What Happens in a Reiki Level 1 Class?

Whether you’re brand new to this energy-based spiritual practice or simply curious, this class can support your lifelong journey of balance and connection.

Reiki Level 1 is an invitaiton for a new beginning. Your new beginning
It’s a supportive, heart-centered space where you’re invited to slow down, reconnect with yourself, and open to something deeper. Whether you’re learning online or in person, you’ll be gently guided—step by step—into the world of energy healing. There’s no pressure to know anything in advance, and no such thing as doing it wrong.

This article walks you through what to expect from your first Reiki class—so you can arrive feeling welcomed, grounded, and ready to receive.

Every Reiki Level 1 class carries forward the original spirit of Usui’s teachings — simplicity, healing, and presence.

What Reiki Level 1 is All About

Reiki Level 1 is designed for beginners—no prior experience is needed. Whether you’re new to energy healing or simply curious, this first level is your entry point into a supportive and empowering practice that you can carry with you for life.

At its core, Level 1 is all about self-healing and energy awareness. You’ll learn how to use Reiki to care for yourself physically, emotionally, and spiritually—often with just 15 minutes a day.

As part of your training, you’ll be introduced to foundational hand positions for self-treatment, giving you a simple yet powerful way to connect with your body and direct energy where it’s needed most.

Many students are surprised by how quickly they feel the benefits: a sense of calm, renewed energy, and deeper connection with themselves.

Whether you’re learning online or in person, Reiki Level 1 is structured to feel spacious, grounded, and personal. Everyone is encouraged to come as they are—curious, open, even unsure. There’s no expectation to perform. Just a warm invitation to begin.

Reiki Level 1 is your entry point into the world of energy healing.

If you’re brand new to Reiki, you might want to start with this foundational guide: What is Reiki?

A Look Inside the Class Structure

Whether you join us for a 6-hour live online class or an in-person experience, Reiki Level 1 is intentionally designed to feel calm, spacious, and deeply supportive.

From the very beginning, you’ll be guided step by step—through grounding practices, intuitive instruction, and gentle group sharing.

You’ll learn at your own pace in a space where questions are welcomed and curiosity is celebrated — including the time commitment involved in learning Reiki.

The class begins with an overview of Reiki as a system of energy healing—including the basics of how energy flows through the body, a simple introduction to the chakras, and foundational principles that help you begin noticing subtle shifts in yourself and others.

You’ll also learn about Usui Reiki Ryoho, the original Japanese system of Reiki founded by Mikao Usui, and how its traditional teachings are still honored in modern practice.

You’ll also learn:

• A 3-step process for giving Reiki to yourself
• A 5-step process for sharing Reiki with others
• How to center your energy and stay grounded throughout your practice
• How to use your hands as intuitive healing tools—no equipment required

Whether you’re practicing on yourself, supporting a loved one, or simply exploring what energy healing feels like, everything is taught in a clear and accessible way. The entire experience is experiential, interactive, and calming—designed to meet you exactly where you are.

As part of the Level 1 class, you’ll also learn about the history of Reiki and the traditional lineage of teachers who have passed this practice down from Mikao Usui through generations.

👉 Explore the Reiki lineage here.

The Reiki Attunement Process

One of the most sacred and transformational parts of the Reiki Level 1 class is the attunement—also called a placement.

An attunement is a guided energetic process that opens your system to receive and channel Reiki energy. It’s not a performance or a test. You don’t need to do anything special. You simply sit comfortably and receive. The Reiki Master creates a safe, quiet space and gently facilitates the attunement through intention and energy transfer.

Every attunement is unique. Some people feel warmth, tingling, or emotional release. Others feel calm, clear, or nothing at all in the moment. Whatever you experience is perfect—Reiki meets you where you are.

This process is safe, gentle, and always individual. Once you’ve received your attunement, you’ll be able to practice Reiki for the rest of your life. It’s a permanent activation—like flipping on a light that was already waiting inside you.

👉 Want to know what students actually feel during attunement?
Read real Reiki attunement experiences here.

After the Class: Your Healing Journey Begins

Reiki Level 1 doesn’t end when the class is over — it opens the door to a lifelong relationship with healing and self-awareness. Most students develop a daily Reiki practice after class to help integrate what they’ve learned, build confidence, and develop a rhythm with their energy work.

This daily Reiki practice is simple—just 15 minutes a day—but it can create profound shifts. You might notice subtle changes in your mood, energy, or clarity. You may feel more grounded, more intuitive, or more at peace. And on days when things feel hard, Reiki becomes a tool to help you come back to yourself.

You won’t be doing it alone. After class, you’ll get access to our private Reiki Resource Center, a dedicated student portal filled with video guidance, self-practice tools, and downloadable materials to support your journey.

You’ll also be invited into our Reiki student Facebook community, where you can connect with classmates and teachers, ask questions, share experiences, and feel part of something meaningful.

This post-class phase is where many students begin to understand the deeper gift of Reiki: the ability to reconnect with their inner wisdom, hold space for their emotions, and meet themselves with compassion.

What You’ll Walk Away With

By the end of your Reiki Level 1 class, you’ll walk away with much more than new information—you’ll carry a tool for life.

You’ll have the ability to give Reiki to yourself and, if you choose, to your family, friends, and even pets. With just 15 minutes a day, you’ll be able to support your emotional well-being, reduce stress, and create a sense of balance that stays with you throughout the day.

What many students notice after class is not just how much they’ve learned—but how much they’ve remembered. Reiki reconnects you with your natural intuition, your inner calm, and your capacity to self-heal.

You’ll also receive:

• A printed (US only) or digital Reiki course manual
• Lifetime access to the Reiki Resource Center
• An invitation to join our private Facebook community
• Optional support for deepening your practice over time

You’ll gain the tools for self-healing—and the confidence to continue.

👉 If you’re wondering whether Reiki is something you can learn, this will help:
Can Anyone Learn Reiki?

Ready to Begin Your Reiki Journey?

There’s no perfect time to begin—only the moment when you feel the quiet nudge that you’re ready.

Whether you’re looking for tools to support your emotional well-being, wanting to reconnect with your body and intuition, or simply feeling curious about energy healing, Reiki Level 1 offers a gentle, powerful way in.

You don’t have to know how it will unfold. You just have to be open.

As you consider whether to take this next step, remember: you don’t need to have it all figured out. Reiki meets you where you are — and the first class is simply the doorway.

When you feel called to begin, the first step is waiting.

👉 Explore Reiki Level 1 Training Options and take your place in the circle.