Does Reiki involve touch, and can I ask for none?
Answered by Vanessa Chugani · Updated August 2026
Traditional Reiki uses light touch on the shoulders, head and feet, or hands held just above the body without contact. Both work the same way. You can ask for hands-off at any point, before or during a session, no explanation needed. Distance sessions (EUR 138) are also available if you would rather not be in the room at all.
Reiki in the West usually includes touch, but it is light, and it is entirely optional. In my sessions in Canggu you stay fully clothed and lie on a treatment table while I rest my hands gently on a few areas, the top of the head, the shoulders, sometimes the stomach or feet. Nothing is pressed, rubbed or manipulated the way it would be in a massage. It is closer to a hand resting there for a minute or two, then moving on. The room stays quiet, sometimes with soft background music, and you are welcome to keep your eyes closed the whole time.
Touch or no touch, both work the same way
Holding the hands a few centimetres above the body instead of resting them on it is a normal part of Reiki, not a lesser version of it. If you would rather I did not touch you at all, say so whenever it suits you: when you book, when you arrive, or partway through if you change your mind once you are already on the table. You do not need to explain why, and it will not change how the session goes.
Reasons people ask for this
People request a hands-off session for all kinds of reasons: an old injury, a stretch of feeling unwell, days when touch feels like too much, or simply a preference that does not need a reason attached. Pregnancy Reiki is one example where hand placement is already adapted trimester by trimester, so asking for no touch on top of that fits in easily.
If you would rather not be in the room at all
A distance session removes physical presence from the picture entirely, so touch is not part of it in any form. It costs EUR 138, against EUR 188 for an in-person session in Canggu, and both draw on the same three and five session packages if you decide to book more than one. Full details on formats and pricing are on the sessions page.
What stays the same either way
Touch or no touch, the hour itself does not change. Lights are low, you lie down, and nothing is asked of you. There is no oil, no equipment and no undressing involved, whichever version you choose. My hands, whether resting on you or held just above you, are there to support that hour of rest, not to work on a specific muscle or injury. If that is actually what you are after, a massage is usually the better first call, and I will say so honestly if you ask me directly.
If you are still deciding what you would prefer, get in touch and ask. I would rather you arrived with the right expectations than a surprised one.
Related questions
Do I need to undress for a Reiki session?
No. You stay fully clothed for the whole session, on a treatment table, the same as for the distance version where you are not in the room at all. Loose, comfortable clothing works best. There is no oil and no equipment involved, so nothing needs to come off beforehand.
Will you tell me what you are doing as you go?
I will let you know before I start and if I move to a new area, but the session itself is quiet. If you would prefer more talking, or none at all, tell me beforehand and I will follow your lead rather than a script.
Is a no-touch session available for pregnancy Reiki too?
Yes. Pregnancy Reiki already adapts hand placement by trimester, so a no-touch or distance version fits alongside that without any extra explanation needed. Tell me when you book, or any time before we start, and I will work from wherever you are most comfortable.