How can reiki help you feel more balance? Explore the findings from my recent case study

What Actually Happens During a Reiki Session? Real Experiences from Nova Flow Reiki

If you've ever been curious about Reiki but weren't sure what to expect — or wondered whether it would actually do anything — this post is for you.

Earlier this year I offered a series of complimentary Nova Flow Reiki sessions to a small group of women, most of whom had never experienced Reiki before. I asked them to share honestly what they noticed — during the session, after it, and the following night. No pressure to report anything dramatic. No right or wrong answers.

What came back stopped me in my tracks.

First things first — what even is Reiki?

Reiki is a gentle, non-invasive energy therapy. You lie fully clothed on a treatment couch while I work with my hands either lightly placed on or hovering above the body. There's no manipulation, no pressure, no massage. From the outside it looks like very little is happening.

From the inside, it's a different story.

What the women noticed during their sessions

Every single woman in the case study noticed something. Even those who came in sceptical or simply hoping for a bit of relaxation left with something unexpected to reflect on.

The most commonly reported sensations were warmth, tingling, and a magnetic or static feeling — particularly around the head. Several women described their limbs becoming heavy, almost as though they were sinking into the couch. One described feeling simultaneously heavy and weightless — "as if I was above the bed."

Others went deeper still. Two women experienced vivid visuals — colours, shapes, movement. One described it beautifully: "almost like a lava lamp with dark blue and purple colours." Another saw herself as a child, which morphed into a series of older women — an experience that clearly meant something significant to her.

One woman — who has her Level 1 Reiki training and visits her own Reiki master regularly — said something that I'm still sitting with:

"I feel as though Amy's Reiki was the most powerful Reiki session I think I have ever had. Amy is so gifted that I actually struggle to put it into words."

I share that not to boast but because it matters — if you've tried Reiki before and found it underwhelming, that doesn't mean this will feel the same.

How they felt afterwards

Every woman rated how their body felt after the session either 4 or 5 out of 5. The words that came up again and again were: less tension, lighter, calmer, settled, grounded.

One woman cried after her session — a release rather than distress. She described feeling like "a huge weight had been shifted."

Another, who came in at a bit of a crossroads in her life, said she felt "more positive about things — and that it was okay to be unsure." That quiet permission to not have it all figured out is something I see Reiki offer people again and again.

Mentally and emotionally, every woman rated their experience 4 or 5 out of 5. Several described thoughts feeling less tangled, a clearer mind, a general sense of ease.

One said simply: "I just felt safer in my body."

That one stays with me. Because so many of us spend so much time at war with ourselves — our thoughts, our feelings, our physical selves. To feel safe in your own body, even briefly, is not a small thing.

The sleep piece

I always ask about sleep the night after a session because it tells me a lot about how the nervous system has responded. Every woman in this case study slept better than usual. One said she slept right through the night for the first time in weeks. Another noted she didn't wake at all — which for her was significant.

This makes complete sense from a nervous system perspective. Reiki works with the parasympathetic nervous system — the rest and restore state. When we've been running on adrenaline and cortisol, dropping into that state even for an hour can have a ripple effect that carries into sleep.

What one woman said that sums it all up

"I loved my session. The ambience was perfect — it made me feel instantly calm and comfortable. I felt so many sensations and talking to Amy afterwards about them was so interesting. I'd highly recommend Reiki at Nova — it was a wonderful grounding and calming experience. I can't wait to go again."

So — is Reiki for you?

If you've been curious, if you're carrying tension you can't seem to shift, if you just need an hour that is entirely yours — I'd gently say yes.

Nova Flow Reiki sessions are now open for bookings. Each session is 60 minutes and held in the Nova space in Alva, Clackmannanshire.