Your Healing Practice
Becoming a reiki practitioner, whether as your full-time job or a part-time pursuit or hobby, can be an incredibly rewarding experience. You have the opportunity to help others remember their True Self and facilitate body-mind-soul healing, while also deepening your personal practice with reiki. Opening a healing practice also comes with its fair share of challenges, and in the next few chapters we’ll cover everything from client communication and ethics to space and legal requirements to help you put your best foot forward.
Getting Started
First things first, if you want to set up shop as a reiki practitioner, a basic level of knowledge is required. Most people attend a course, perhaps following the traditional three-level structure described in Chapter 9. We might categorize the areas of required knowledge in the following way:
1. The system of reiki (what is reiki, historical overview of reiki, five precepts, hand positions, symbols and mantras, reiki techniques, etc.)
2. Conducting a healing session (client communication, intake and documentation, performing the treatment, aftercare, etc.)
3. Running a business (setting up the space, legal requirements, record keeping, accounting, marketing, etc.)
A well-taught course will cover the first point thoroughly, and you will typically be taught the basics of conducting a healing session as well. How much individual teachers discuss the business aspect varies. In earlier chapters, we covered the first category at length. In this and the following chapter, we’ll explore points two and three, starting with choosing the right space for your practice.
Choosing a Space
The first consideration is whether to operate out of your home or a separate business location. While each situation is unique, here are some points to help you make an informed decision.
Safety
Do you want clients knowing where you live? If you work only via word of mouth and clients must be referred or vetted by someone you know, this might not be an issue, but if you promote your services via a website or other publicly available medium, this is definitely something to think about.
Personal versus Professional Space
Will clients have to walk through personal areas of your home to reach the treatment room? Those areas would need to be kept clean and free from tripping hazards and other liabilities. Also, consider any decor or other items that may present an image counter to the tone you wish to set for your business.
Client-Household Interactions
Will other household members be present? The treatment room needs to provide privacy and some measure of separation from distracting sounds. Clients might not want to have to interact with other household members before or after their session.
Facilities and Access
Is there a clean restroom available? Is there a safe place for your clients to park? Will clients’ vehicles pose an issue with your neighbors? Is the entrance to your home clean and free of hazards?
Environment
Do you have pets? Some clients are allergic to or uncomfortable around animals, and some pets make noise that can be distracting during a treatment. Do you smoke? Again, some clients are allergic or simply dislike the smell of smoke.
There is also the challenge of maintaining professional boundaries when working out of your home. Some practitioners have a separate entrance to their treatment space or a detached building on their property, both of which create an added layer of separation between work and home, but if that setup isn’t available, you will need to be particularly attentive to boundaries. If you offer clients a cup of tea in your kitchen afterward, they might come to expect an extra twenty to thirty minutes of your time after every session, and this also blurs the separation between your office space and your personal living areas. Do clients have to walk through your bedroom to access the bathroom? To me, this invites a layer of intimacy that is inappropriate in client relationships.
If you opt for a separate business location, here are some points to consider:
• Rent (Does this include utilities? Internet access?)
• Location (Is it safe? Convenient for you and your clients?)
• Is there parking?
• Is this a private or shared space? If shared, who are your officemates?
• What’s the noise level like?
• Is there a restroom?
• Is the space accessible (elevator, ramp, etc.)?
• Do you have to commit to a lease? If so, for how long?
• Who takes care of repairs?
• Is there sufficient room for your treatment table and any other supplies that you use?
Setting Up Your Space
Once you’ve secured a location for your practice, it’s time to get the room set up for business! Here are tips for making the space as comfortable and inviting as possible.
Treatment Table
Look for a massage table or reiki table, which can be found online, at some massage/salon supply retailers, or, if you’re lucky, on Craigslist or yard sales. A reiki table differs from a massage table in that it’s missing the lower cross beam or panel at the head, making it easier for you to sit at the client’s head without bumping your knees into the table. I have a massage table, since I also offer bodywork, and, quite honestly, the panel has never been an issue, but ideally, test out a table before you buy to see if it’s a good match for your body. Tables are adjustable in height, so be sure to experiment to find a setting that works best for you. A general rule of thumb is to stand next to the table and let your arm hang freely. In this position, set the table at the height where your knuckles are brushing the tabletop. Many tables include a face cradle or headrest, which is used when the client is prone (face down), and some companies offer packages that include a stool and various bolsters.
