I believe all of the sensations that go along with the Reiki experiences are VERY real.
Some of the sensations I have personally felt are hot, cold and tingling. Always remember to "White Light" before a Reiki treatment for your own protection and for your clients. When I channel the energy towards someones healing experience I too notice that a client may feel a very hot sensation. I belive that this is them literally sucking the energy and the experience to feel all of the work that it is doing.
Some people new to Reiki have never been allowed to feel and when we allow all the physical and mental healing the sensation can be overpowering.
I use a "Rub and Toss" technique as the sensation gets to be alot in the dominant hand. This I use in Hands-on or off. I call it my 3 R's, "Rechannel, Recharge, and Redirect" then the Universal Energy I am trying to send or give goes to where it is needed most.
Many Blessings
Healing Hands
