Self-Reiki: A Simple Daily Routine

Self-Reiki is the practice of resting your own hands on a series of positions on your body while you sit or lie quietly. It is traditionally the first thing a Reiki student learns.

Reiki is a Japanese practice, and the word is usually explained as 'universal life energy'. Indian readers may find it close to the idea of प्राण (prana, life energy). There is no massage, no pressure and no equipment. The hands simply rest, and you breathe.

Traditionally, self-Reiki is practised by someone who has received a Level 1 attunement from a Reiki teacher. Level 1 is the stage that covers working on yourself.

It is honest to say what that means for everyone else. Anyone can do the resting-hands routine below as a relaxation practice. Sitting still, placing warm hands on your body and breathing slowly needs no training. In the Reiki tradition, though, it is called self-Reiki only after attunement.

So if you are not attuned, think of this as a calming routine borrowed from Reiki. If you are, it is your daily practice.

A simple sequence uses seven positions from the head down to the lower abdomen, held for about two minutes each. Sit or lie comfortably, keep your fingers together and let your hands rest lightly.

Breathe normally. If a position is awkward for your shoulders, hold your hands just above the area or skip it.

Do it at the same time each day, because a regular slot matters more than the hour you choose. Morning and bedtime are the two that most people manage to keep.

In the morning, try it before you pick up your phone. At night, do it lying in bed with the lights off. On a crowded day, even two positions for five minutes will keep the habit going.

Choose a time when you will not be disturbed. Never practise while driving or doing anything that needs your attention.

Many people report warmth in the hands, slower breathing and a pleasant heaviness in the body. Falling asleep halfway through is very common, especially at night.

Some people notice tingling, a rumbling stomach or a few tears. Others notice nothing at all, and that is normal too. Nothing has gone wrong if a session feels ordinary.

These are personal experiences of relaxation. They are not signs that an illness is changing, and they should not be read that way.

Self-Reiki complements medical and mental-health care and never replaces it. It supports relaxation. It is not a treatment for any illness, injury or mental-health condition.

Please keep taking anything your doctor has prescribed, keep your appointments, and see a doctor about any new or lasting symptom. No Reiki practitioner should ask you to reduce or stop a medicine.

The same holds for emotional distress. If you are struggling, please reach out to a mental-health professional. In India you can call the free government helpline Tele-MANAS on 14416, available 24×7.

Book a session when you would like to be guided, when you want to ask about learning Reiki properly, or when resting is hard to do on your own.

Dr. Kimaya Parikh-Ambekar offers Reiki at VastuKimaya in Andheri East, Mumbai, alongside Vastu and other healing therapies. You can ask how a session works before you book an appointment. A home routine and a session with a practitioner sit well together.