Stool
You’ll need something to sit on for part (or all) of the treatment, and I like to use a stool with wheels so I can maneuver without taking my hands off the client to drag a chair around. I only use a stool when working at the head and sometimes at the feet, preferring to stand for the rest of the session, but do whatever feels best for your body.
Linens
Some practitioners use a bare table, wiping it down with a cleaner between clients (make sure to check which cleaners are suitable for your table so you don’t damage the upholstery). Personally, I don’t like the feel of the bare table when I’m receiving a reiki treatment, so I prefer to use linens. You can buy linens especially for massage tables, although most twin sheet sets will also fit. With sheet sets, you would need to buy face cradle covers separately. Use clean linens for each client. Another nice option is to buy a table warmer, which is a heating pad sized to the table and designed to be used under the fitted sheet. Do not use a regular electric blanket, as many of them come with instructions to not place the blanket under the body and to only use it as a covering.
Bolster
While there are many options available, the only bolster I use for the majority of my sessions is a round bolster designed to fit under the knees when the client is supine (face up) or under the ankles in the prone position (face down). You can buy fabric bolster covers, or you can slide the bolster underneath the bottom sheet so it’s not touching your client’s skin or clothing directly. You might also have a pillow handy for clients who wish to have something under their head when they’re supine. Be sure to have extra pillowcases and change them between clients.
Temperature
In my office, I have a fan and a space heater so I can adjust the temperature of my room independent of my officemates, and I can also alter the temperature throughout the session to suit the client. Some people tend to run hot or cold, and it’s nice to be able to adjust as needed. Comfy blankets are also good to have on hand.
Lighting
I like to find a happy medium between bright enough to safely see and muted enough to create a relaxing atmosphere. I have a few tabletop lamps situated around the room, as well as a string of white lights around the ceiling. Fluorescent lighting is, in my opinion, a major bummer, from the glaring light to the distracting hum, so I avoid using it in my treatment spaces.
Music
I love creating playlists, and I use a subscription service that allows me to play an unlimited number of songs for a flat, low monthly fee. Regardless of what you use, choose music that is soothing, unobtrusive, and instrumental, as most lyrics can be distracting. Remember, too, that you will be listening to this music, sometimes all day, which is why I like to regularly create fresh playlists!
Storage
Clients often like a place to sit while they’re taking off their shoes, as well as a spot to store their belongings during the session. I like to have a couple of wall hooks for coats and purses, as well as a little table with a tray for jewelry, watches, and so on. Having a special area for these items reduces the chance of them getting lost or forgotten when the client leaves.
Mirror
This is optional, but many clients like to give themselves a once over when they get off the table, smoothing down their hair, and so on.
Toiletries
In the session space there should be tissues and a trash can. Make sure there is an accessible restroom that is clean and well-stocked.
Safety
Go over the room and make sure there aren’t any hazards, such as cords or rugs that someone might trip on. Is your office equipped with working smoke detectors? Make sure you regularly refresh the batteries. This responsibility might fall on the building manager or owner, but is the entrance clear and free of hazards, such as ice and snow? Is the parking area safe and well lit?
Fun Details
What sort of decor will you include in your space? Plants and crystals are a natural choice for healing rooms, but get creative! Some practitioners like to have a picture of Mikao Usui in their office or a copy of the five precepts.
