If you have received a Reiki session and felt something shift, the natural next question is: can I learn to do this myself? The answer is yes. Reiki is not a gift reserved for special people. It is a skill that can be taught, learned, and developed through a structured training process.
But the training process has layers. You do not go from complete beginner to Reiki Master in a weekend, despite what some advertisements might suggest. The traditional path involves three distinct levels, each building on the last, each requiring integration time before moving forward.
Understanding these levels matters whether you want to learn Reiki yourself or simply want to know what your practitioner’s credentials mean. A Level 1 practitioner is not the same as a Level 2 practitioner, and neither is the same as a Master. The differences are real and significant.
Before You Commit
Level 1 is right if: You want to practice Reiki on yourself. You are curious about energy work but not ready to commit professionally. You want a structured introduction before deciding to go deeper.
Level 2 is right if: You want to work on others. friends, family, or eventually clients. You want distance healing capability. You have completed Level 1 and practiced consistently for at least a few weeks.
Master training is right if: You feel called to teach. You have practiced Level 2 for at least a year. You are ready for the responsibility of attuning others. You are not doing it just for the title.
Training is probably not right if: You expect immediate mastery. You want credentials without practice commitment. You are uncomfortable with the spiritual/energetic framework. You need something regulated and evidence-based. consider massage therapy instead.
| Level | Japanese Name | Primary Focus | Typical Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Shoden | Self-healing, basic hand positions | 1-2 days |
| Level 2 | Okuden | Treating others, symbols, distance healing | 1-2 days |
| Master | Shinpiden | Teaching, giving attunements | 2-3 days |
How Reiki Training Works: The Attunement Process
Before explaining the levels, you need to understand what makes Reiki training different from other forms of education.
When you learn massage, you study anatomy and practice techniques until you can perform them skillfully. The knowledge transfers through study and practice. When you learn Reiki, something additional happens: you receive an attunement.
An attunement is a ritual performed by a Reiki Master that opens the student’s ability to channel Reiki energy. The Japanese term is Reiju, which translates roughly as “giving spirit.” During the ceremony, the Master performs specific movements and uses intention to create an energetic connection between the student and the universal life force energy that Reiki practitioners work with.
This is the part that sounds mystical, because it is mystical. There is no scientific mechanism to explain attunements. Either you believe they do something or you do not. But within the Reiki tradition, attunements are considered essential. You cannot simply read a book and become a Reiki practitioner. You must receive an attunement from someone who has the authority to give one, and that authority comes from their own attunement lineage stretching back to Mikao Usui, the founder of Reiki.
Each level of training includes at least one attunement. Some teachers give multiple attunements within a level. The number varies by lineage and teaching style, but the principle is consistent: attunement opens access to a new level of Reiki energy and ability.
Level 1: The Foundation
Level 1 is called Shoden in Japanese, meaning “first teaching” or “beginner level.” This is where everyone starts, regardless of background or experience.
Level 1 focuses on self-practice. You learn to channel Reiki energy primarily to heal yourself. While you can give Reiki to others after Level 1, the emphasis is on working with your own body, your own energy, your own healing needs.
What you typically learn in Level 1:
You will learn the history and origins of Reiki. Who was Mikao Usui? How did he develop the practice? How did it spread from Japan to the West? This context helps you understand what you are participating in.
You will learn the five Reiki principles. These are ethical guidelines that form the philosophical foundation of practice: do not anger, do not worry, be grateful, work diligently, be kind to others. Different teachers phrase them differently, but the core concepts are consistent.
Basic understanding of energy. What is ki, chi, or prana? How does energy flow in the body? What are chakras and why do they matter? You are not expected to become an expert in energetic anatomy, but you need a working framework.
Hand positions for self-treatment. There is a standard sequence of positions covering the head, torso, and extremities. You learn where to place your hands and how long to hold each position. This becomes your daily self-practice.
Finally, the attunement itself. Most Level 1 trainings include one to four attunements, depending on the teacher’s lineage. After attunement, many students report feeling warmth or tingling in their hands. Some feel nothing obvious but notice changes over the following days or weeks.
Level 1 training typically happens over one or two days. Some teachers spread it over multiple sessions. The course usually includes lecture, demonstration, practice time, and the attunement ceremony.
After Level 1, you are encouraged to practice self-Reiki daily for at least 21 days. This period allows the attunement to integrate. You are establishing a new relationship with energy, and that relationship needs time to develop.
Level 2: The Practitioner
Level 2 is called Okuden in Japanese, meaning “inner teaching” or “hidden level.” At this stage, Reiki expands beyond self-practice into working with others and introduces more advanced techniques.
Level 2’s hallmark is the introduction of Reiki symbols. These are specific shapes that are drawn or visualized during Reiki practice. Each symbol has a name, a form, and a purpose. The symbols act as tools to focus intention and amplify or direct the Reiki energy.
Traditionally, the symbols were kept secret. Students were not allowed to write them down or share them with non-practitioners. This secrecy has eroded in the internet age, and you can find the symbols published in books and websites. But within the training context, they are still treated as sacred tools to be used with respect.
