Q&A: How to Choose the Right Reiki Course & Teacher in Melbourne: A Guide for Students
- Fiona Phillips | Certified Japanese Reiki Shihan (Teacher)
- Mar 21, 2024
- 12 min read
Updated: Dec 9, 2025
Choosing a Reiki course can feel overwhelming. When I do a quick google search of 'Reiki courses Melbourne', I find myself scrolling through dozens and dozens of different websites claiming this type of Reiki of that type of Reiki, which words like 'lineages' and different named systems that most people, particularly people new to Reiki, may have never heard. So which Reiki is best, and how do you choose one Reiki course over another.
When I was looking to learn Reiki, the only thing I really knew, is that I wanted to learn from someone who taught it with integrity, and a genuine connection to the original Japanese practice. But even with that clarity, I was lead down many paths and trained in many systems, all staking their claim around teaching the 'traditional practice', for me to, in time, come to discover that not to be the case.
It was an interesting journey and I got a lot from it, but I want to make it easier to you to understand what to look for and what to look out for when choosing a Reiki course, using my own personal journey as an experienced traditional Japanese Reiki Shihan (Master) and Practitioner.
So let's look at everything you need to know about learning Reiki, to help you get on the right track to help you to choose the right Reiki course for you in Melbourne.
What is the lineage of the Reiki course?
Lineage in Reiki matters. This is the line down which Reiki has been passed, beginning from Mikao Usui (the Founder of Reiki), to his Shihan students and their Shihan or Master students, and so on and so forth until being handed down to your prospective Teacher. Lineage ensures authenticity and that the Teacher is actually teaching Reiki.
What System of Reiki Do They Practice and Teach?
It's important to understand the different systems of Reiki exist and what they teach. Different systems will resonate more for you than others.
For example, over time, as Reiki made its way to the West, people changed the practice through various lineages. A substantial portion of the traditional Spiritual and healing techniques were removed, stripping back the practice significantly and beyond Western Reiki, even some of the Japanese systems that have emerged since Usui's time, changed or modified and others, totally unrelated to Reiki were added. Many claim to be traditional systems of Reiki, when in fact they are not. This can make it hard to understand what is Reiki and what is not and what is traditional what is not. It is hard to know what impact these removals and additional and modification have on the quality and effectiveness of the practices.
Moreover, some Reiki courses are taught online and sometimes, they do not conduct the Reiju (the essential process of opening students to the energy), which may impact the student's capacity to actually channel Reiki.
Traditional Japanese Reiki lineages (like Jikiden Reiki and the Arjava Petter Institute) preserve the original methods and philosophies, without the layers of Western modification that developed later, or the additional changes some Japanese systems introduced to essential parts of the teaching and techniques.
Understanding where your teacher trained, who their teacher was, and whether the system honours the traditional teachings can help you choose a course that truly resonates.
How Long Is the Reiki Course?
The duration of the Reiki course is important. Some Reiki courses are taught over a few hours, some over one day, others over a weekend.
In my experience, a comprehensive Level 1 Reiki course should ideally span two full days. This allows ample time to delve into the history of Reiki, understand the principles o the practice, learn and understand the core practices, receive the vital four Reiju (attunements), and practice working with the energy and hands-on techniques. Courses shorter than this may rush through important elements, compromising the depth of your learning.
Why Two Days?
Reiju Spacing: The four attunements need to be nicely spaced out to help you gradually open up to the energy. Be cautious of course with larger class sizes who offer only one Reiju or anything less than four.
Learning all the Practices and Hands-On Practice: Sufficient time for learning and understanding the foundational and core practices, with time to practice each of them as well as practical exercises for hands on healing and getting acquainted with the energy ensures you feel confident using Reiki on yourself and others.
Discussion and Sharing: Two days provide a balanced pace for questions, personal and group sharing, which enriches the learning experience.
How Many Students In the Reiki Course?
Reiki course aren't like learning other disciplines - whereas 15-20 students doesn't some lke a big class, in Reiki it is. Bigger classes like this can significantly limit the Teacher's capacity to provide personal instruction to students and requiring them to either reduce the number of Reiju given, or the time attributed to each student. Others have 6 or less.
From my years of practice, learning and now teaching, I can confidently say smaller class sizes make a significant difference. In intimate settings, usually with no more than 6 students, each person receives more personalized attention and guidance. This is especially important for:
Reiju Administration: Smaller groups allow the teacher to spend the recommended five minutes per student for each Reiju, enhancing the quality of your attunement.
Individual Attention: More opportunities for one-on-one interaction with the teacher mean you can address personal queries and receive tailored advice.
