One of the funny things about being a Reiki practitioner is that we're often the first to encourage everyone else to slow down.

"Have you made time for yourself?"

"Remember your Self Reiki."

"Don't forget to rest."

Excellent advice...

...until life decides otherwise.

One minute you're helping your child with their homework, the next you're checking whether the dog has enough water during another Spanish heatwave. The washing machine is beeping, your phone won't stop buzzing, someone needs something, dinner somehow hasn't made itself, and before you know it, it's nine o'clock and you're wondering where the day went.

Then comes that little voice.

"I really should do my Self Reiki."

So you sit down, place your hands on your heart...

...and promptly fall asleep.

If you've ever done that, welcome to the club.

The truth is, even Reiki practitioners lose touch with their own practice sometimes. Not because we don't believe in it. Not because it isn't important. Simply because life has a remarkable talent for pulling us in twelve different directions at once.

And that's okay.

Your Reiki isn't keeping score.

It isn't disappointed because you missed yesterday... or last week... or even last month.

It's simply there, patiently waiting for you to return.

That's what this is about.

Not creating the perfect Reiki practice.

Just finding your way back.

Why Twenty Minutes Is Enough

There's a common misconception that a "proper" Reiki session needs to last an hour.
In reality, twenty minutes can be wonderfully restorative.
It's long enough to slow your breathing.
Long enough for your shoulders to realise they don't need to live somewhere around your ears.
Long enough to remember that you're a person, not just someone ticking jobs off a never-ending list.
Some days, twenty minutes is all we have.
And that's more than enough.
(Although five minutes also has its benefits, so don't shy away because of the time. Some Reiki is always better than no Reiki.)

Creating a Little Corner of Peace

You don't need a dedicated Reiki room or a house overlooking a lake. Most of us are working with real homes filled with real life.

Perhaps the dishwasher is running, or the children are finally occupied for twenty minutes.

Perhaps the cat has decided your lap is the perfect place for a nap.

Perfect. Your space doesn't need to be silent. It just needs to feel safe enough for you to pause. A comfortable chair, a cosy blanket, or your favourite corner of the sofa is more than enough. Reiki has never asked for perfection. Only presence.

Let Nature Hold the Space

One thing I've noticed over the years is how much easier it is to settle when there's a gentle atmosphere around you.

Not music demanding your attention.

Not guided meditation telling you what to think.

Just a peaceful backdrop that quietly melts into the room.

That's exactly why I created my English Manor Garden in Bloom ambience.

Imagine sitting in a beautiful summer garden. Birds are singing, flowers are gently swaying in the breeze, and somewhere in the distance there's the softest hint of a woman quietly humming to herself.

Nothing dramatic.

Nothing to achieve.

Just a peaceful place to land.

You can let it play while you practise Self Reiki, write in your journal, read a chapter of your book, or simply close your eyes for a little while.

🎥 Watch the Summer Garden ambience here:

A Gentle 20 Minute Self Reiki Practice

Forget trying to get everything exactly right.

There isn't a Reiki examiner hiding behind the curtains.

Simply allow yourself to be present.

Minutes 1–3: Arrive

Close your eyes.

Take a slow breath in.

And another.

Notice how your body feels today, without trying to change anything.

Set a gentle intention.

"May I receive whatever I need today."

That's enough.

Minutes 3–7: Head & Eyes

Rest your hands on your head or forehead.

Some days your thoughts will slow.

Some days they'll wander off to tomorrow's shopping list.

Both are perfectly normal.

Just notice them... and come back to your breath.

Minutes 7–11: Throat & Heart

Move your hands to your throat or your heart.

Many practitioners say this feels like coming home.

Stay here for several quiet breaths.

Minutes 11–15: Solar Plexus

Place your hands over your upper abdomen.

Notice your breathing becoming softer.

Imagine each exhale making a little more room inside you.

Minutes 15–19: Lower Abdomen

Rest your hands below your navel.

Feel supported.

Grounded.

Exactly as you are today.

Minute 20: Gratitude

Bring your hands together in Gassho.

Take one final deep breath.

Thank yourself.

Not because you did Reiki perfectly.

But because, despite everything life threw at you today, you still found twenty minutes to care for yourself.

Afterwards...

Don't rush straight back into emails.

Or the washing.

Or deciding what's for dinner.

Stay where you are for another minute if you can.

Drink a glass of water.

Write a few thoughts in your journal.

Or simply enjoy the feeling of having nowhere else to be for just a little while.

Need a Little More Support?

If you're feeling disconnected from yourself, remember that you don't have to do everything alone.
Alongside teaching Reiki, I also offer personalised **distance Reiki sessions**, giving you the opportunity to fully relax while someone else holds the space for a change.

One Last Thought

If nobody has reminded you recently... You deserve the same kindness you offer everyone else. The same patience, compassion and healing.

Life will always be busy. There will always be another job to do, another message to answer, another load of washing waiting to be folded. But your Reiki practice doesn't have to be perfect to be meaningful.

Sometimes, all it takes is twenty peaceful minutes in a blooming garden, listening to the birds, breathing a little slower, and remembering that you're allowed to pause too.

How to Do a 20 Minute Self Reiki Session at Home | A Gentle Guide