What Is Reiki? An Honest Guide Before You Book Your First Session
By Micael Lopes, Founder of Marcar Terapias
By 
Reiki is often described as energy work, yet the best-known clinical reviews, including a Cochrane-style scrutiny of the evidence, find it hard to separate from relaxation. So what is actually happening on the table? This guide explains the session, the limits and how to choose a practitioner in Portugal.
You get to the end of the day with shoulders like stone, a head that will not stop buzzing and the sense that switching off is no longer an option. In 2019 the World Health Organization added burnout to the ICD-11 as an occupational phenomenon, and carrying that kind of exhaustion unaddressed tends to make it worse. This guide explains what reiki is, what really happens in a session, what the research can and cannot say, and how to choose a practitioner without wasting time or money.
Sooner or later reiki comes up among colleagues, friends or on social media, and it is worth understanding before you try it. If you are already curious, you can browse Reiki therapists in Portugal as you read. Reiki is a gentle, hands-on or hands-near relaxation practice, and its main documented value is helping people feel calmer, not treating any condition.
What Is Reiki?
Reiki is a Japanese relaxation practice developed by Mikao Usui in the early 1920s. The practitioner places their hands lightly on, or just above, the body, with the intention of supporting calm and wellbeing.
How does Reiki work?
Practitioners describe a universal life energy ("ki") being channelled through their hands. No scientific study has detected such an energy. The NHS and the US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health both state that evidence for an energy mechanism is lacking. What may help is the setting: quiet, warmth, gentle touch and about an hour of enforced rest, all of which are known to support relaxation.
What does Reiki treat?
Strictly speaking, reiki does not treat medical conditions. People commonly seek it for stress, tension, low mood or difficulty winding down. A 2022 systematic review of randomised trials published on PubMed found small short-term reductions in anxiety and pain scores, but flagged that many trials were small and poorly blinded. Treat it as a complement to medical care, never a replacement.
How is Reiki done?
The recipient lies clothed on a treatment table. The practitioner moves through a sequence of hand positions, usually head, torso, legs and feet, holding each for two to five minutes.
Next, let us look at what a first session feels like from the inside.
What to Expect From Your First Reiki Session
A first session usually lasts 45 to 60 minutes: a short chat, around 30 to 40 minutes lying down fully clothed, and a few minutes to reorient afterwards.
- Conversation: the practitioner asks about your goals, health and anything you would like to avoid.
- Settling in: you lie down, often with a blanket and soft music.
- Hands-on or hands-near work: touch is very light, and you can ask for none at all.
- Closing: a glass of water and a few minutes to sit up slowly.
Many people report warmth, tingling, deep drowsiness or simply nothing noticeable. All of these are normal.
"Will it hurt?" No. Reiki should never be painful. If any touch feels uncomfortable, say so; a good practitioner will adjust immediately.
Imagine: Marta, 38, a payroll accountant in Porto. She wakes at 3 a.m. most nights with a tight jaw and a racing mind, and her shoulders ache by lunchtime. After six weekly reiki sessions alongside a fixed evening wind-down routine, she reports falling asleep within about twenty minutes instead of lying awake for an hour, and no longer needing to nap at weekends. That is one fictional story, not a promise: results vary from person to person.
You might be thinking: "Isn't this just placebo?" That is a fair concern. Much of the benefit may well come from relaxation and expectation, and the research cannot rule that out. But relaxation is real: if an hour of quiet touch lowers your tension and you leave feeling calmer, that has value, as long as you are honest about what is doing the work.
💆 Looking for Reiki near you? Browse available therapists, free, no registration required. Browse therapists →
So how do you separate a thoughtful practitioner from a poor one?
How to Choose a Good Reiki Space in Portugal
A good reiki space is clean, calm and transparent about what reiki can and cannot do. Look for clear information on training, hygiene, session length and cancellation, and avoid anyone promising to cure illness.
| Sign | What it means | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Declared training and lineage | The practitioner states their reiki level and who taught them | Reiki has no single regulator in Portugal, so openness about training is your main guide |
| No cure or diagnosis claims | They describe reiki as relaxation or complementary | Portuguese health-advertising rules (DL 238/2015) prohibit promising clinical results |
| Clear intake conversation | They ask about health, medication and comfort before starting | Shows care for your safety and consent |
| Clean, private room | Table with fresh linen, quiet, no interruptions | A calm setting is a large part of why reiki works at all |
| Transparent session details | Duration, price and cancellation terms are stated up front | Avoids surprises and signals professionalism |
You might be thinking: "I've tried something like this before and nothing happened." That is a fair concern. Many people feel little on a first attempt, and relaxation therapies depend on rapport with the practitioner. Try one session with someone different, set a modest goal such as "sleep a little better", and judge after three or four sessions rather than one.
