I found the practice of Reiki – or should I say it found me – in 2011 quite serendipitously. At first I thought I’d study Reiki in order to help my massage clients and to help my brother-in-law who was recovering from paralysis. In short, I thought Reiki would be a way for me to help others. Then, in the first workshop I took, I had an experience that all but shouted at me: “This is for you! Reiki is for YOU! You are ready to heal!” Since then, Reiki has been a constant companion in my own healing from trauma and just being human and has also been instrumental in my personal and professional growth.

To me, the teachings of Reiki all point to the importance of our relationship with ourselves. Reiki continues to teach me and support me in working through layers of fear, anxiety and anger that keep me disconnected from who I really am. And when I cut through those things, I can show up in the world as a more resilient and compassionate human being.

During this time especially, it feels important to share the system of Reiki with others, to offer it not only as something you can experience in a session with a Reiki practitioner, but as a set of tools, practices and principles that can be used to support our individual and collective spiritual growth. And so it is, at the nudging of some very special students, that I began teaching in my own space again in February 2026.

I’ve studied three Reiki lineages, and the more Japanese style (read: traditional) is what most resonates with me. One of the aspects of the Japanese style of teaching that has resonated with me most deeply is that it’s not just about the hands-on sessions; in fact, there’s so much more! These additional teachings all lend themselves to deepening our own spiritual practice and strengthening our own Reiki energy. In Level I Reiki, they include instruction in Japanese Reiki meditation techniques and a deep dive into Reiki’s spiritual precepts. I also share four Reijus (initiations/blessings) in the Level I class. And of course I introduce students to hands-on healing for self and others.

Whether you’ve studied Reiki before or are completely new to these teachings, this class will deepen your understanding of the conceptual and spiritual underpinnings of this powerful system and, if you practice the techniques that will be shared, will deepen your relationship with yourself and the world around you.

Another aspect of the IHR’s style of teaching that I absolutely love is that it is extremely well organized into a clear system. I have always used an agenda, slides and handouts to provide structure and clarity in my classes, and the IHR’s approach reinforces my inclination to make Reiki as accessible as possible to students because it can be tricky and intimidating at first.

Some people mistakenly believe Reiki just for the gifted few, or that it is magic. I believe that is because at its core, Reiki is formless, which makes it incredibly flexible and beautiful and life affirming, but can also make it challenging for people to wrap their heads around at first. The system of Reiki that I’ll be teaching gives form to the formless. And, side note, that makes it even more conducive to being taught online!

And check out this blog post from this October 2019 to read about my experience in Frans Stiene’s Shinpiden class.