What Most People Don't Know About Reiki - The Heart of the Practice: Breath, Meditation and Mindful Touch
What Most People Don't Know About Reiki - The Heart of the Practice: Breath, Meditation and Mindful Touch
For many, Reiki is something they’ve heard of but don’t fully understand. Most people associate it with a calming hands-on practice, yet beyond that there is often uncertainty about what it actually involves.
At its heart, Reiki is a practice of presence. Long before Reiki became known as a complementary wellness practice, its founder, Mikao Usui, taught a system that wove together meditation, conscious breathing, mindful touch, and personal reflection. These simple yet profound practices were designed to cultivate balance, awareness, and a deeper connection with ourselves and the world around us.
In this article, we'll explore some of the traditional practices of Usui Reiki - including meditation, breathwork, hand positions, and hands-on techniques - and discover the wisdom they continue to offer in our fast-paced modern world.
The Origins of Usui Reiki
Usui Reiki Ryōhō developed in Japan in the early twentieth century as a holistic practice that included far more than hands-on sessions alone.
Alongside treatment, students were encouraged to cultivate inner awareness, work with breath, and integrate the Reiki Precepts into daily life. Reiki was not simply something done to another person - it was a way of cultivating presence and clarity in oneself.
Gasshō - The Foundation of Reiki Meditation
Gasshō means "palms together."
In this meditation, the hands are placed together in front of the heart while attention rests gently on the fingertips. The practice appears simple, yet it cultivates stillness, focus, and a quiet return to the present moment.
Many practitioners begin and end their Reiki practice with Gasshō, using it as a way to settle attention and arrive fully in the moment.
Joshin Kokyū-hō - The Practice of Conscious Breathing
Joshin Kokyū-hō, often translated as "purifying breath method," is a traditional breathing practice that develops calm awareness.
The breath is observed naturally, often with attention resting in the lower abdomen (tanden). Rather than controlling the breath, the practitioner allows it to settle, supporting a grounded and centred state of awareness.
This practice highlights something simple but profound - the breath is always available as an anchor for presence.
Traditional Reiki Hand Techniques
While modern Reiki is often associated with structured hand positions, traditional practice also included several techniques for sensing, touching, and responding to the body.
Byōsen Reikan-hō - Developing Sensitivity
Byōsen Reikan-hō is a method of scanning or sensing.
The practitioner slowly moves their hands over or near the body, noticing subtle sensations such as warmth, tingling, pulsing, or areas of attention. Rather than following a fixed sequence, this practice develops sensitivity and responsiveness.
It encourages practitioners to listen with their hands.
Oshite Chiryo-hō - The Pressing Method
Oshite Chiryo-hō involves gentle, sustained pressure using fingertips, thumbs, or palms.
The pressure is steady and mindful rather than forceful or mechanical. The focus is on maintaining presence through touch rather than manipulating tissue.
Nadete Chiryo-hō - The Stroking Method
Nadete Chiryo-hō involves slow, gentle stroking along the body.
The hands move in a continuous, calming motion that supports relaxation and ease. This practice reflects the importance of gentle, attentive contact in traditional Reiki.
Ketsueki Kōkan-hō - A Traditional Closing Practice
Ketsueki Kōkan-hō is traditionally used towards the end of a Reiki session.
It involves light brushing or sweeping movements that help bring the practice to a gentle close. Historically, it was believed to support circulation and encourage a sense of balance and integration following a session.
Rather than ending abruptly, Ketsueki Kōkan-hō creates a sense of transition, allowing the experience to settle and come to completion with care.
Reiki Hand Positions - Structure and Intuition
Modern Reiki teaching often includes a set of standard hand positions covering the head, torso, and body.
These provide a helpful structure, especially for beginners. In traditional practice, however, hand positions were often used more intuitively, guided by sensitivity developed through practices such as Byōsen Reikan-hō.
In this way, hand placement becomes less about routine and more about attentive presence.
The Reiki Precepts - Living the Practice
At the heart of Reiki are the Five Precepts:
Just for today -
Do not anger.
Do not worry.
Be grateful.
Work diligently.
Be kind to others.
These simple principles extend Reiki beyond formal practice and into daily life, encouraging mindfulness, gratitude, and compassion in everyday moments.
Returning to the Heart of Reiki
The traditional practices of Reiki reveal a system that is far more expansive than many people realise. Meditation, conscious breathing, mindful touch, intuitive awareness, and ethical reflection all form part of its foundation.
Whether explored for personal reflection, relaxation, or deeper study, these practices invite us to slow down and return to presence.
Whether you're new to Reiki or have been exploring it for some time, these traditional practices offer a gentle invitation to reconnect with yourself in a more conscious way.
At Heartsong, we honour the traditional roots of Reiki through one-to-one Reiki sessions and Reiki training workshops that explore not only hand positions, but also meditation, breathwork, and the deeper philosophy of the practice. Whether you're seeking a quiet space to rest and reconnect, or feel called to learn Reiki for yourself, we'd be delighted to welcome you.
To find out more about Reiki sessions, upcoming workshops, and training opportunities, please get in touch or explore our latest offerings.
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