How to Choose the Right Reiki I &II Certification: Green Flags vs. Red Flags in Practitioner Programs

There’s a certain point on your spiritual journey where Reiki calls to you—not as something to receive, but as something to learn. To embody. To share.

But as soon as you start searching for a practitioner training, it can feel... noisy. So many programs. So many teachers. So many promises.

Some are incredibly powerful initiations. Others, if we’re being honest, leave people more confused than connected.

I know this to be true because I was this person. The first time I got attuned to Reiki I didn't know much about it. All I could find were one day programs and so I thought, "this must just be the way to do it." I quickly realized though that just because something is "normal" or "has always been done that way," doesn't mean it's right.

It's the main reason I created my own Reiki Certification Programs because I couldn't stand these one day trainings that promise you that in just 6-8 hours you will be attuned, certified, proficient at the modality, and ready to start your business...because it's just not possible (or ethical).

I have had countless students come to me who have gone through all levels come to me and tell me that they "don't feel connected to the modality," are "questioning if it's right for them," they felt like they "didn't learn anything," and so on...only to go through my programs and realize they wish they would have just come to me in the first place. And I am not saying that in an icky, ego way. I am saying that in the: the proof is in the pudding way.

So how do you know if a Reiki program is truly right for you? Here are some green flags to look for—and a few red ones to lovingly steer clear of.

🌿 Green Flag: There’s spaciousness.

A truly aligned Reiki program won’t rush you through it. There’s a sacred unfolding that happens when you’re attuned and it takes time.

You want space to ask questions, space to practice, space to integrate. A program that honors your nervous system and doesn't treat your certification like a quick box to check is a program that’s built with intention.

🟥 Red flag: You’re expected to complete everything in a 6-8 hour day or weekend, with little to no follow-up support. It might sound efficient but depth can’t be crammed.

🌿 Green Flag: Continued access to your teacher.

Reiki is about connection—energetically, spiritually, humanly. It’s a good sign when a teacher makes themselves available after the attunement for questions, mentorship, and support. You’re not just learning a modality; you’re being initiated into a lifelong relationship with energy and that deserves ongoing care.

🟥 Red flag: The moment your payment goes through and the training ends, the teacher disappears. No guidance. No community. Just... a manual (if you're lucky to even get that) and a “good luck.”

🌿 Green Flag: You’re taught more than just hand positions.

Yes, technique matters. But the most resonant Reiki trainings also include teachings on energetic hygiene, the nervous system, shadow work, a deep dive into the chakras (my first training didn't even talk about chakras at all) intuition, ethics, what it actually means to hold space for others, and so much more.

A true program gives you the tools and the inner anchoring to become a confident, heart-led practitioner—not just someone who knows what to do with their hands.

🟥 Red flag: The curriculum is vague or surface-level (And if you are unsure about a program, you can also message me via the "Contact Me" page on my website and ask). You leave attuned, but unsure what to do next or how to actually offer Reiki in a grounded, professional way.

🌿 Green Flag: You get time to practice.

Reiki isn’t just something you learn—it’s something you become. Practice is where the wisdom settles into your body. The best programs offer chances to give and receive sessions, reflect on your experience, and deepen your energetic trust.

🟥 Red flag: Practice isn’t prioritized. You might get a quick attunement, a few slides, and maybe 5-20 minutes of practice, but you're left wondering, “Am I doing this right?”

🌿 Green Flag: Your personal healing is prioritized.

This may be the most important one.

Before you can hold space for others, you need space to hold yourself. The most aligned Reiki programs honor this by guiding you through your own healing first. They invite you to experience the energy deeply, to move through your own shadows, and to reconnect with your body and spirit. Because when you’ve walked through your own transformation, you don’t just know Reiki—you embody it.

🟥 Red flag: The focus is solely on becoming a practitioner for others. There’s no invitation to explore your own emotions, energy, or healing journey—which can lead to bypassing and burnout down the line.

🌿 Green Flag: It feels like a safe, grounded container.

This one’s more intuitive, but you’ll feel it. Look at how the program is presented. The energy behind the teacher’s words. The way they hold space on social media, in your inbox, or in a free masterclass.

A green flag program will feel energetically clean. Regulated. Rooted in integrity. It will feel like an initiation, not a transaction.

🟥 Red flag: You feel pressured. Rushed. Unsure. Or something just feels... off. Trust that. Your body always knows.

In the end...

Choosing a Reiki training isn’t just about getting certified—it’s about the lineage you’re stepping into and the frequency you’re being attuned to. The right program will feel like a deep breath. Like coming home to something ancient and true inside you.

This is exactly why I created OPEN: Reiki I & II Certification and Attunement Program—a sacred, spacious container that honors your healing first, guides you into energetic integrity, and supports you every step of the way.

It’s a program that has it all—depth, devotion, community, and continued access to me as your teacher. And somehow, it continues to get better every time I lead it.

Because just like Reiki itself, OPEN is alive. It evolves. It meets you where you are—and gently expands what’s possible.

If you’ve been feeling the call to step into this work... you’ll know. And when it’s a yes in your body, I’ll be here, ready to welcome you in.

Love,

Nikki xoxo