will have their own energy and way of teaching – Just as each person will be attracted to different teachers for different reasons. Each teacher also has their own lineage so you can track their teachers and the line before them – This might interest you and will shed light as to what inspires the teacher you want to work with. A good Reiki teacher will be open to answering questions and listening to your thoughts before you enrol in any course – That’s a good place to start your research when you are choosing a course to do.

2. Will you be able to legally use your Reiki qualification to work with clients (to get professional insurance etc.)? Most of the Reiki business content I read is from the USA. As a Reiki therapist in London (UK), what is legally required to practice as a Reiki therapist is different for my Reiki practice – And I am sure wherever you are reading this post in the world, there may also be different requirements depending on our state/region/city/country. If you want to practice with members of the public, this is important to research too and find a Reiki course that meets the requirements so you can start a business.

Other important factors to reflect on while looking for a Reiki training course:

► The length and cost of your course. Many Reiki courses can be 1-2 day courses. The majority of Reiki courses I have seen are full weekend courses, which is great as you can do them when you are not working or studying during the week. Costs may vary depending on where you live so this is another thing to research.

► The practical support you will have during and after the Reiki course. A good Reiki course will give you all the tools you need to work with your clients – This includes actual practical work on the course (with equipment set-up etc for the practicals). Supportive materials such as a Reiki manual and workbook are essential. The Reiki level attunement should be an important part of the course too. Many courses also offer business content and support during and after the Reiki course. These are some of the practical things to watch out for or ask before you enrol.

► The size of your group. This can be a personal preference but I would say a small to medium group is a good size.- Around 10-12 students is a big group size. Most of the courses I have seen are around 6-8 students. The reason for this is that if you are doing practical work and you want to be able to get the support and attention you need, you don’t want to lose your Self in a huge group.

► The time space between Level 1 and Level 2. Completing Reiki Level 2 is usually the foundation to start working with paying clients and having your own business. Many Reiki therapists often start after Level 1 too but I feel that after Level 2, there is a solid foundation of techniques, practical experience, confidence etc to start. At this point, you will also get to know your Self much deeper as a Reiki therapist – what works for you and what your vision is for your business. This is also another reason why you want to choose the right Reiki teacher and course – So that you can continue with the same training for both Level 1 and 2 (and the Master level when you are ready).

Personal tips for enjoying your Reiki learning experience:

► During and after your Reiki training, get as much practice as possible! The more you practice, the more confident and comfortable you will feel in your sessions. You will start to observe different things about your Self – Examples: The way you like to set up a therapy room, the way you experience Reiki, developing your own Reiki Self-healing practices, and the feedback you gain from others. All of this is essential for building a good Reiki practice and it takes time and patience. I would highly recommend looking for opportunities to practice your Reiki sessions during and after your course – You can ask friends and family, approach health charities to volunteer, join Reiki shares and offer to be the one giving Reiki in the group.

► Build and connect to your Reiki community. This is an area of learning and being a Reiki therapist that I love so much! Reiki offers a global community to connect with. Whether it is online or with your Reiki students in the course that you do. A good place to start is with the students on your course – You can get to know them more and maybe form a group to practice and share the experience with out of class. Example: Having Reiki student meet-ups and starting your own private Facebook group to give each other support. You can also look for Reiki Shares or Reiki Circles in your area which will give you more room to connect with like-minded people who enjoy Reiki and energy therapies. If you can’t find a space in your area, start one! I have seen many groups start off this way and evolve over the years into thriving communities!

As you can see, there are quite a few things to think about as you start your Reiki journey – One thing is for sure… it is an exciting time to be sharing this and now more than ever, it is truly needed! If you are thinking about it, I honestly encourage you to take the first steps forward! This is a beautiful learning process that evolves as we learn about our Self and how we can connect with others. Enjoy!

Stay tuned for Part 2!