I know, I know—getting certified in Reiki in a single day sounds super convenient, right? You sign up for a workshop, spend a few hours with a Reiki Master, and leave with a certificate in hand, ready to start healing yourself and others. But here’s the truth: Reiki is so much more than a quick certification, and rushing the attunement process could be doing you (and your future clients) a massive disservice.
A couple of years ago when I was first looking to become attuned to Reiki I didn't know much about it. I was told by a couple of friends, "you should be a reiki practitioner," and decided to give it a chance. I started googling Reiki Training Programs near me and all that was popping up was one day programs and that struck me as really odd. It was literally all I could find -- 6 to 8 hour trainings for level one and two combined -- which, again, I thought was weird but it seemed to be the only option so I was like "I guess this is the only way."
I went to that training and the entire time I was severely unimpressed. The training was advertised as an 8 hour day that ended up only being 6 hours and it felt so rushed. I also felt like I barely learned anything. I assumed we would be learning about the chakras and she didn't mention them once. I thought we would learn how to hold client sessions and how to hold a safe space and, again, she didn't mention it once. She barely even taught us how to do self Reiki and told us to buy a book so we could learn the hand positions (which is very rudimentary). She didn't teach us how Reiki works or that it works with the nervous system. We barely had time to practice on each other. The most significant part of it was the Reiki I and II attunements, but even with those I felt like I could have had a better experience. She also didn't even tell us that we would be going through a 21 day detox after receiving the attunements---- that is something I had to find out the hard way.
I know that not everyone has a bad experience in these one day trainings and, in fact, some people love them...but the truth of the matter whether you like it or not is that these one day trainings are ALL are rushed, they are ALL the bare minimum, and they are ALL unethical when you really learn about Reiki and why you need more time for integration between attunements.
Let's break it down.
Reiki Is an Energetic Transformation—Not a Box to Check Off
When you get attuned to Reiki, you’re not just learning hand placements or memorizing symbols. You’re going through an energetic initiation that shifts your vibration, opens up your intuitive channels, and connects you to a powerful healing frequency. This isn’t something to rush.
The attunements aren't just a spiritual blessing, they are a powerful clearing process. If you want to read more about the attunements, click here. The body, mind, and spirit need to be prepared before receiving attunements so that you can have the best experience possible. This can be done through healing experiences (which are a part of all of my courses) and it can be done through things like avoiding sugar, coffee, alcohol, eating a vegan or vegetarian diet, not watching any horror movies, the news, or anything heavy on the nervous system, etc. for a few days leading up to the attunement. When you prepare for the attunements your body has a much easier time receiving them and you have a less intense 21 day detox.
The 21 day detox begins after your attunement and every 3 days its working with your chakras to clear what doesn't vibrate at the same frequency of the Reiki energy. It starts at your root chakra, stays there for 3 days clearing out and then moves to your sacral, solar, and so on. By the end of the 21 days you can fully receive the Reiki energy because you have just become a clean and clear channel to do so. These 21 days can be taxing if you have no preparation for them and if you do both attunements in a day. It can actually be MORE dysregulating to your nervous system to do them without preparation and so close together (sorry to past me for getting 2 attunements in a day).
The attunement process also requires integration, reflection, and space to allow the energy to move through you—something that’s pretty hard to achieve in a single day. This brings me to my next point:
The Energy Needs Time to Integrate
After each Reiki attunement, your energy field goes through a period of cleansing and recalibration (the 21 day detox). Your vibration rises, energetic blocks surface for release, and your intuitive gifts start to open up. This is a sacred and personal process that deserves time, not a quick "Congrats, you're certified!" and a wave out the door.
By spacing out attunements over weeks or months, you give your body, mind, and spirit the chance to fully integrate the energy, making your connection to Reiki stronger and more natural. Some people think you should wait months between each level and I partially agree. I do think Reiki levels one and two can be done closer together - like weeks a part, but I definitely think you should wait at least 4-6 months before going to the Reiki Master level. I actually waited over a year before I decided to become a Reiki Master.
One Day Can’t Cover the Depth Reiki Deserves
Let’s be real: learning about Reiki isn’t just about the attunement itself. I kind of already allude to this above, but there’s so much to understand—the history, the chakras, understanding how Reiki works, learning the nervous system, the ethical responsibility of holding space for others, and the daily self-Reiki practice that helps you truly embody the energy. Cramming all of this into a few hours often means you walk away overwhelmed, underprepared, and disconnected from the true magic of Reiki.
It also means that it is very likely that a lot this information will be left out. This is what bothers me the most about Reiki trainings that happen in a day or weekend because most people don't even realize how much information they are missing out on, because you don't know what you don't know. The thing about Reiki is that there is no governing body that says "this is what must be taught in Reiki classes," they definitely have suggestions or guidelines on what to teach, but it is often the bare minimum.
I know we all want to believe that everyone has the best intentions, but even in the spiritual space there are Reiki Master Teachers who are just pumping students in and out of these one day trainings and making a lot of money preying on these people by promising them they will be proficient and can start a business in a day. It is not possible or ethical.
I actually created a survey that contained almost everything I teach in my Reiki I & II Attunement & Certification Program and I had some of my audience who went through the one day trainings check the boxes of what they learned and they all only checked THREE out of the fifteen or so boxes. This is unacceptable.
We have to do better. This is a huge reason I created my own courses because I wanted my students to understand energy, dis-ease, the layers of the energy body, the chakras, the nervous system, how to move through triggers, shadow work, holding safe spaces, etc. and all of this is a part of my programs. It is a complete experience. This is what we need more of.
You Deserve More Than a Drive-Thru Spiritual Experience
Reiki is a lifelong journey, not a fast-food-style certification. You’re learning to work with life force energy—a profound and ancient healing art that deserves reverence, practice, and time. When you allow yourself to slow down and truly experience the attunement process, you deepen your understanding of the energy and build the confidence needed to become an empowered practitioner (or teacher!).
It is so common for people to go through the one day or weekend long trainings and then they don't really care for the practice anymore after it because they have never truly and fully gotten to connect with it. I think a lot of people would feel more connected to Reiki if they received proper trainings.
Limited Access to Your Reiki Master Is a Problem
One of the biggest downsides to a one-day attunement is that your access to your Reiki Master typically ends when the class does. You get a few hours of instruction, maybe some practice time, and then... you’re on your own. But what about when questions come up during your 21-day energy cleanse? Or when you encounter something unexpected during a Reiki session?
Ongoing support is so important in Reiki—you need a safe space to ask questions, receive guidance, and continue learning beyond the initial attunement. Without this support, it’s easy to feel lost, unsure, or disconnected from your practice. A solid Reiki training program includes that post-attunement support, and that’s a game-changer for your confidence and growth as a practitioner.
So, What’s the Alternative?
If you’re serious about Reiki (and I know you are), consider a program that offers:
Trainings that are at least a few weeks/months long to give the energy time to integrate.
Trainings that offer more than the bare minimum in their curriculum. Be sure to vet the Reiki Master & ask about the curriculum before signing up.
Ongoing support from your Reiki Master—not just a one-and-done experience
Space for practice, reflection, and energetic cleansing between each level of attunement.
This way, you’re not just learning Reiki—you’re becoming Reiki. And trust me, the difference is undeniable.
If you’re feeling called to take your Reiki journey deeper, my programs are designed to honor the sacredness of the attunement process while supporting you every step of the way. Because you deserve more than a rushed certification—you deserve a transformation.
Let’s create that together. ✨
You can explore my Reiki I & II Attunement & Certification program here and you can check out my Reiki Master/Master Teacher Training here!
Let me know if you have any questions below or feel free to email me!
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