The first time you come in for a session, you often arrive with a mixture of curiosity and uncertainty. What will happen? Do you need to believe in something for it to work? Will you be expected to do anything?
These questions are completely normal. Here is what happens in practice.
Before the Session
There is no special preparation required. You can eat normally beforehand.
Come at your own pace. If you are running late or arrive early, simply send me a message. I much prefer that you arrive calmly—even if you are a few minutes off schedule—rather than rushing. The goal of the session is to regulate the parasympathetic nervous system. Starting off stressed by the commute goes against that purpose.
Dress comfortably. You will remain fully clothed throughout the session. Choose loose, comfortable clothing in which you can easily relax. The cabinet temperature is regulated—heating, blankets, and air conditioning are available depending on the season, ensuring you will feel neither too cold nor too hot.
I will ask you to turn off your phone—not out of strict protocol, but because a single notification is enough to reactivate the sympathetic nervous system and undo what we are building together.
The session begins with a short discussion lasting a few minutes: how you are sleeping, how your digestion is doing, how you are feeling overall, and what brought you in. This is not a medical evaluation—it is a way to understand where you are at so the session can be adapted to what you need that day. If you have areas of pain or physical discomfort, this is the time to let me know. If you have a habit or pattern you want to address, we can also set up together an intention before the treatment begins.
During the Session
You lie down fully clothed on a massage table in a room with relaxing background music. I will have explained where I will place my hands prior to beginning, and I will have asked for your consent before starting. There will be no surprises during the treatment.
No two sessions are identical from one person to another, or even from one session to the next. I work based on what you shared and what I perceive during the session. Depending on your current state, I begin either with LaHoChi (often starting with the head and crown chakra) or with Traditional Usui Reiki in the Hawayo Takata style (which classically begins at the abdomen). If you are particularly tense or "stuck in your head," I may use a tuning fork to help you settle back into your body before even placing my hands.
Reiki hand positions are held between 2.5 and 3 minutes each. LaHoChi positions are held between 6 and 12 minutes—this longer duration is one of the reasons physical sensations are often more pronounced with LaHoChi.
You don't need to do anything. You don't have to concentrate, visualize, or "try to feel" anything. If you fall in and out of sleep, that is perfect. It isn't deep sleep; it is the hypnagogic state—a transitional state where the nervous system deeply regulates itself. That is exactly where we want to go.
What people most commonly feel:
A tingling sensation—almost systematic when starting with LaHoChi at the crown chakra.
Localized warmth under my hands.
Occasional small muscle twitches as the body releases accumulated tension.
Some people feel nothing specific at all, which is completely normal—physiological benefits are occurring regardless.
After the Session
Plan for a quiet moment afterward. Many people feel like taking a slow walk, resting, or drinking water.
Over the 24 to 48 hours following the session, a few adjustments may take place as your body integrates what occurred:
Temporary fatigue: Energy continues its work after you step off the table. This is not a sign that something went wrong—it is often quite the opposite.
Surfacing emotions: The body takes advantage of this space to release what it no longer needs to hold onto. This is temporary and healthy.
A feeling of deep rest: You may feel exceptionally well-rested after your first night and wake up with a regained sense of new energy.
Drink more water than usual. There is no strict rule—simply stay hydrated. Water helps you further flush out the stagnant energy.
Keep your day simple. It is not the ideal time to make major decisions or engage in difficult conversations. Emotions may lie closer to the surface than usual, which is normal. Let the work take place.
How Often Should You Return?
A single session can produce real results—a reset, a breather, a moment for yourself. That in itself is significant.
For those wishing to establish a regular practice, I most often recommend a monthly or seasonal session. Not an intensive regimen—simply an appointment with yourself at a pace that fits naturally into your life.
I reach back out to you 21 days after the session to see how you are feeling. This timeframe is not arbitrary: it is a recurring figure in Reiki tradition and represents the point where initial effects have fully integrated. That is when we can evaluate together if a follow-up session makes sense for you.
If you would like to experience the combined benefits of Reiki and LaHoChi, feel free to book an appointment.
About the Practitioner:
Cédric Suming is a Usui Ryōhō Reiki Master Teacher, trained in person at the San Francisco Reiki Center. He also practices LaHoChi and 13th Octave LaHoChi. Founder of Centre Reiki, 58 rue d'Argout, Paris 2e.
Disclaimer: Reiki supports well-being; it does not replace medical treatment. If you are navigating a difficult health situation, please consult a healthcare professional alongside your sessions.
