Breathwork in Reiki: Enhancing the Flow of Energy
This research article explores how Reiki practitioners use their breath and the subjective effects it has on the energy flow during a session.
To explore this, I conducted a community poll to look at the specific breathing methods used and the perceived impact on energy flow across different levels of Reiki practice.
Methodology and Results
A total of 41 practitioners engaged with the poll. To ensure the data remained accurate, I removed my own answers and those who did not complete all three questions, bringing the final group to 31 practitioners.
Final Numbers: 31 Reiki Practitioners
Master Level: 20
Level 2: 11
Result 1: How Do Practitioners Use Their Breath?
The first part of the survey looked at the specific techniques practitioners employ while giving Reiki. Interestingly, practitioners at different levels tend to favour different approaches.
Breathing into the area:35% of Master level practitioners focus their breath directly into the area they are working on, compared to only 18% of Level 2 practitioners.
Slowing the breath: This was the most popular technique for Level 2 practitioners (45%), while 25% of Master level practitioners opted for this method.
No specific focus: A significant portion of both groups (25% of Master level practitioners and 37% of Level 2) reported that they don't consciously think about their breath during a session.
The data suggests that as practitioners move toward Master level, there is a shift from simply calming the body (slowing the breath) toward more targeted energy direction (breathing into the area).
Result 2: Does Breath Change the Flow?
Is there a tangible benefit to focusing on the breath? I asked practitioners how their breathwork affected the perceived strength and quality of the Reiki flow.
A Stronger Flow: The majority of practitioners found a clear benefit. 50% of Master level practitioners and 55% of Level 2 practitioners felt the flow of Reiki became stronger when they engaged with their breath.
Targeted Energy: A smaller group (15% of Master level and 9% of Level 2) felt that the breath helped the Reiki feel more targeted to a specific area.
No Difference/Not Tried: Approximately 15% of Master level and 9% of Level 2 practitioners noticed no difference, while 20-27% of the total group had not yet tried combining specific breathwork with their practice.
Result 3: Positive Change
When we compare the two levels, we see a consistent trend, the vast majority of practitioners who do experiment with their breath notice a positive change in energy dynamics.
Among Master level practitioners, 65% reported a subjective improvement (either a stronger or more targeted flow). For Level 2 practitioners, 64% reported a similar increase. Despite the differences in how they breathe, the perceived benefit remains consistent across both levels of experience.
Interpretation
The data confirms that breath is a powerful, yet sometimes underutilised, tool in the Reiki room. While about a quarter of practitioners don't currently focus on their breathing, over half of those surveyed reported a direct increase in the strength of the Reiki flow when they did.
Whether a practitioner is slowing their breath to center themselves or directing it to a specific injury, the result is the same, a more resonant and powerful session.
© 2026 Laura Noonan Reiki. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes without prior written permission. Attribution is required for all shared insights.