The Energetic Space
In addition to the physical space, your healing practice consists of the energetic space you create. The physical details influence the energy, of course, which is why it’s so valuable to attend to those details with care and intention. In Jikiden Reiki (see Appendix A), the placement of the scroll containing the five precepts and the head of the treatment table are taken into consideration by orienting them in the area with the highest energy, known as the kamiza. I like to move through the space and intuitively get a sense of the energy flow in the room. For example, is there a path that you tend to travel whenever you enter the room? If so, try to avoid blocking that path with furniture or clutter. What is the first area that draws your attention when you open the door? That might be a wonderful spot to place the precepts, pleasing artwork, plants, or eye-catching crystals. Is there a spot that feels a little blah or easily overlooked? Spend some extra time there when cleansing the space (instructions follow).
I like to do more involved energetic cleansings at regular intervals, along with smaller cleansings on a daily basis. I time my major cleansings with the sabbats or seasonal holidays, but you can choose any dates that feel significant or that will be easy for you to remember, such as four times a year at the start of a new season or every new moon.
Energetic Deep Clean
Draw Symbol One on both palms, chanting the mantra three times, and then start by physically cleaning the space, wiping down all surfaces with a natural cleanser, sweeping or vacuuming the floor, and taking out the trash. Get into all the nooks and crannies, vacuuming under any rugs, opening drawers and wiping them down, and so forth. As you clean, intend that you are removing any unwanted or harmful energies. Once that’s complete, draw a large Symbol One in the center of the room, and see it expanding to fill the entire space as you chant the mantra three times, intending that reiki is purifying the space on all levels. I like to pair this with smudging using sage smoke, but that’s entirely optional. If you do use smoke, make sure you don’t set off any smoke alarms. You could also use sage or Florida water spray instead.
Once the space has been energetically cleared, I like to fill the space with reiki, and I do this by drawing Symbol One on all the walls, the floor and the ceiling, and in the corners. I then stand in gasshô, eyes closed, and envision a beautiful web-like matrix of reiki filling the entire space. You might also charge some crystals (see Chapter 15) and place them around the room. I like to take crystals like black tourmaline, smoky quartz, or hematite and charge them with the intention of absorbing and neutralizing any harmful energies, and I situate them about the room, including underneath the treatment table. Be sure to cleanse any crystals on a regular basis (see Chapter 15).
Energetic Touch-Ups
Each day when I arrive at my office, I take some time in my treatment space, hands in gasshô, eyes closed, practicing jôshin kokyû hô (page 230), intending that reiki is purifying me and the space. I call upon my spirit guides to be present, I give thanks for my work, and I set my intention to be of divine service through my every thought, word, and deed. The entire process need take no longer than five to ten minutes. You might use this time to recite the precepts or any other practices that feel meaningful for you, intending that these practices are cleansing and raising the vibration of you and your healing space. In between clients, I like to use kenyoku hô (page 229) to make a clean break and transition. If the energy in the room starts to feel off and you don’t have time to do a more thorough cleansing, draw Symbol One, and see it expanding to fill the room with the intention that all harmful energies are neutralized and reiki is permeating the space.
Legal Requirements
In addition to setting up the space, you also need to ensure that you’re complying with local and state regulations, and these can be divided into general business requirements and reiki-specific requirements. Very few areas currently have legal guidelines specific to reiki practice, but be sure to check your local governing bodies to make sure. A good place to start is the local massage therapy board, if this exists. They should be able to point you toward any legislation relevant to reiki practitioners. In particular, find out if you are permitted to place your hands directly on the client or if you need a license to touch in order to do so. Many states allow physical contact without a license (excepting privacy areas, of course), provided you are not manipulating the tissue in any way, which would be classified as massage.
Insurance
It’s a very good idea to obtain insurance for your practice, and there are many affordable options available. Do an online search for “reiki practitioner insurance” to see what’s available in your area. A suitable plan will include both professional liability (protects against malpractice, meaning errors or negligence on your part) and general liability (protects against accidents, injury, or damage that occurs while the client is at your place of business), and some plans also include product liability, which covers your treatment table and other equipment. Be sure to check the specifics of the coverage limits. Some companies offer what’s called a “shared limit,” meaning that the money available is shared by everyone insured by this company, while others set an individual limit.
