What Is Reiki and How Does It Work?

Understanding energy healing, your nervous system, and what really happens on the Reiki table

By Danielle Gonzales, Reiki Master Teacher & Intuitive Coach

Have you ever felt emotionally drained, overwhelmed, or disconnected from yourself, even when you can't quite explain why? Sometimes we spend so much time managing life that we forget what it feels like to simply slow down, feel grounded, and recharge.

Here's the short answer: Reiki is a Japanese energy healing practice where a trained practitioner channels "universal life energy" through their hands, on or just above your body, to support relaxation and energetic balance. You stay fully clothed, you simply rest, and you don't need to follow any religion or belief system to receive a session.

For ease of navigation, here is what this post covers:

• What Is Reiki?

• How Reiki Works

• What Happens During a Session

• Reiki and Your Nervous System

• What the Research Says

• Reiki Sessions & Pricing

• After Your Session

• Questions I Hear a Lot

What Is Reiki?

Reiki is a spiritual and energetic healing art that originated in Japan. The word comes from the Japanese "rei," meaning universal life, and "ki," meaning energy. Dr. Mikao Usui rediscovered this ancient healing art, and the Usui System of Natural Healing (Usui Shiki Ryoho) is still the most commonly practiced form of Reiki today. It is also the system I trained and was attuned in.

Reiki practitioners are trained and attuned to act as a channel for this energy. The energy isn't coming from me, but from source, and it is directed to you for healing, relaxation, and restoration. Reiki is not affiliated with any specific religion or religious practice.

How Reiki Works

From an energetic perspective, our thoughts, emotions, experiences, and environments can all settle into the body. When we continually carry stress or unresolved emotions, energy can get stuck, and it becomes harder to feel grounded, present, and connected to ourselves.

At the start of a session, I scan your energetic field to find areas of focus, usually in line with the 7 primary energy centers (chakras). I may notice hot or cold spots, or feel where to focus within my own body as I connect with your energy. The energy is intelligent: it flows where it is most needed, guided by your higher self rather than by me.

What Happens During a Session

In person, you lie face up on a table, fully clothed (shoes off), and simply relax. Reiki can be hands-on or hands-off, and your preference always comes first. Many of my sessions also include crystals and tuning forks, whose pure sound helps your body return to its natural rhythm and deepens relaxation.

Every session is different. It is common for clients to fall asleep, cry, yawn, twitch, talk, see images, feel temperature changes or tingling, or feel deeply relaxed. Others notice very little during the session itself. You don't have to feel energy moving or experience anything dramatic for a session to be meaningful.

Distant (remote) Reiki follows the same process, just across distance. I contact you to start, you lie down somewhere comfortable (no need to stay on the phone or video), and the treatment portion lasts about 20 minutes, followed by a short summary call. Please don't drive or operate machinery during a distant session.

One client, Troy T., put it this way: "Prior to this I had no idea what this was about but my wife recommended I give it a shot... The best words to describe how I left my session is 'lighter'."

Reiki and Your Nervous System

One of the most relatable ways to understand the potential benefits of Reiki is through the nervous system. When you feel threatened, pressured, or overwhelmed, your body can shift into fight, flight, or freeze. Your heart rate may increase, your muscles tense, and your mind starts scanning for what could go wrong.

That response is useful when you are facing a real threat. The challenge comes when stress becomes constant and your body has little opportunity to rest and recover.

A Reiki session gives you dedicated time to pause, feel supported, and relax without needing to solve anything. For some people, this may help encourage the body's natural relaxation response: slower breathing, a calmer heart rate, and a quieter mind.

When you have more capacity within yourself, you have more capacity for life.

What the Research Says

I want to be honest with you here. Although many people find Reiki beneficial, the scientific explanation for how it works remains uncertain. Research has explored its potential benefits for relaxation, anxiety, and pain, but the overall evidence is mixed, and a Reiki-specific energy field has not been scientifically established. Relaxation during a session also doesn't prove that energy has been balanced. What I can tell you is that regular time to rest and recover is an important part of managing everyday stress.

