What to Expect in Reiki Level 1
What to Expect in Reiki Level 1
If you're reading this, you're probably curious about Reiki but not totally sure what you'd be getting into. Maybe you've had a session and thought, "I want to learn how to do that." Maybe someone you trust told you to look into it. Maybe you just have a feeling.
Whatever brought you here, I want to walk you through exactly what happens in my Reiki Level 1 class so there are no surprises.
You Don't Need to Be "Spiritual Enough"
Let me get this out of the way first because it's the number one thing I hear from people who are interested but haven't signed up yet. They think they need to already have a meditation practice, or own crystals, or be able to feel energy before they walk in the door.
You don't! That's literally what the class is for. To get your feet… I mean… hands…wet.
Reiki Level 1 is designed for complete beginners. I've taught people who came in skeptical, people who'd never done anything in the wellness space before, and people who thought energy healing was a little too out there for them. Every single one of them left feeling something real in their hands.
The only prerequisite is being open to the experience.
What You Actually Learn
My Level 1 class is a six-hour immersion. That might sound like a long time, but every person I've taught has told me it flew by. Here's what we cover.
We start with the real history of Reiki. Not the surface-level version you find on most websites, but the actual Japanese lineage, how it was developed, how it traveled to the West, and why that matters for your practice. Understanding where Reiki comes from gives you a foundation that most trainings skip over.
From there, I teach you how energy moves through your body. We go into the chakra system, the layers of your aura, and the nervous system science that explains why Reiki creates the physical and emotional responses it does. This is where my background as a traumai nformed yoga therapist and somatic nervous system specialist comes in. I don't just tell you to "trust the energy." I show you why your body is wired to respond to it.
Then we get into the practical work. You learn the hand positions for self treatment, so you can do Reiki on yourself anytime, anywhere. You learn positions for treating others. You learn Byosen scanning, which is a traditional Japanese technique for sensing where energy is blocked or disrupted in the body. And you learn energetic hygiene, how to clear yourself after a session so you're not carrying someone else's stuff around with you.
The Attunement
This is the centerpiece of the class, and honestly, it's the part that's hardest to describe until you experience it.
The attunement is an energetic activation. I perform a specific process that opens the healing channel in your hands and connects you to the Reiki source energy. It's rooted in the Usui/Holy Fire III lineage, which means the energy itself does a lot of the work. Your job is simply to be present and willing to receive.
What does it feel like….mhhh… Most people feel warmth or tingling in their hands almost immediately. Some feel a wave of emotion. Some feel deep calm. Some feel heat moving through their whole body. A few people cry, and a few people start laughing. There's no wrong response. I cried and shook like crazy. It is so healing. It felt like finally coming back into my light that I had as a child.
What I can tell you from watching hundreds of students go through this is that something shifts. You can see it in their face. There's a before and after, and the difference is obvious.
The attunement is permanent. It doesn't wear off or expire. Once your channel is open, it's open for life.
What You Walk Out With
By the end of the class, you leave with several things.
Your Reiki Level 1 certification. This is a real credential that recognizes you've been trained and attuned by a Certified Reiki Master Teacher.
A permanent attunement. As I mentioned, this is yours forever. You don't need to be re-attuned.
A 70+ page training manual that I wrote and designed from scratch. This is not a generic pamphlet. It covers everything we discuss in class plus additional reference material on the energy body, the nervous system, hand positions, self-practice protocols, and ethical guidelines. It's the kind of manual you'll actually open again.
The ability to practice Reiki on yourself and others. Self-treatment alone is worth the investment. Imagine being able to place your hands on your own body and calm your nervous system whenever you need to. That's a tool you carry for life.
A 30-day self-practice commitment structure to help you build the habit after class.
Common Questions and Fears
"What if I don't feel anything?" This is rare, but it does happen occasionally on the first day. Some people's sensitivity develops over the following days and weeks as the attunement continues to open. Even if your initial experience is subtle, the channel is still activated. I check in with every student after class to make sure you feel supported.
"Is this religious?" No. Reiki is a healing technique, not a belief system. It works regardless of your spiritual background or lack thereof. I teach it through the lens of nervous system science and somatic awareness, which makes it accessible to people who aren't drawn to spiritual language.
"Can I actually help other people after one class?" Yes. Level 1 gives you everything you need to practice on friends, family, and pets. Many of my students start offering sessions to people in their life within the first week. If you want to practice professionally or deepen your skills with sacred symbols and distance healing, that's what Level 2 is for.
"What makes your class different from other Reiki trainings?" My background. I'm not just a Reiki Master Teacher. I'm a trauma-informed yoga therapist with 700+ hours of training, a somatic nervous system specialist, and a clairvoyant healer with over a decade of experience and more than 1,000 clients. I teach Reiki as an integrated nervous system practice, not just hand positions and good vibes. My class is also LGBTQ+ affirming and designed to feel safe for people who carry trauma in their bodies.
Who This Class Is For
Reiki Level 1 is for you if you're someone who wants a real, practical tool for self-healing. If you're a healthcare worker, therapist, yoga teacher, or bodyworker looking to add energy healing to your skill set. If you're going through a transition and want to feel more grounded. If you're curious about energy but want it explained in a way that makes sense to your rational mind. Or if you've had a Reiki session and thought, "I need to learn how to do this."
It's a small group setting, which means you get personal attention and real practice time. This isn't a lecture hall. It's an experience.
The Details
My Reiki Level 1 certification is a single-day, six-hour immersion held at Rainbow Reiki Center in Las Vegas (7945 W Sahara Ave, Suite 106). The investment is $375, which includes your attunement, certification, and comprehensive training manual.
Class size is intentionally small to ensure quality.
If you're ready, you can book through the link on my website at rainbowreikicenter.com. If you have questions first, send me a DM on Instagram @rainbowreikicenter or reach out through the site. I'm happy to talk it through with you.
Your hands already know how to heal. You just haven't been shown how to use them yet.
Andrew is a Certified Reiki Master Teacher (Usui/Holy Fire III), trauma-informed yoga therapist, somatic nervous system specialist, and clairvoyant healer. Rainbow Reiki Center is an LGBTQ+ affirming healing space in Las Vegas.
