Make room for clear permission, changing your mind, and finding a way to practise that suits you.
Your choice belongs in the practice
A useful practice begins with a choice you can understand. Before trying anything, you should know what is being suggested, what it involves, and what you can change. In this course, you can read without doing an exercise, choose a no-touch version, or stop partway through. You do not need to earn those options by giving a personal explanation. They are part of the way the course is designed.
The NHS describes consent in healthcare as voluntary and informed. Our course is educational, rather than clinical training, but the central idea is helpful here: an invitation should leave room for a real answer. If the only welcome answer is yes, it is not much of a choice. A teacher, friend, or partner should be able to hear 'not today' without treating it as an obstacle to overcome.
Be specific about the invitation
Compare 'Can I do some Reiki?' with 'Would you like to try sitting quietly for a short while? I would keep my hands to myself, and you could stop whenever you wish.' The second invitation tells the person more about what will happen. If touch is proposed in another setting, the location and nature of that touch need to be explained beforehand. A general interest in Reiki is not permission for every possible practice.
For your own learning, make the invitation equally clear. 'I am going to try resting my hands in my lap while sitting in this chair' is something you can assess. 'I must finish a complete session whatever happens' is a demand. You can begin with one comfortable position and decide later whether another would be useful.
A yes can change
You might like an idea when you read it and discover that it feels awkward when you try it. Perhaps your shoulder tires, you dislike closing your eyes, or you simply want to move. You can change the plan at that point. There is no need to wait until a page is finished or until a person giving guidance says it is time.
When practising with someone else in a later learning setting, use ordinary words: 'Please stop', 'I would prefer no touch', or 'I want to sit up now'. If speaking is difficult, agree a clear signal before beginning. The person offering the activity remains responsible for paying attention and respecting a change; the person receiving it should not have to argue for a pause.
Comfort includes more than posture
Consider the room as well as the position of your hands. Can you hear the instructions? Would you prefer the door open? Is the light too bright, or the room too warm? Are you being asked to share more than you wish? These are useful practical questions. You can leave your eyes open, keep your usual clothes on, and use a familiar chair. Silence, music, dim lighting, and special objects are not requirements.
Imagine agreeing to an exercise at a group meeting, then realizing the music makes it hard to hear. You could ask for it to be lowered, move closer to the speaker, or sit out. Making that adjustment is participation in your own learning. It does not show that you are less committed than someone who enjoys the original arrangement.
Make a simple agreement with yourself
Before the next practice, choose a starting position, an alternative, and a way to finish. For example: 'I will sit with my back supported. If holding a hand up becomes tiring, I will return both hands to my lap. When I want to stop, I will look around and return to my next ordinary activity.' Having an alternative ready removes the need to improvise while uncomfortable.
Afterwards, notice whether your choices were respected, including by you. Did you continue because you wanted to, or because you thought you should? There is no need to criticize the answer. Use it to make your next plan clearer. Comfort and consent are ongoing parts of practice, not a form you complete once and then set aside.
Decision scenario: Changing your mind during a session
You agreed to try a seated hands-on practice where a peer rests their hands lightly on your shoulders. Two minutes in, your neck feels hot and tense, and you feel uncomfortable having hands close to you. What is the most appropriate action?
Sources and further reading
- NHS: Consent to treatment — Healthcare explanation of voluntary, informed permission and changing a decision. Used as an ethical reference; this course does not provide clinical consent training or legal advice.