During a typical Reiki session, the recipient lies down fully clothed while the practitioner places their hands lightly on or near various parts of the recipient's body. The practitioner may follow a specific sequence of hand placements or may intuitively move their hands to areas that seem to need attention. The recipient often experiences sensations of warmth, tingling, or deep relaxation during the session.

While each session is different for people, most recipients report a feeling of deep relaxation, a warmth or tingling sensation, an emotional release, a floating sensation, and an increased awareness or mental clarity.

Reiki itself is not associated with a particular religion. It is often described as a spiritual practice or a healing technique that focuses on channeling universal life energy to promote balance and well-being. The practice of Reiki does not involve religious rituals, dogma, or specific beliefs. Instead, it is open to people of various spiritual backgrounds, belief systems, and cultures.