Why is Reiki not recommended for self-study or online courses?

Satoe Sasaki

Dec 27, 2025

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Reiki therapy originated in Japan, with Usui Reiki being the oldest form.

It is known as the prototype that spread worldwide under the name “Reiki.”

The practice of Reiki, called teate in Japanese (laying on of hands), may look suspicious to some when they see hands hovering over the body. Others, seeing hands placed directly on the body, might mistake it for massage. But when you study Reiki, you realize that Reiki therapy is originally based on the human instinct of “laying on hands.” In other words, it is something anyone can learn and master.

So, while the idea of learning Reiki on your own—like teaching yourself to play an instrument—is wonderful, in reality it is not so easy.

Recently, some well-known online courses claim to teach Reiki, but while you may gain knowledge, actual practice is not so simple.

The reason is that most people cannot tell whether they are truly doing it correctly.

In fact, those practicing Reiki on their own tend to have a much weaker energy flow compared to those who have received attunement, and their healing is not ideal.

On the other hand, there are people sensitive to energy who feel confident they are doing it correctly. But with self-taught energy work, it is common to unknowingly exhaust your own energy. After giving healing to others, you may feel tired, unwell, or realize that self-healing becomes necessary as a way of protecting yourself.

Many people interested in Reiki hesitate to take the first step because they do not understand “attunement.” This is explained in beginner-level courses: attunement is a way of opening energy pathways that cannot be achieved through training or self-taught energy work. Through attunement, the energy circuits are opened, and the flow is improved.

So, the most important question is: where should you receive Reiki training? Here are some guidelines:

Make sure you have the opportunity to meet the teacher/master in person before the course (or at least talk by phone).
Ensure there is a place to ask questions and practice after the course, not just during it. Without ongoing support, improvement is difficult.
The content and fees should be clear.
Avoid places that claim you can master all levels in a single day or quickly become a teacher. It is unrealistic to fully absorb everything in such a short time.

Check these four points before enrolling. If you feel you want to learn from that teacher, then go ahead and apply. Otherwise, if you learn Reiki without confirming these things, you may end up studying something very different from what you imagined.

Also, if you studied Reiki elsewhere long ago and now are unsure whether you can still do Reiki, I welcome you to restart your practice with us.

For example: