Most people feel gentle warmth where the practitioner's hands rest, a pleasant heaviness, and a drifting calm. Some fall asleep; some feel nothing at all, and that is normal too. A private one-hour session, fully clothed on a treatment table, in English across the Costa Blanca. €150.
In Brief
Most people feel gentle warmth where the practitioner's hands rest, a pleasant heaviness, and a drifting calm; some fall asleep, and some feel nothing at all, which is also normal. A session is one hour, fully clothed on a treatment table, 150 EUR, in English across the Costa Blanca.
According to the NCCIH, there is limited high-quality evidence for Reiki, and more rigorous studies are needed to determine its effectiveness for any health condition.
Source: NCCIH, Reiki
A systematic review of Reiki for anxiety and depression found that existing studies are small and of mixed quality, though some suggest Reiki may help reduce anxiety symptoms.
Source: PubMed, Reiki for Anxiety and Depression: Systematic Review
Reiki is hard to picture if you have never had a session, because it is not quite anything else. It is not a massage, not therapy, and not meditation you have to perform. That vagueness is exactly why the most common question we hear before a first booking is also the simplest: what does it actually feel like? Here is the honest answer, from what clients most often describe and what you can reasonably expect on the table.
A Reiki session at Altea Alchemy is a private, one-to-one hour in English. You lie fully clothed on a treatment table while the practitioner places hands lightly on, or just above, a sequence of points on the body. Most people feel warmth, heaviness, and a drifting calm; some feel very little, which is equally normal. Sessions are 150 EUR, in our Altea practice or as a home visit. Arrange through our Reiki service page or the contact form.
What Does Reiki Actually Feel Like During a Session?
The sensations people describe most often are gentle warmth where the hands rest, a pleasant heaviness in the limbs, and a mind that drifts somewhere between waking and sleep. Some notice mild tingling or a feeling of spaciousness behind the eyes. Many lose track of time entirely; an hour can feel like twenty minutes. A good number simply fall asleep, which practitioners take as a sign the nervous system has finally let go.
Just as common, and worth saying plainly: some people feel very little during the session itself. That does not mean nothing happened. The effects people report afterwards tend to be subtler and more practical, a deeper sleep that night, a quieter mind the next morning, shoulders that sit lower without being told to. Whether you read it as energy work or as an hour of profound rest, the nervous system does not much care about the explanation.
What Happens in a First Reiki Session?
A first session lasts about an hour and needs nothing from you. We talk briefly at the start so you can mention anything relevant, an injury, a condition, or simply what has been weighing on you, and then you settle onto the table fully clothed under a light blanket if you want one. The practitioner, Reiki Level 1 certified, works through a slow sequence of hand positions from the head down towards the feet, resting lightly or hovering just above each point. The room is quiet and warm. There is no pressure, no manipulation, and no need to keep up a conversation.
- • Fully clothed throughout, loose comfortable clothing is ideal
- • A proper treatment table, not a sofa or floor mat
- • Light touch or hands hovering just above the body, never manipulation
- • English-speaking practitioner, Reiki Level 1 certified
- • Home visits across Altea, Albir, Benidorm, Calpe, La Nucía, and Polop
- • 150 EUR per session, founding rate, no hidden extras
Do You Need to Believe in Reiki for It to Work?
No. Reiki asks for no faith, no spiritual practice, and no particular worldview, and we would rather be honest with you about the evidence than oversell it. According to the NCCIH, there is limited high-quality evidence for Reiki and more rigorous studies are needed. A systematic review of Reiki for anxiety found existing studies small and mixed, though some suggest it may ease anxiety symptoms.
What is well established is the value of deep rest itself, the relaxation response that an uninterrupted hour of stillness produces. Many of our clients arrive as sceptics and stay because they sleep better. Reiki is complementary to medical care, never a replacement for it, and we will always say so. If you want a fuller picture of the practice in this area, our guide to Reiki in Altea covers it in more depth.
How Is Reiki Different From Massage or Meditation?
Reiki sits between the two but is neither. Massage works on muscle and tissue through pressure and movement, usually with oils and partial undress; Reiki is still, fully clothed, and involves no manipulation at all, which makes it a good fit for people who find massage too intense or have joints and injuries they would rather not have worked on. Meditation asks you to do something, focus, breathe, notice; Reiki asks nothing. You lie down and receive, which is precisely why people who find meditation frustrating often take to it.
What Does Reiki Cost, and How Do You Book?
A Reiki session costs 150 EUR for about an hour. That is our founding rate, available to the first 20 clients, after which sessions are 200 EUR. There are no packages to commit to and nothing else to buy. Sessions are private and one to one, at our Altea practice or as a home visit across Altea, Albir, Benidorm, Calpe, La Nucía, and Polop. Our post on what private sessions cost on the Costa Blanca sets out the pricing honestly.
Booking starts with a complimentary conversation. Use the contact form or the booking page, tell us what brings you, and we will arrange a time that suits. You can also read more on the Reiki service page first if you prefer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I feel nothing during my Reiki session?
That is normal and more common than people expect. Not everyone feels warmth or tingling; some simply rest. What clients most often report is the after-effect rather than the in-session sensation: deeper sleep that night, a quieter mind, less held tension. Feeling nothing on the table does not mean the hour was wasted.
Is Reiki safe if I have a medical condition or take medication?
Reiki is non-invasive, with no pressure, no manipulation, and no substances involved, and it is generally considered safe alongside medical treatment. It is complementary, not a substitute for medical care. Mention any condition when you book so we can tailor the session, and check with your GP if you have doubts. The NCCIH reports no serious side effects.
Is it okay to fall asleep during Reiki?
More than okay; it is one of the most common things that happens. Falling asleep usually means your nervous system has finally felt safe enough to switch off, which for many people is the point of the hour. You will not miss anything, and you will not be judged for it.
What should I wear to a Reiki session?
Whatever you are comfortable in. You stay fully clothed throughout, and loose, soft clothing simply makes it easier to relax on the table. There is no undressing, no oils, and no special preparation. If we come to your home, you can be in whatever you already wear around the house.
Can Reiki come to my home instead of the practice?
Yes. We offer home visits across Altea, Albir, Benidorm, Calpe, La Nucía, and Polop at no extra charge, and many clients prefer receiving at home, where they can rest afterwards without driving. We bring the treatment table; you just need a quiet room with enough floor space. Same session, same price: 150 EUR, in English.
Reiki is the quietest thing we offer at Altea Alchemy, and for many the most restorative: an hour where nothing is asked of you, and your body gets rare permission to stop. If that sounds like what you have been missing, the Reiki service page explains the practice, and the contact form is the easiest way to arrange a complimentary conversation. One to one, in English, across Altea, Albir, Benidorm, Calpe, La Nucía, and Polop, 150 EUR per session.
"The question I hear most before a first Reiki session is also the simplest: what will it feel like? The honest answer is that it feels different for everyone, and usually quieter than people expect. Warmth, heaviness, drifting. Occasionally nothing much at all, and that is fine too. What almost everyone reports is leaving calmer than they arrived, and sleeping well that night."
— Ty Stevenson, Founder, Altea Alchemy
"Self-care is immensely powerful in its own right. The elicitation of the Relaxation Response, stress management, regular exercise, good nutrition, and the power of belief all have a tremendous role to play in our healing."
— Dr. Herbert Benson, Cardiologist; Founder, Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital
Written by Ty Stevenson
Founder, Altea Alchemy · Reiki Level 1 (2021) · 200hr Yoga Teacher
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