What do I need to know before booking my first Reiki session?
Answered by Vanessa Chugani · Updated October 2026
A first Reiki session is quiet, fully clothed support: you lie down or sit while hands rest lightly on or near your body. Sessions in Canggu cost EUR 188, or EUR 138 by distance. Most people come for stress, poor sleep or a body that will not settle.
Most people book a first Reiki session because something has been running hot for too long: poor sleep, or a body that will not settle no matter what they try. A session isn't a performance and it isn't a test. Here's what to expect, what it costs, and who it tends to suit.
What happens during a session
You stay fully clothed and either lie down or sit, whichever is more comfortable. Vanessa works with her hands resting lightly on or near your body. The room is quiet, with no oils and nothing else required of you. Sessions run in person in Canggu or by distance, so you can book whichever fits your schedule. If you want more on how distance sessions are approached, there's more detail here.
What it costs
A single session in Canggu is EUR 188. A distance session is EUR 138. If you already know you'll want more than one, a three-session package is EUR 388 and a five-session package is EUR 588, and either package works across both formats, so you can mix in-person and distance sessions as it suits you.
What people report afterwards
People don't usually arrive asking to relax. They arrive exhausted, wired at 2am, grieving, or carrying a jaw that won't unclench and shoulders stuck somewhere near their ears. That kind of tension sits on top of stress and overwhelm, and it's exactly what a session works with. Some people report sleep that finally comes, or pain that sits a little further away. Others notice their appetite coming back, or just feel steadier in themselves.
A 2022 review in Frontiers in Psychology looked at 14 randomised placebo-controlled trials and rated the evidence high for clinically relevant stress and depression, and moderate to high for clinically relevant anxiety, in people who were genuinely struggling rather than already well. A 2025 review of 11 trials and 661 participants found a significant improvement in quality of life, and longer, more frequent sessions did best, which is the honest case for a package over a single visit.
A Reiki session is rest and support. It isn't a treatment for any medical condition, it doesn't diagnose anything, and it isn't a substitute for seeing a doctor. If you're dealing with an injury or a purely mechanical problem, a massage is often the better first call.
Who this suits, and how to book
This suits people who want straightforward rest and support rather than a mystical experience: someone mid-career who's running on empty, or someone newly pregnant and curious about what's safe. If you're pregnant, pregnancy Reiki is adapted to whichever trimester you're in. Beyond that, booking is simple. Get in touch through the contact page and say what's going on, and Vanessa will help you work out whether a single session or a package makes more sense for you.
Related questions
What should I wear or bring to a session?
Nothing special. Wear whatever's comfortable, since you stay fully clothed throughout. There's no need to bring oils, music or anything else; Vanessa provides a quiet room and the rest is handled. If you're booking a distance session, just make sure you have a quiet, comfortable spot at the agreed time.
Can I book a session if I'm pregnant?
Yes. Pregnancy Reiki is offered and adapted to whichever trimester you're in, and it works the same as a standard session otherwise: fully clothed, lying down or seated, whatever's comfortable for you at that stage. If you want more detail on how it's approached during pregnancy, see <a href="/pregnancy-reiki">Pregnancy Reiki</a>.
How many sessions should I book for my first time?
A single session is a fine way to find out whether this suits you. If you already know you want ongoing support, the three or five-session packages (EUR 388 and EUR 588) work out cheaper per visit, and a 2025 review of 11 trials found that longer, more frequent sessions did best for quality of life, which is the honest case for booking more than one.