Three primary Level 2 symbols are:
Power Symbol (Cho Ku Rei). This symbol is used to increase the power or intensity of Reiki energy. It is often used at the beginning of a session to activate the energy or during a session to focus on a particular area.
Harmony Symbol (Sei He Ki). This symbol is associated with emotional and mental healing. It is used when working with psychological issues, habits, emotional trauma, or mental imbalances.
Distance Symbol (Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen). This symbol enables Reiki to be sent across time and space. With it, you can give Reiki to someone who is not physically present. You can also send Reiki to past events or future situations.
Distance healing is where Reiki moves furthest from conventional understanding. The idea that you can direct healing energy to someone in another city, or to an event that happened years ago, challenges basic assumptions about causality and locality. This is part of why Reiki is controversial. Either you accept that something is happening at a distance, or you dismiss it as wishful thinking. Level 2 training does not resolve this tension; it teaches you the technique and lets your experience inform your beliefs.
Beyond symbols, Level 2 training covers:
Giving Reiki sessions to others. You learn proper positioning, session flow, client communication, and professional boundaries. Reiki becomes something you can offer as a service.
Byosen scanning. Some lineages teach this technique, which involves using your hands to sense areas of energetic imbalance in a client’s body. The hands may feel heat, tingling, or other sensations that indicate where Reiki is needed.
Expanded understanding of the energetic body. Level 2 often goes deeper into chakras, meridians, auras, and other frameworks for understanding how energy operates.
Level 2 attunement typically happens in a single ceremony, though practices vary. The attunement is said to raise your capacity to channel Reiki energy. some teachers claim by orders of magnitude.
Most teachers recommend waiting at least three to six months between Level 1 and Level 2. This allows time to practice what you have learned, to experience the effects of the first attunement fully, and to confirm that Reiki is something you want to pursue more deeply.
After Level 2, you are qualified to practice Reiki professionally if you choose. Many practitioners stop here. They use Reiki in their personal lives, perhaps offer sessions to friends and family, and some build professional practices. Level 2 gives you everything you need to work effectively with others.
Master Level: The Teacher
In Japanese, the Master level is called Shinpiden, meaning “mystery teaching” or “innermost teaching.” This level prepares you to teach Reiki and to give attunements to others.
Some schools divide this into two stages: Master Practitioner (sometimes called Level 3 or 3A), where you receive the Master attunement and symbols but do not yet teach, and Master Teacher (sometimes called Level 3B or 4), where you learn to conduct trainings and give attunements. Other schools combine these into a single Master training. The terminology is inconsistent across lineages.
What distinguishes Master level:
Master Symbol (Dai Ko Myo). This is called the “great enlightened being” symbol and is considered the most powerful in Usui Reiki. It is used to connect more deeply with universal energy and is essential for giving attunements.
You will learn the attunement process itself. As a Master, you learn to perform attunements for students at all levels. This is the mechanism by which Reiki lineage continues. You become a link in the chain that stretches back to Usui.
Teaching methodology. How do you structure a Level 1 class? How do you explain concepts to beginners? How do you handle students’ questions and experiences? Master training prepares you to guide others on their Reiki journey.
Deeper spiritual understanding. Master level often addresses the philosophical and spiritual dimensions of Reiki in more depth. What does it mean to be a channel for universal energy? What are your responsibilities as a teacher? How do you continue your own development?
Traditionally, the Master attunement is the most intensive. It is said to open your connection to Reiki to its fullest extent. Some teachers describe it as a permanent shift in consciousness.
Waiting periods before Master training are the longest. Most teachers recommend at least one year of practice at Level 2, and many recommend longer. The reason is not just skill development; it is maturity. Teaching Reiki to others is a responsibility. You are shaping how people understand and practice this tradition. That requires experience, wisdom, and humility that take time to develop.
Time Between Levels: Why It Matters
There is a temptation to move quickly through Reiki training. You feel excited after Level 1 and want to learn more. Some teachers will accommodate this by offering all levels in a single weekend.
This is controversial within the Reiki community.
Those who favor moving slowly argue that rushing undermines the depth of the practice. Each attunement triggers a process of energetic adjustment. You may experience physical symptoms as your body integrates the changes. You may have emotional releases. You may notice shifts in your perception and sensitivity. These processes take time, and practicing at your current level allows them to unfold naturally.
Those who favor moving faster argue that the waiting periods are artificial barriers, sometimes maintained because teachers profit from requiring separate courses for each level. They point out that Mikao Usui himself did not use a multi-year training timeline. The original Shoden and Okuden levels could be completed in days, not months. If someone is ready and committed, why make them wait?
Both perspectives have merit. The question is what you want from Reiki. If you want a credential quickly, accelerated training will give you that. If you want deep skill development and personal transformation, time and practice are irreplaceable. No attunement substitutes for hundreds of hours of hands-on experience.
Recommended minimums vary, but a conservative timeline looks like this:
After Level 1, practice self-Reiki daily for at least 21 days before considering Level 2. Many teachers recommend three months.
After Level 2, practice regularly for at least six months before considering Master training. Many teachers recommend one year or more.