If you want to compare options, therapeutic massage offers a more physical approach to tension, while shiatsu is another Japanese practice with firmer touch.
Reiki vs shiatsu: what is the difference?
Reiki uses very light or no touch and aims at relaxation; shiatsu applies finger and palm pressure along meridian lines, closer to bodywork. Shiatsu is more physical, and reiki is quieter and gentler.
Before you pick, here are the questions worth asking.
Questions to Ask Before You Book
Ask direct questions by phone or WhatsApp before booking. Clear answers are a good sign of a practitioner who is comfortable being accountable.
- What reiki training do you have, and with whom?
- How long is a session, and what happens during it?
- Is touch optional?
- Do you have experience with clients who have my situation (for example pregnancy or anxiety)?
- What is your cancellation policy?
- How much does a session cost?
How much does a reiki session cost?
Sessions in Portugal commonly fall between about €30 and €70 for 45 to 60 minutes, depending on city, experience and session length. Check each space's own profile for current prices. Please note this is a general range, not a quote.
What about "fechamento de sacada reiki preço"?
That search is usually unrelated: it mixes Portuguese terms for balcony enclosures with the word "reiki", which is also a brand name in that industry. If you want the wellness practice, search for "reiki session" and the city.
Once you have your questions, the last step is deciding whether reiki suits you.
Who Reiki Is Right For, and When It Might Not Be
Reiki suits people who want a gentle, low-risk way to relax, including those uneasy with deep-pressure massage. It is not a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment.
"What if it doesn't work for me?" Then it doesn't, and that is acceptable. Reiki has no strong evidence behind it for any specific condition, and some people simply do not respond. If you have persistent pain, low mood lasting more than two weeks, or any unexplained symptom, see a GP first. For musculoskeletal pain, physiotherapy or osteopathy are likely better-supported starting points.
Reiki has no known serious side effects, but speak to your doctor if you are pregnant, living with a serious illness, or have a history of trauma that lying still may bring up. Never stop prescribed treatment because of reiki.
Realistic expectations: many practitioners suggest three to four sessions before judging, though this is common practice rather than a clinical standard.
Here is everything in short form before the final step.
📌 Take this with you:
- Reiki is a gentle relaxation practice; the energy mechanism has not been scientifically demonstrated, according to the NHS and NCCIH.
- Choose a practitioner who states their training openly, explains the session, and makes no cure claims.
- Judge results after three to four sessions, and expect calm or better sleep rather than dramatic change.
- Reiki is not the best option for diagnosing or treating pain, illness or serious mental health problems; see a GP first.
- Marcar Terapias profiles list services, prices (when published) and direct contact so you can ask your questions yourself.
Your Next Step
Marcar Terapias lists wellness spaces across Portugal, with services, prices and direct contact, no commissions. Compare profiles, read what each practitioner declares about their training, and contact them directly with the questions above.
Are you a therapist or spa owner? List your services on Marcar Terapias →
Frequently Asked Questions
Reiki is a Japanese relaxation practice in which a practitioner places their hands lightly on or just above your clothed body. People use it to unwind, ease tension and support a sense of calm. It is a complementary wellness practice, not a medical treatment or a substitute for medical care.
Many people report feeling calmer, more relaxed and sleeping a little better. A 2022 systematic review on PubMed found small short-term reductions in anxiety and pain scores, but noted that many trials were small and poorly blinded. Benefits may partly come from rest and gentle touch, and results vary between individuals.
Reiki is generally considered low risk, as touch is very light and optional. There are no well-documented serious side effects. Speak to your doctor first if you are pregnant, seriously ill or have trauma history. Never stop prescribed treatment for reiki, and see a GP for persistent or unexplained symptoms.
Some people feel relaxed after a single session, while many practitioners suggest three to four sessions before judging whether it suits you. This is common practice rather than a clinical standard. Expect modest changes such as feeling calmer, not dramatic results, and review your progress honestly.
Sessions typically cost roughly €30 to €70 for 45 to 60 minutes, depending on the city, the practitioner's experience and session length. This is a general range only. Check each space's profile or contact them directly for current prices.
Reiki uses very light or no touch, with the aim of relaxation, and you stay fully clothed on a table. Shiatsu is a Japanese bodywork that applies finger and palm pressure along meridian lines, usually on a mat. Shiatsu is more physical, while reiki is quieter and gentler.
Compare profiles on Marcar Terapias at https://marcarterapias.pt/en/explorar, where spaces list services, prices and contact details. Check the declared training, ask about the session format, and contact the practitioner directly by phone or WhatsApp. Avoid anyone who promises to cure illness.
Read in Portuguese: Ler em Português →