Business License
In terms of business requirements, even if you are operating out of your home you may need to secure a business license. As a massage therapist, I need to have a business license from the state massage board and a separate business license issued by the city. If I were only practicing reiki, I would need to have the city business license, even if my practice was in my home. If you sell products, you will also need a sales tax license, sometimes called a reseller’s license. In most cases, licenses can be easily obtained, often online, so don’t let these requirements scare you. I was able to take care of the majority of these things in an afternoon.
Taxes
And on the topic of taxes, make sure you are tracking your income so you can remit the appropriate tax. If you’re new to business ownership, it’s a good idea to meet with a qualified accountant or get a good book on basic business finances (look for books tailored to the sole proprietor, which is what you are considered if you’re running a practice on your own), so you know the basics of how much money to set aside for taxes and how often you need to remit them. Depending on where you live, reiki may or may not be considered a taxable service. In many areas, physical products are taxable, so if you sell products, you’ll need a method for separating any sales tax collected from your business funds so you can remit it at the proper time.
Charging for Your Services
To determine a price for your services, start by doing a little research into what other practitioners in your area are offering. If you can’t find reiki locally, you can compare to massage prices. In many areas, reiki treatment prices are a bit less than massage, perhaps 10 to 20 percent less. Once you get a general sense of the going rate, now it’s time to decide what length of session you would like to offer, with standard treatments often falling in the thirty-minute to ninety-minute range. The length depends on a variety of factors, such as these:
• Your physical and energetic stamina
• What you intend to offer in each session and allowing yourself enough time to do so
• Adequate time to discuss the client’s intake form, questions, and concerns
Also, consider what length of time would be worth commuting to your office for, if applicable, before offering very short treatment times. If it takes you forty-five minutes to get to your office, and you’re at a stage of your business where you only see one client a day, you might not want to offer thirty-minute sessions.
Once you decide on the session lengths you will be offering, it’s time to set your prices. Here’s one process for calculating smart prices:
1. Decide on your desired annual income from your practice. How much do you want to make in a year? This number should be achievable and sustainable, meaning you can live off of this amount without running yourself into the ground with overtime.
2. Decide on how many weeks per year you would like to be able to take off for vacation. This is important! Your self-care practice is vital to the success of your practice, so don’t skip this step. Subtract the number of vacation weeks from fifty-two to determine the number of weeks you’ll be working each year.
3. Divide your desired annual income by the number of working weeks. This is how much you would need to make each week.
4. Determine what feels like a good number of sessions to perform each day. I limit myself to four sessions, which can range from an hour to two hours each, with a total daily limit of eight hours. Once you have your daily number, multiply that by the number of days you’ll be working in a week.
5. Take the number from step 3 (your weekly desired income) and divide it by the number from step 4 (hours worked per week). The result is the hourly rate you would need to charge to reach your desired annual income.
This process gives you a good starting point, and it can provide a helpful reality check, too. If your desired annual income is $100,000, you may find this isn’t reasonable for your first year in practice after you run these numbers, and this allows you to make some adjustments to your business plan. How does this number compare to the rates of other local practitioners? While there are many ways to differentiate your services and thereby justify higher rates, if your prices are significantly higher than the average, you will need to effectively communicate the added value that your services offer—and deliver on those claims!
On the topic of charging, you’ll need to decide which forms of payment you accept. While credit cards do come with a transaction fee, I find that the convenience they offer your clients far outweighs the fees. The vast majority of my clients prefer to pay with a card, and as someone who rarely carries cash myself, I appreciate not having to run to an ATM prior to visiting other practitioners. Some clients will pay cash, though, so be sure to have some smaller bills handy in case you need to make change. If you’re accepting cards, there are many convenient card processing options available now, and an internet search will help you decide which one has the features you need. If you decide to offer an online appointment booking option, many of those systems come with a built-in payment option that will allow the client to prepay online, or, depending on the system, in person as well, generally via a smartphone app with a card reader.
Now that you know the ins and outs of setting up shop, in the next chapter we’ll explore the basics of conducting a reiki healing session.