How to Find the Best Reiki Course: Checklist Guide for Reiki Courses in Melbourne
- Fiona Phillips | Certified Japanese Reiki Shihan (Teacher)
- May 22, 2024
- 8 min read
Updated: Dec 9, 2025
Choosing the best Reiki Course in Melbourne: What Matters Most
Choosing a Reiki course in Melbourne can feel overwhelming and confusing, especially when every website claims to be “traditional,” "Japanese", “authentic,” or “the best.”
As an experienced traditional Japanese Reiki Shihan, who has trained in many different Japanese and Western systems of Reiki, who has been practicing and teaching for many years, I am so pleased to be able to offer this guide, based on my experience and wisdom accumulated over those years.
For those looking to delve into this topic in more detail, I've written other articles that do precisely that - but here, I have written a checklist-type guide is designed to simplify the process and to help you can quickly understand your options so that you may tune into what feels right for you and choose a Reiki course that will genuinely support your spiritual and healing path.
This guide offers a clear framework: what matters, what doesn’t, what to look for, and how to sense what’s right for you.
1. Understand What You Want Reiki to Be in Your Life
Having an idea of what it is about Reiki that are seeking from learning it can be helpful in narrowing down the best course for you. At the same time, while you are looking through websites for Reiki courses, you may feel drawn to certain aspects, and this, itself, may clarify this question for you.
Some of the common reasons people are seeking to learn Reiki are:
Having a personal self-healing practice
Having a way to support family and friends
Wanting a deeper spiritual path
Having an interest in practicing Reiki professionally (either on its own or to add to compliment a current offering such as massage, yoga instructor, massage, meditation teacher, breathwork facilitators, mindfulness instructors, holistic wellbeing practitioners, Doula / Birth or Postpartum support workers, End-of-life doulas, Sound healing practitioners, counsellors / coaches, occupational therapists or allied health working in a complementary way
Others have no idea at all, it is a simple curiosity or intuitive calling and that's ok too - in a way, that is it's own reason.
Trust your instinct when looking through different Reiki courses and Teachers - Reiki will guide you.
2. Know the Difference Between Reiki Systems
There are over 100 different Reiki systems since the practice was first created by Mikao Usui in Japan and there is a vast difference in what is taught. It is helpful to know what these differences entail.
A basic overview:
Traditional Japanese Reiki (e.g., Jikiden Reiki, Arjava Petter Institute)
Preserves original techniques
Includes spiritual practices as the foundation of the system
Teaches advances Reiki healing practices and concepts
In depth teaching of cultural and spiritual influences of the practice and the inner, mystery teachings
Uses and teaches unmodified Reiju (the most important aspect of training which opens students up to be able to channel the energy themselves)
emphasises simplicity and direct experience
Western Reiki (Usui Shiki Ryoho)
Most widely taught
Reiju and symbols changed
Spiritual practices and concepts diluted or removed
Includes New Age elements not found in the original system
Substantial number of the traditional techniques are removed
Hands-on practice modified away from teachings about intuitive and targeted healing
Inaccurate history frequently taught
Hybrid or Modified Japanese Systems (e.g., Komyo ReikiDo, Gendai Reiki)
Japanese and traditional in appearance
Some contain significant Western influence
Symbols, Reiju, or techniques modified, some removed, others added
Some teachings and advanced healing practices removed or diluted
Knowing these difference can help you understand what you will be learning and whether it aligns with what you’re looking for out of your experience with Reiki.
3. Check the Lineage and Training of the Reiki Master/Shihan
Lineage is the chain of training that links the teacher back to Mikao Usui.
Look for:
A clear and direct lineage that traces back (through in person training) to Mikao Usui
Transparency about where and how they trained (usually it will be located on their website)
The depth of the Teachers spiritual and healing practice, both for themselves and their experience of Reiki with others, will impact the depth and capacity they have to not only teach the practices and concepts, but mentor you beyond the classroom.
Look for a Reiki Shihan/Master with in depth experience and who who actively practises Reiki, not just teaches it. Who lives it.
4. Reiki Course Length: Why Two Days Matters
A comprehensive Level 1 Reiki course will ideally run over two full days.