After Master training, practice and ideally apprentice with an experienced teacher before offering your own trainings. The transition from student to teacher benefits from mentorship.
These are guidelines, not rules. Some people progress faster; some take longer. The point is that integration matters. A Master title without adequate practice behind it is an empty credential.
Finding Training in NYC
New York City offers Reiki training at all levels through wellness centers, holistic education programs, yoga studios, and private teachers. You will find options in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. The concentration of practitioners in the city means more choices than most places in the country, but also more variability in quality.
Manhattan tends to have the highest prices and the most options. Union Square, Chelsea, and the Upper West Side have established wellness communities. Brooklyn, particularly Park Slope, Williamsburg, and DUMBO, offers training that often costs less than Manhattan equivalents. Queens has a growing holistic health scene, especially in Astoria and Long Island City. Some teachers operate out of dedicated studios; others teach from home spaces or rented rooms in yoga centers.
What matters more than location is finding the right teacher. Questions to ask:
What is your lineage? A legitimate Reiki teacher can trace their attunement lineage back through a series of teachers to Mikao Usui. They should know who trained them, who trained their teacher, and so on.
How long have you been practicing and teaching? Experience matters. A teacher with ten years of practice and five years of teaching has encountered situations that a newer teacher has not.
What does your training include? How many hours? What topics? Is there a manual? Is there follow-up support?
What is your teaching style? Some teachers are more spiritual, some more practical. Some emphasize Japanese terminology and traditions, others have adapted the practice for Western contexts. Neither is wrong, but one may suit you better.
Can I meet you before committing? A reputable teacher will let you ask questions, and you may be able to attend a Reiki share or community event to experience their energy and approach before signing up for training.
Expect to invest $150 to $400 for Level 1 training in New York City, $250 to $500 for Level 2, and $500 to $1,500 or more for Master training. Higher prices do not necessarily mean better training; they may simply reflect the teacher’s market positioning or the venue’s overhead.
Common Training Mistakes
Rushing between levels. The 21-day integration period after Level 1 is not arbitrary. Your system needs time to adjust. Practitioners who stack levels back-to-back often report feeling overwhelmed or disconnected from the practice.
Choosing a teacher based on price alone. The cheapest option may cut corners on practice time or attunement quality. The most expensive may be overpriced. Ask about curriculum, practice hours, and lineage, not just cost.
Expecting the attunement to do all the work. Attunement opens the channel. Daily practice develops it. Practitioners who skip self-practice after training often find their sensitivity fades.
Pursuing Master level for the title. “Reiki Master” sounds impressive, but the title means little without teaching practice. If you do not intend to teach and attune others, Level 2 may be sufficient for your goals.
What Training Does Not Give You
Reiki training gives you knowledge, technique, and attunement. What it does not give you is mastery. That comes only through practice.
You will meet Level 1 practitioners whose energy feels more powerful than some people with Master titles. The difference is practice. How often do you give yourself Reiki? How many sessions have you given to others? How deeply have you explored your own energetic patterns and blockages?
Levels are a framework, not a hierarchy of quality. They indicate what you have been taught and attuned to, not how skilled you have become. A dedicated Level 2 practitioner who has done hundreds of sessions may be more effective than a recently trained Master who has done twenty.
Training opens doors. Walking through them, again and again, is what develops real capability.
The Deeper Purpose of Training
Beyond practical skills, Reiki training is a path of personal development. The attunements shift something in your relationship to yourself and to energy. The practice reveals patterns you did not know you had. The principles offer a framework for living with more awareness and intention.
Many people begin Reiki training expecting to learn a healing technique and find they have embarked on something larger. The technique is real and useful. But the transformation that happens in the practitioner is often the more significant gift.
Whether you are considering Level 1 to explore your own healing, Level 2 to help others, or Master training to teach, understand that you are entering a tradition with depth and history. Approach it with respect, choose your teachers carefully, and commit to practice. The levels will follow naturally from there.
Common Questions
How long does it take to complete all three levels?
There is no set timeline. Level 1 to Level 2 typically requires at least 21 days to 3 months of practice. Level 2 to Master often takes a year or more. Some practitioners never pursue Master training, and that is a valid choice.
How much does Reiki training cost in NYC?
Expect to pay $150 to $400 for Level 1, $250 to $500 for Level 2, and $500 to $1,500 or more for Master training. Prices vary by teacher reputation and training duration.
Can I practice on others after Level 1?
Technically yes, but Level 1 is designed primarily for self-practice. Most practitioners complete Level 2 before working regularly with others, as it provides distance healing and additional tools.
Do I need certification to practice Reiki professionally?
Reiki is unregulated in New York State. No license is required. However, completing training and receiving attunements from a qualified teacher is essential within the tradition. Reputable practitioners can document their training lineage.
Where can I find Reiki training in NYC?
Training is available throughout the city, with established teachers in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens. Look for teachers who can trace their lineage and who include substantial practice time, not just lecture.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Reiki is a complementary practice and should not replace professional medical treatment. If you have a health condition, consult a licensed healthcare provider before beginning any new wellness practice.