Reiki Sessions & Pricing

Sessions are available in person at our Peoria studio (Sonoran Mountain Ranch, near 67th Avenue and Jomax Road) and most are also available remotely:

• Reiki & Sound Healing: 60 minutes, $111, in person or remote. Reiki, crystal energy, tuning fork therapy, intention-setting, and a summary. No coaching, just rest and recharge.

• Distant Reiki (no coaching): 30 minutes, $75, remote only. About 20 minutes of treatment plus a 10-minute summary by phone or video.

• Coaching & Reiki: 90 minutes, $149, for established clients, in person or remote. Starts with a 45 to 50-minute discussion, followed by healing work.

• New Client Coaching & Reiki: 2 hours, $199, in person or virtual. An in-depth assessment of your energetic needs, then deeper healing work.

• Monthly Reiki & Sound Membership: $95 per month. One 60-minute session each month at 15% off, plus 10% off all other services.

Before your first session, please complete the Informed Consent & Waiver form, which you'll find on our Reiki page. For distant sessions, you can upload a photo with the form.

After Your Session

• Drink plenty of water.

• Relax and reflect. Give yourself some alone time to process anything that came to the surface.

• Eat lots of fruits and vegetables, and avoid caffeine, processed foods, sugar, alcohol, and tobacco.

• Take some notes or start a journal: repetitive thoughts, signs, feelings, and dreams.

• Practice gratitude. Start small if you need to, even your favorite breakfast counts!

Questions I Hear a Lot

Do I need to believe in Reiki for it to work?

No. You don't need to understand energy healing or follow a particular belief. Coming with curiosity is enough.

Will you touch me during the session?

Only if you want me to. Reiki can be done hands-on or with my hands just above your body, and the energy flows either way.

Can Reiki be done remotely?

Yes. Distant Reiki is 30 minutes for $75, and Reiki & Sound Healing is also available remotely. You simply rest at home while the session takes place.

Does Reiki replace medical care?

No. Reiki is a complementary practice and should always be used alongside your doctor, therapist, or primary caregiver.

Closing Thoughts

You don't have to have everything figured out before you begin. You simply need space to slow down, listen to yourself, and explore what you need. You spend so much of your life showing up for everyone else. Your well-being deserves that same care.

While Reiki offers a multitude of potential benefits, it is essential to always work concurrently with your doctor, therapist, or primary caregiver for any health-related condition. If you are ill or experiencing symptoms, consult your doctor. Reiki practitioners do not diagnose illness or disease and do not prescribe medication.

Want to Go Deeper?

🌟 Ready to try it for yourself? Book a Reiki & Sound Healing session or explore all of our services.

✨ Want to make self-care a habit? Check out the Monthly Reiki & Sound Membership.

You may also enjoy: Exploring the Benefits of Reiki Healing and An Overview of Reiki Healing and Session Protocol.

Have additional questions or concerns before scheduling? Just ask!

P: (602) 323-6866 | E: gratefulkoi@gmail.com

About Me

Hi and thank you for stopping by! My name is Danielle Gonzales and I am a professionally trained Reiki Master Teacher, Psychic-Medium, Intuitive Coach, Mentor, Intuitive Card Reader, and Clairsentient (empath). This means that I can feel your energy and that of spirit (human, animals, angels, guides, etc.) to receive messages and insights through sight, sounds, physical and emotional sensations, and intuitive understanding.

As an Arizona native, I've spent the past 15 years in healthcare, obtaining my B.S. in Business and Healthcare Management in 2021. I began training as a professional psychic-medium in 2017, achieving Usui Shiki Ryoho Reiki training and attunements in the years to follow. In 2022, I obtained certification as an Advanced Angel Practitioner, in 2023 I completed Advanced Channeling Training, and obtained my Reiki Master Teacher Certification in 2024.