Why?
Reiju takes time and there is a minimum required (four) to effectively prepare students to channel Reiki.
The foundational practices and learning the history and spiritual aspects of Reiki require time
Experiencing the practices deepens integration and understanding beyond simply learning the concepts
Questions, discussions and sharing during the class builds understanding
Hands-on practice takes time
Shorter courses (½-day or 1-day) often compress essential components and may limit your confidence or understanding of how to integrate the practice into your daily life afterward.
5. Class Size: Small is Better
Reiki is a spiritual and healing practice - it is personal, intimate and must be taught experientially - it is not suited to large classrooms.
Small groups (usually 4–6 students):
Ensure each person receives full, undiluted Reiju (ideally four)
Allow personal instruction and guidance from the Reiki Shihan/Master
Support deeper sharing for deeper learning
Allows ample time for questions, an essential element of the learning which brings Reiki to life and helps students integrate the concepts and practices
Cultivate a sense of community
Large classes often require teachers to shorten Reiju (some reduce the number of Reiju offered) and reduce personalised instruction. Questions and sharing is also very limited in larger groups, leaving students often lacking the clarity they need to integrate the practices after the course ends.
7. Online vs In-Person Reiki Courses
Traditional Reiki is taught in person.
Reiju (the most important aspect of training) was not traditionally offered online, and online training is not recognised by Australian Reiki associations.
Online learning compromises:
Personalised instruction and correction of hand positions
Experiental aspects of the training and learning
Community connection
There is a power in face to face learning, particularly with a practice like Reiki - it is so much more than concepts and techniques - we are talking about and energy and spiritual practice - it is, by design, best learnt in person.
8. Ongoing Support After the Reiki Course
Learning Reiki doesn’t end when the weekend finishes, in fact that when it truly begins as you take these spiritual and healing practices home to start integrating them into your life and seeing where they take you.
Look for a teacher who offers:
Regular practice groups (in person and online)
Opportunities to receive Reiju again in person (to continue to support your practice)
A place to ask questions (both through Reiki Gatherings and directly with your Reiki Shihan/Master)
A supportive community for deeper, continued and supported learning
Reiki deepens through practice, experience, and the guidance and mentorship of your Reiki Master/Shihan.
6. Ask These Questions Before You Book Your Reiki Course
After refining your choices based on the Reiki system, lineage and in-person courses, these three questions can help to further narrow the choices down:
1. “How many Reiju will I receive?”
Ideal: four Reiju in Level 1, spaced throughout the course.
2. “How many students do you take per class?”
Look for small, intimate groups.
3. “Do you offer ongoing support after the course?”
This is essential for deeper practice.
If a teacher cannot answer these confidently, consider another course.
7. Trust Your Instinct
As you read through different websites or speak with teachers (I highly recommend doing this), notice what and who you feel naturally drawn to. This is where you allow your mind to go quiet and let your instinct guide you. Your body will often give you signs. Trust that most of all!
Conclusion: How to Choose the Reiki Course That Is Right for You: Checklist
Choosing the right Reiki course isn’t about finding the most impressive website or the flashy promises, it's about finding a teacher and training structure that is created with integrity and that honours the depth of the spiritual and healing practice created by Mikao Usui to help us find our way to a greater sense of wellbeing, physically, mentally and spiritual and to find a place of inner peace.
As a starting point, a good course will offer:
A clear, authentic lineage
The full set of spiritual and healing practices and unmodified teachings
Four Reiju at Level 1
Two full days of training
Small groups
Ongoing support
A teacher who lives and breathes the practice
When you find it, trust me, you’ll know.
If you have any questions, or want to chat to more about Reiki please contact me and we can arrange a time to chat. If you would like to book a Reiki session in Melbourne (or distance Reiki worldwide), you can book an appointment here or if you would like to learn Reiki yourself, sign up for Melbourne Reiki courses here. I look forward to connecting with you for Reiki!
Warmest wishes,
Fiona x
Fiona Phillips
Certified Reiki Shihan (Teacher) and Practitioner
Trained by the Jikiden Reiki & Arjava Petter Institute
Within The Space | Melbourne
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