Questions people ask.

Reiki is a Japanese practice developed by Mikao Usui in the 1920s. The practitioner rests their hands lightly on or just above the body, working with what the tradition calls ki (気), the life force energy said to move through all living things. It is a complementary practice, which means it sits alongside medical care rather than in place of it. Most people come for the quiet and the rest, and describe a session as deeply calming.

We start with a conversation. Ten minutes or so, about what has brought you and what you are hoping for, and I will ask whether you would prefer hands resting lightly or held just above the body. Either is fine and you can change your mind partway through. Then you lie on a treatment couch and I work through a sequence of hand positions, usually from the head down. It is quiet. There is no massage, no oils, nothing applied to the skin and nothing to do. Afterwards there are a few minutes to come back to yourself before we finish. There is no right or wrong way to experience Reiki, and falling asleep is common.

Just your normal clothes. No expectations, only something you feel comfortable in. A blanket is provided, and please tell me if you get cold at any point during the session.

Reiki is gentle and non-invasive. There is nothing to take, nothing applied to the skin and no manipulation of the body, and people of all ages come for it. It does not replace medical or veterinary care, and I will never suggest you delay, stop or change any treatment you are receiving. If you are unsure whether Reiki is a good fit alongside something you are being treated for, do ask me before booking and we can talk it through. You are always welcome to check with your GP or consultant as well. If you are booking for a child under 16, a parent or guardian will need to be present throughout and to sign a short consent form beforehand.

Yes, and it is welcome. Emotional release is part of the work rather than something that has gone wrong. The space is confidential, and it is held as a safe and sacred one. You are protected throughout, and you do not need to explain, apologise or hold anything back. Whatever wants to be let go of can be let go of here.

Most people describe feeling calm and rested, sometimes very much so. Some feel a little tired or emotional in the day or two afterwards. Others feel nothing in particular, and that is just as normal. I usually suggest drinking plenty of water and, if you can manage it, giving yourself a quiet hour rather than going straight back into a busy day.

Entirely up to you. Some people come weekly or fortnightly during a difficult stretch, some monthly as part of looking after themselves, and some come once out of curiosity and leave it there. If you are new to it, trying two or three sessions gives you a better sense of whether it suits you than a single one does. But there is no course to sign up to and I will not push you towards one.

Yes. Reiki is non-invasive and works perfectly well alongside conventional medical care and other complementary therapies. It is never a substitute for treatment you are receiving. If you are having something else and are not sure how Reiki fits with it, ask me and we will talk it through.

A session where you are not physically present. We agree a time, you settle somewhere comfortable wherever you are, and I hold the session from here, with a conversation before and after just as I would in person. It works with intention rather than touch. Some people prefer it because they would rather receive in their own home, or because travelling is difficult. It is the same price as an in-person session, because the preparation and the care are identical.

Sessions take place in a dedicated treatment room at my home in Prestwich, Greater Manchester, with a bathroom immediately next door. The full address and directions come with your booking confirmation. I have three Burmese cats, Lilith, Hekate and Kumo. They are extremely friendly and will want to say hello, so do let me know if you would rather they did not. Burmese are often better tolerated by people with cat allergies than other breeds, but they are not allergen-free, so please tell me before you book if that is a concern. Please also let me know if you are sensitive to any scents, such as incense or sage, so I can set the room up accordingly.

If you are not well, please do not feel you have to come. Tell me and we will move the session, with nothing lost. That goes for anything infectious in particular: I would much rather rebook you than have you sitting through an hour feeling rotten, or pass it on to whoever is in the room after you. If I am unwell, I will not treat. It is part of the UK Reiki Federation code and it is also plain common sense, since I cannot hold a session properly if I am not well myself. I will let you know as early as I can and we will find another time that works. You will not lose your fee or your deposit.

Carefully. Security and privacy by design are what I do in my professional life, so your information is held to a standard well above what a small practice would normally manage. Anything you tell me during a consultation is confidential and is never shared without your consent. Full detail is in the privacy policy, linked in the footer.

Yes. I am fully insured, and I am a member of the UK Reiki Federation and work to their Code of Ethics and Professional Practice. A copy of the Code is available on request, and I am happy to show my insurance certificate to anyone who would like to see it.

An attunement, or Reiju (霊授) in Japanese, is the process by which a Reiki teacher connects a student to the practice. It is the heart of Reiki training and the thing that distinguishes learning Reiki from reading about it. It is quiet and it takes a few minutes. Most students find it peaceful. You do not need to do anything or believe anything in particular for it to be given.

Reiki is taught in levels, each building on the last. I teach the full Usui system across four: Level 1, Shoden (初伝). Level 2, Okuden (奥伝). Level 3, Shinpiden (神秘伝). Level 4, Shihan (師範). Level 1 is open to everyone and needs no previous experience. Each level after it is offered with time in between to practise and let things settle, rather than run straight on. Every level includes personal tuition, attunement and a full written manual to keep. Prices and deposits are on the Prices page.

Absolutely, and you are very welcome. It helps if you can share any materials from your previous training, manuals, notes, whatever you have. Not to assess it, but so I understand what you have already been taught and can build on it rather than repeat it. We will have a conversation before you book either way.

Not at all. You do not need to speak, read or write a word of it. You will meet Japanese terms throughout your training, because I teach the system with its own vocabulary rather than translating it away. Shoden (初伝), Gokai (五戒), Reiju (霊授), Hatsurei-hō (発霊法). Each one is explained plainly in English every time it appears, and nobody is expected to memorise anything. Working with the original terms tends to add depth, but it is never a requirement.

A safe space where Reiki practitioners of any degree can gather, practise together and talk with like-minded people. Dates and a venue to follow.