Community Feel: Smaller classes foster a closer-knit community, making it easier to share experiences and build lasting connections.
Questions to Ask Potential Teachers
When you're looking for a Reiki course, it's essential to ask the right questions. Here are some suggestions to ensure you're making a well-informed decision:
Class Size: "How many students do you accept per class?"
Reiju Details: "How many Reiju will I receive, and how much time is spent on each?"
Post-Course Support: "Do you offer follow-up gatherings or continued mentorship?"
What is the teacher’s approach?
A Reiki course isn’t just content - it is just learning theory and techniques. The traditional approach of Reiki is both a spiritual and healing practice. It is personal by nature. This means that the relationship the teacher and yourself is just as important as what is taught as well as their capacity, through their own depth of practice and integrity, to be able to teach the theory and practice in a way that brings it to life for you as well as mentor you beyond the course.
Look at their website, social media and reach out to speak to them - this is one of the best ways to really gather the information and ignite the senses that will ultimately guide you.
When choosing a Reiki course, ask yourself:
Do I feel comfortable with this teacher?
Does their energy feel warm, genuine, kind and compassionate?
Do they speak about Reiki in a way in a way that shows a deep understanding, personal commitment and joy for the practice? Do they walk the walk.
Do they respect the tradition of the practice - are they aware of the various changes that have been made by Western and some Japanese systems?
Indicators of a Good Reiki Shihan (Master)
Dedicated Practice: A teacher with a daily Reiki practice beyond the minimum brings deeper insights and authenticity to their teaching.
Experience: Long-term experience and a strong professional background in Reiki are crucial.
Student Support: Look for teachers who offer ongoing support, such as regular practice meet-ups and continued mentorship.
My advice would be to contact them and have a good in-depth discussion. Ask them lots of questions about their experience with Reiki, their daily practice and what they've learnt and gained from their practice over the years. And trust your instinct and how you feeling in your body when you read their website, social media, look at their photo and/or speak to them. It really will tell you all you need to know.
How is the course offered - Online vs In Person?
Most Reiki course are in-person, but there is a growing number of online courses popping up.
Traditional Reiju is done in person (the most important aspect of the teaching which opens students up to be able to channel Reiki) and there are techniques and practices that are best learnt with in-person instruction to allow for proper correction and direction.
It is important to note that online courses are not recognised by the major Reiki Associations. The traditional view is that Reiju, the most important aspect of Reiki training, should not be done online.
These factors significantly impact the quality of what you learn, experience and this will impact your understanding of and connection spiritual and healing practice you take home with you after the course.
What do you want Reiki to be in your life?
People come to Reiki for different reasons.
Some want Reiki for self-healing
Some want to support their family
Some feel called to become practitioners or Teachers
Some are yearning for a deeper spiritual path and practice
Your intention will influence which course feels right for you. And it is also okay to not know what you want out of Reiki - in a way that is its own form of intention. Likely the Course, Teacher and their website may just be something you feel drawn and called to - and that is as good as reason as any. In fact, this is the way of Reiki - Reiki will always be your greatest guide! Trust that.
Choosing the Right Teacher
This is important. Your Teacher is handing down to you incredibly powerful spiritual and healing practices that have the potential to support you, your loved ones and perhaps is something you offer people professionally. The way Reiki is passed on - their lineage, their training, their integrity, and that magic element of who they are as a person and practitioner - matters deeply. Their capacity to inspire and ignite your curiosity for the practice is what supports you when you take what you’ve learned back home.
Instead of looking for someone who maybe sounds impressive , focus on the basics:
Do they honour a clear lineage and have a good understanding of what it offers?
Can they explain how they were trained and by whom?
Do they teach in a way that feels relatable as well as inspiring?
Do they invite open sharing, participation and questions?
A really good teacher doesn't cling to credentials, make big promises, and doesn’t try to sell you anything. They are usually people who are humble in their role as a Teacher, live and breathe the practices and have a genuine desire to empower you on your own path, holding space for whatever that may look like for you. The understand that your spiritual and healing path is uniquely yours and they have the capacity, without expectation, to be a supportive mentor for you along the way.
Do They Offer Support After the Reiki Course?
Another important consideration when choosing the best course for you, is to consider what kind of support is offered once the course is finished. Reiki doesn’t end when the weekend finishes, in fact, quite the opposite, that's when it really begins, This is when you begin the experience the practices and techniques, learn to incorporate them into your day, experience the energy in different ways over time and shifts and changes, experience resistance and requiring support around that and the deeper you move into your practice, often the more questions and guidance is required.
