Why I dont teach Reiki online
If you learn reiki online you are missing out!
Reiki New Zealand recently announced that teachers can now apply for permission to teach reiki online. This is inline with what is happening overseas with many well know teachers like William Lee Rand at The International Center for Reiki Training (ICRT)offering online courses and sites like Udemy offering a 5 hour prerecorded Reiki course that certifies you in level 1, 2 & Reiki Master!
I actively avoid teaching online, although I admit during covid lockdowns I relented and did take my yoga classes online (even have photo evidence above!). Not so for Reiki though - I put those on hold as I don't believe students get the same experience online and didn't want anyone missing out on the magic!.
Yes I I know that Reiki is an abundant flow of universal energy which is not bound by distance or time. This means that you can give a distant reiki treatment or a reiki attunement and teach someone reiki on the other side of the world. With face to face learning over Zoom, Facebook live and Teams it is possible to run live classes where students can interact with each other and the teacher. There are also the obvious advantages to learning online, it is certainly more convenient in your own home and often less costly . So why then I am I so opposed to online learning, continue reading below for my reasons:
Disconnection
I believe society is moving dangerously in the wrong direction, with a huge reliance on technology for communication we are becoming more isolated and disconnected than ever before. Think about meeting a good friend or loved-one online. Yes it is possible to have a conversation and communicate clearly with them - but could it ever take the place of spending quality time in person with them?
At then end of each 2 day Reiki course we go around the group saying what we got out of the weekend. The number one thing that is repeated again and again is how amazing it is to connect with like minded people and not feel like the weird one in the room.
Practice and confidence
My students can read the manual and all the wonderful reiki books and articles on their own, but when they are with me they get the priceless opportunity to practice on each other. They get to feel how differently reiki flows, how we each have a unique energy signature, they get confidence placing hands on a real person and getting feedback on different techniques. I aim for students to have worked with at least 4 people, gaining confidence giving and receiving from a wide range of individuals - How can this possibly be experienced online?
Energetic Environment:
Reiki is not only about learning techniques, but also about cultivating an energetic environment for healing and transformation. In-person Reiki courses often create a supportive and energetic space where students can experience the energy of the group, learn from each other, and immerse themselves in the Reiki energy. This collective energy can enhance the learning process and create a more profound experience for the students. Our environment has a big effect on our energy levels. Screen time and electronic devices lowers our vibrational frequency. Being outdoors in nature raises it. I try to select locations for my courses where the vibrational energy is high.
Observational Learning
In an in-person Reiki course, students have the opportunity to observe the teacher demonstrating techniques and practices, as well as observe other students practicing. This observational learning can provide additional insights and understanding of Reiki techniques and practices that may not be as easily conveyed in an online course.
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I have had students show up to my classes previously studied reiki online and they always commented on how much more they learned, felt, shared and discovered in person.
