How do you prepare yourself and the space before giving a Reiki treatment?
Answered by Vanessa Chugani · Updated September 2026
Before a session I take a few quiet minutes to settle myself, wash my hands and clear my own mind so I can be fully present. The treatment room is kept quiet, warm and private, with the phone off. I talk the client through what to expect before we begin, so nothing feels unfamiliar.
Preparation matters more than people expect. A Reiki session works with your nervous system, and a nervous system settles faster in a room and with a practitioner who are already settled. I treat the time before you arrive as part of the session, not a formality before it.
How I get ready myself
Before you arrive I take a few quiet minutes on my own. I wash my hands, sit still and let the last hour of my day fall away, so I am not carrying a rushed morning or a full inbox into the room with me. If I am distracted, you will feel that, so I do not skip this step, session after session. I also read back whatever you have told me about why you are coming, so I already know roughly what you need before we start.
Setting up the room
The treatment room is kept warm, quiet and private. I turn my phone off, close the door and clear away anything that does not need to be there. The table is made up fresh for each person. I check the light is soft rather than bright, and that the room will hold a comfortable temperature for someone lying still for an hour, because a body that is even slightly cold will not settle. Some people like quiet, others prefer a low, unobtrusive sound in the background, so I ask early on and simply arrange the room to suit whichever you choose.
What happens when you arrive
You do not need to prepare anything yourself. I talk you through what will happen before we begin: you stay fully clothed, you lie on the table or sit if that is easier, and I explain where I will place my hands and that you can ask me to stop or adjust at any point. Most first-time clients arrive a little nervous, so I would rather answer questions before we start than have you wondering halfway through. There is nothing you need to believe, and nothing to get right, for the hour to be worth your time.
Distance sessions are prepared the same way
For a distance session I still take the same quiet minutes beforehand and treat the time as fully set aside, even though you are not in the room with me. You find a quiet spot to lie down or sit, ideally somewhere you will not be interrupted, and we agree a time in advance so neither of us is rushing into it.
None of this is a performance. It is closer to the way you would tidy a room before a guest arrives: not because the room has to be perfect, but because it changes how the guest feels the moment they walk in.
Related questions
Do I need to do anything to prepare before my first session?
No. You do not need to meditate, fast or read anything beforehand. Arrive as you are, in comfortable clothes. I will explain what happens before we start, so there is nothing to get right and nothing to prepare on your side.
What should I wear to a Reiki session?
Whatever is comfortable and loose enough to lie still in for an hour. You stay fully clothed throughout a session in Canggu, there is no undressing and no oils or massage involved, just my hands resting lightly at a series of positions.
Is preparation different for a distance session?
Not really. I still take quiet time beforehand and treat the appointment as set aside. On your side, find a quiet spot where you will not be interrupted and settle in a few minutes before the agreed time so you are not rushing straight from a busy moment.