Establishing a sustained practice is not easy and students find is incredibly important to attend either online or in-person Reiki practice groups, where they can be amongst a community of like-minded people and to keep regular contact with the practices as well as their teacher - where they receive deeper layers of learning through theirs and other people's questions and experiences. Usually students do their self-healing practices together as well as practice Reiki on each other - developing their skills when working on others.
Having a teacher you can reach out to, directly and through Reiki practice gatherings is vital - it is so important to have someone who is willing to answer questions, clarify techniques, or simply hold space when things shift or open.
Find a Teacher that has a clear offering of continued relationship with them beyond the course, and who also offers online and in-person Reiki Gatherings. Good teachers don’t disappear once the certificate is handed out. The relationship of Reiki student and teacher, of Mentor and Mentee, should be an enduring one.
Conclusion: How to Find the Right Reiki Course & Teacher for You in Melbourne
Choosing a Reiki course is personal. Take your time - read, understand the difference between systems of Reiki and how they are taught, what is taught, how the courses are run and how long they un for. Ask questions, reach out to the teacher and take time to have a good chat to them - notice what and who you drawn to and what who you are not.
If you are looking for a course that honours the traditional way of learning Reiki, you may resonate more with in-person, small-group training over the course of weekend, that includes:
repeated Reiju (ideally 4 in Level 1)
plenty of time for experiential practice of the practices and techniques
the full set of traditional techniques, teaching, practices and Reiju (unmodified from the original system)
the spiritual foundational practices (these should be emphasis as the main foundational practice of Reiki)
enough time and space to integrate - a course ideally should run over a full weekend as a minimum)
ongoing support and mentorship after the course
Choose a course that gives you the time and depth for your spiritual and healing journey.
Reiki has transformed my life in ways I could never have known to even hope for, and that continues to deepen every year.
If you decide to learn Reiki, I know you will never look back and I hope you find a teacher who supports you in the way you deserve and who gives you the tools and confidence to step into your own practice in a way that feels right for you.
And if you feel called to learn me me, please reach out - I would love to be able to connect with you! Otherwise, if you feel ready to jump in, you can sign up for one of my Melbourne Reiki courses here.
Warmest,
Fiona x
Fiona Phillips
Certified Traditional Japanese Reiki Shihan (Teacher) and Practitioner
Trained by the Jikiden Reiki and Arjava Petter Institutes
Within The Space | Reiki Melbourne
Related Articles on Reiki Courses in Melbourne, Australia
A clear introductory guide to help understand the what Reiki is, the foundations of Reiki training, the different systems and ways of teaching Reiki, what to watch out for, and how to choose a course that feels authentic to you.
These pieces offer a checklick for selecting a Reiki course that suits your values, learning style, and intentions. Find tips on how to recognise quality Reiki training, what red flags to look for, and how to navigate the Melbourne Reiki landscape.
Explore the foundations of Reiki training through this overview of Level 1. With a focus on traditional Japanese methods, self-practice, and spiritual development, this article outlines who Level 1 is for, what’s typically taught, and how to prepare for your first step.
This article explains that you don’t need prior experience or qualifications to start your Reiki journey. It encourages new students to focus instead on finding a well-grounded teacher and authentic lineage.
As online Reiki courses become more common, this article discusses why learning face-to-face with an experienced Reiki Master is still the preferred option, especially when it comes to receiving Reiju and building a strong, foundational practice.
In this article you'll find an exploration of the pros and limitations of learning Reiki online. This article outlines why in-person training remains essential—particularly for receiving Reiju and learning through embodied practice in a supportive environment.
This article delves into the traditional Japanese blessing of Reiju, offering insight into why it is the most important aspect of Reiki training and what to look for in a course when it comes to the offering of Reiju.
A deep dive into what Japanese and Western Reiki are, exploring differences in philosophy, techniques, and training approaches. Ideal for those seeking a traditional path or curious about the deeper roots of Reiki.
A detailed look at timelines for Reiki certification in Australia—what’s required at each level, how long it typically takes, and why deeper integration matters more than speed. Read the full article
This practical guide walks you through the steps to become a Reiki practitioner in Australia. It covers training pathways, client ethics, professional responsibilities, and what it truly means to support others.
This guide outlines the path to becoming a Reiki Master (Shihan), including what’s required in terms of time, growth and professional experience. It emphasises the value of lineage, personal growth, and ongoing commitment to the Reiki path.
Recommended Reading from Australian Reiki Organisations
An outline of what to expect at each level of Reiki training, with a focus on in-person learning, personal practice, and ethical standards.
Guidance from one of Australia’s leading Reiki associations on course structure, lineage, and choosing a teacher who honours Reiki’s roots.
Comments