Aftercare Steps
After your session, healing reactions can last a few days to over a week – please read the aftercare information below for more details.
Following your reiki session, you may experience a sense of relaxation accompanied by various expectations, emotions, and questions regarding the next steps in your journey. Your practitioner may recommend drinking water and gentle self-care—so what does that involve, and what should you expect after your reiki session?
Seven key aftercare steps for Reiki:
- Stay hydrated
- Rest
- Clean diet
- Be gentle with yourself and let emotions flow
- Notice your emotions and patiently allow them to unfold
- Detox symptoms
- Ask questions and stay curious about the process
● Stay hydrated
This is important because reiki activates your body’s natural healing process, which leads to detoxification. Drinking water helps flush out toxins and keeps your energy and alertness up, especially when the healing makes you feel tired or sleepy.
● Rest
Taking time to rest will support the continued effects of reiki! Book your reiki session when you can rest afterwards. It’s best if you don’t have to return to work, letting yourself unwind with a walk, nap, or downtime. Avoid screens during this recovery; switch off your phone and choose activities like reading or taking a bath. Treat yourself kindly, aim for an early bedtime, and sleep in if possible.
● Clean diet
Eating healthily helps support your healing process after reiki. Try to steer clear of depressants, alcohol and caffeinated drinks, especially during the first 48 hours.
Consider a cup of herbal tea or try infusing hot or cold water with a fresh sprig of mint or a slice of lemon. For something refreshing, you could make cucumber water by placing cucumber slices in cold water in the fridge for an hour or two or try strawberry water with still or sparkling water as a pleasant alternative to lemonade, cola, or coffee. Be sure to eat lots of delicious fruits and vegetables, while keeping meat, cheese, dairy, and processed foods to a minimum for the next 24–48 hours. This can give your immune system an extra boost as reiki continues to take effect.
● Be gentle
Feeling emotional or crying during or after a reiki session is common. Emotional healing is a core part of reiki, often triggered even when seeking comfort for physical issues. Reiki targets where it’s needed most.
This experience may be pleasant or distressing, but it is temporary. Clients report feelings ranging from happiness and relaxation to fear and sadness; remember, these emotions will pass.
Let go of judging your feelings; just notice them, breathe in, and exhale. Over time, your feelings will ease and change.
Being present in the moment and letting your emotions arise from a place of calmness can lead to profound physical and emotional healing. You become aware of the moments when society or your desire for control discouraged you from expressing your feelings, and you begin to embrace the healing power of your tears and emotions as they come and go. Tears are beneficial as they help your body naturally release stress hormones.
After reiki, you might feel unexpectedly cheerful or need to release anger, whether by hitting a pillow or exercising. Be kind to yourself, as these emotions are temporary.
● Notice
The ability to notice your emotions and remain fully present is sometimes referred to as mindfulness. Taking time to meditate can help you better integrate reiki, but mindful practices are not restricted to sitting still or closing your eyes. What matters most is giving your full attention to this moment and the ongoing experience of noticing each one as it arrives.
Give it a go – take a moment to notice your physical sensations. Are your feet warm or cold? Do your legs feel relaxed or tight? Consider what is happening in your stomach—do you sense hunger or emotions there? Next, pay attention to your emotions as they come and go; you might even name them and realise how you view some as positive and others as negative. Remember, all these feelings are simply parts of you and perfectly natural. Now, try sitting quietly for a bit, watching your thoughts drift by like clouds in the sky, without labelling or judging them.
Pause often to observe and take deep breaths throughout your day.
● Detox symptoms
As your body eliminates toxins and begins the healing process, you may experience discomfort such as stomach cramps, headache, muscle pain, or exhaustion. These symptoms, sometimes called a ‘healing crisis,’ are normal and indicate progress. Clean eating and staying hydrated can help ease and speed up this phase.
Instead of immediately reaching for painkillers or processed, sugary foods to numb your feelings, choose healthy meals, drink plenty of water, get enough sleep or rest, and focus on observing your emotions. This approach can help those feelings begin to change within a few hours. If symptoms continue, contact a healthcare professional or your GP.
● Ask questions
As your reiki practitioner, I am available by email, text, or phone to support you in the coming days. I will share healing resources and send reminders of re-balancing techniques introduced during your session to aid your recovery.