What does a Reiki session in the second or third trimester actually involve?
Answered by Vanessa Chugani · Updated September 2026
You lie fully clothed on a treatment table while I place my hands gently on or just above your body, avoiding the abdomen in the first trimester and adapting positions so you are comfortable throughout. Sessions run about an hour and focus on the areas where tension tends to gather: the shoulders, back, hips and feet.
What actually happens in the room
You arrive, we talk briefly about how you are feeling and whether anything needs adapting, and then you lie down fully clothed on the treatment table. I use blankets and bolsters to support you, and if lying flat stops feeling comfortable, we adjust. Nothing is forced and nothing is rushed.
I place my hands on or just above your body, moving through a sequence of positions. My hands rest for a few minutes in each place. There is no pressure, no manipulation, and nothing that could be described as vigorous. Most people find they drift into a half-sleep state fairly quickly.
How the session is adapted for pregnancy
In the second and third trimesters, the positions are adjusted so you are not lying flat on your back for extended periods. Side-lying with support works well, and I can work from there without any loss of the session. The abdomen is approached with particular care: I may hold my hands just above rather than on, or I may skip that area entirely, depending on what feels right on the day.
The places where tension most commonly gathers during pregnancy are the lower back, the hips, the shoulders and the feet, and those get a lot of attention. A body carrying extra weight and extra responsibility tends to hold a great deal in those spots.
What people report afterwards
People often describe leaving feeling that their body has finally been able to put something down. Sleep that comes more easily that night. A sense of the nervous system having had a genuine rest rather than just an hour of stillness. Some describe pain sitting further away. Some describe feeling steadier, less at the mercy of whatever is preoccupying them.
None of that is a guarantee, and I will not frame it as one. Pregnancy is also a time when the body is doing a great deal, and what a session offers is support, not intervention. A 2019 study of over 1,400 sessions found that participants commonly reported improvements in tiredness, mood and overall wellbeing, though there was no control group, so it tells us what people reported, not what caused it.
Reiki is not a treatment for any pregnancy complication or medical condition. If you have a concern about your health or your baby's health, that conversation belongs with your midwife or doctor, and I will always say so plainly.
A few practical notes
Sessions are in Canggu and run for roughly an hour. Wear something comfortable. You do not need to prepare anything or arrive in a particular state of mind. A few people feel a warmth or a tingling under my hands; many feel nothing specific and find the session just as useful. Both are normal.
If you are past 36 weeks, or if your pregnancy has any complications, please check with your midwife before booking. For most straightforward pregnancies in the second and third trimester, there is nothing about a Reiki session that poses any concern, but you know your situation and your care team does too.
The full details on pricing and booking are on the Pregnancy Reiki page.
Related questions
Do I need to lie on my back for the whole session?
No. In the second and third trimesters I adapt positions so you are not flat on your back for long periods. Side-lying with bolsters works well, and I can complete a full session from there. If something stops feeling comfortable at any point, we adjust immediately. Comfort during the session is the priority.
Is the abdomen touched during the session?
It depends on what feels right on the day. I often hold my hands just above the abdomen rather than resting them on it, and if you would prefer I avoid that area entirely, I will. Nothing happens without your say-so. The session is useful regardless of whether the abdomen is included.
Can Reiki help with the physical discomfort of pregnancy?
A lot of the physical discomfort in pregnancy, particularly in the back, hips and shoulders, comes from a body that is under sustained load and holding a great deal of tension. That is the kind of tension Reiki works with well. It is not a substitute for physiotherapy or midwifery care, but people often report that it helps.