How to Prepare for a Reiki Session: What to Wear, Eat, and Bring
By Victoria Enriquez · Certified Reiki Practitioner & Sound Healer
You booked your first Reiki session. Now what?
Most clients I see are nervous about doing it "wrong" — wearing the wrong thing, eating too much beforehand, not knowing what to think about during the session. The good news: there's almost nothing you can do wrong. Reiki is designed to work whether you're consciously participating or not. But a few small preparations will help your body drop in faster, which means more time spent in the deep healing zone and less time spent settling.
Here's exactly how to prepare for your first 60-minute USUI Reiki session.
What to Wear
Comfortable, loose, layered. You'll be lying on a padded table for 60 minutes, fully clothed (Reiki doesn't require any disrobing — that's one of the things that makes it accessible to people who aren't comfortable with traditional bodywork).
A few practical notes: avoid tight waistbands and underwire — anything that pinches when you settle. Skip heavy jewelry and metal accessories that can interfere with the experience. Bring a layer; body temperature drops in deep relaxation and you may want a blanket. Soft socks are ideal — the room is climate controlled, but feet often want extra warmth.
Yoga pants or sweats and a cozy t-shirt is the standard uniform. Anything you'd wear to read on the couch.
What to Eat (and Not Eat)
A light meal one to two hours before is ideal. Reiki shifts the nervous system out of fight-or-flight, and digestion is part of that shift — a heavy meal pulls energy toward the gut and can leave you feeling sluggish during the session.
Skip caffeine within two hours of your appointment if you can. Stimulants keep the body in beta brainwave state, which is exactly the state Reiki is gently trying to move you out of. Decaf or herbal tea is fine.
Hydrate well throughout the day. Energy moves more easily through hydrated tissue, and you'll likely feel thirstier than usual after the session as your body processes the work.
What to Bring (and Leave Behind)
Bring an open mind, a willingness to receive, and a water bottle for after. That's really it.
Leave behind your phone (on silent or off — even vibrations break the experience) and any pressure to "feel something specific." Some clients feel waves of warmth, tingling, deep relaxation, or unexpected emotion. Some feel quiet stillness. Both are working.
How to Set an Intention (Optional)
You don't need an intention for Reiki to work. The energy goes where it's needed regardless of your conscious focus. But if you want to set one, keep it open. Phrases like "I'm open to whatever I need today," "Help me release what isn't mine to carry," or "I'm willing to slow down" work better than specific outcomes ("fix my anxiety") because they let your system direct the work rather than narrowing it. The most powerful Reiki sessions tend to be the ones where the client comes in without a fixed agenda.
What Happens When You Arrive
We'll spend a few minutes talking — anything you'd like me to focus on, any current physical or emotional patterns I should know about, and any questions about the session. Then you'll lie down on the padded table, fully clothed, with a bolster under your knees and a blanket within reach.
For the next 60 minutes, my hands will rest lightly on or just above your body, moving through the major energy centers. You don't have to do anything. Many clients drift in and out of sleep. Some experience vivid imagery. Some feel waves of emotion rise and pass. All of it is the work doing what it does.
After Your Session
Drink water. Move slowly for the rest of the day. Notice if you feel an unusual emotional release in the next 24 to 48 hours — this is normal as the system processes what shifted.
If this is your first session, you don't need to commit to a regular practice. Just notice what's different in the days that follow. For most clients, the answer is sleep, mood, and a sense of inner spaciousness they hadn't realized was missing.
Reiki sessions in Chandler at MEditation TIME are $125 for 60 minutes. The Signature Energy Session, which combines Reiki with three touch modalities, is $200 for 90 minutes. Either is a good place to begin.