Dear Miaou,
Just typed a darn term paper length response to you & hit the wrong button..so this will be much shorter & to the point. Lucky you!! :)
Reiki does not involve massage or manipulation of skin & tissues. However, many massage therapists are Reiki Masters and combine the two, though this should be discussed with you beforehand. Reiki involves hands above or placed on the body in a stationary position. Hands above can involve circular, sweeping movements or be relatively stationary. There are different styles of Reiki with different add ons. I know of some practitioners who do very little movement above the body except gentle calming sweeping motions. Finding someone you are comfortable with is important.
Try to find a Reiki share where Practitioners get together to Reiki each other & the public. In my neck of the woods,there is no charge for this though a voluntary contribution to cover room rental is sometimes standard courtesy. Check with your friend. This will give you a comparison of Reiki hands on, you can get to know the people there & see if you are comfortable with it all. I dont advocate taking a Reiki attunement until you are ready, meaning your questions are answered & you feel comfortable with it. What would be the purpose in rushing into something you are not sure of? When you are better prepared for the session, know what to expect, have seen the practitioner work, know a bit about Reiki, you can generally enjoy the session more. Sounds like you werent sure what to expect & that can certainly make anyone uncomfortable. Two hours is a long session to remain on a table, eh? 30 dollars for 2 hours seems reasonable to me.
The first session is often longer than routine sessions which generally seem to last an hour. If you need more time it can run into "overtime" though Ive never personally known a Reiki Master to charge extra.
Cold & heat may be experienced during a session but do not hesitate to ask for a sheet or blanket. Sessions go better when you are comfortable. But sometimes its just the room temperature, nervousness, etc.
Have no idea why you should not shower after Reiki, that is a new one for me.
Yes, Reiki, massage and energy work can bring up emotions. Each person reacts differently simply because we are individuals.
Have you ever noticed than anything new you take on generally tends to disrupt your life, even if nothing more than your nice calm schedule or the way you see the world and/or self?
peace & joy,
holobon
