Reiki and chakra healing are both energy-based practices, but they work differently: Reiki channels universal life force energy through a practitioner’s hands to the whole body, while chakra healing focuses specifically on clearing and balancing the seven energy centers along the spine. Reiki comes from a Japanese healing tradition, uses gentle hand placements and attunement-based training, and works on the energy field as a whole. Chakra healing draws on ancient Indian yogic teachings, uses techniques such as meditation, color visualization, sound, and crystals, and targets individual centers such as the root or heart chakra. This guide compares the two approaches side by side so you can see which one suits your needs, and how they can work together.
Reiki is a Japanese energy healing practice in which a practitioner channels universal life force energy to support the body’s natural ability to heal and relax. The word reiki combines two Japanese words: rei, meaning universal or spiritual, and ki, meaning life energy. The practice as it is taught today was developed by Mikao Usui in Japan in the early 1920s, and it spread to the West in the decades after the Second World War.
In a typical session, the recipient lies down fully clothed while the practitioner places their hands lightly on or just above the body in a sequence of positions, usually starting at the head and moving down the torso. Each position is held for a few minutes. Many people describe the experience as deeply relaxing, with sensations of warmth, tingling, or simply calm. Reiki is not massage and involves no manipulation of the body; it is a subtle, gentle practice.
Reiki training is organized into levels. Students receive an attunement, a ceremony in which a Reiki master opens the student’s energy channels, and then learn hand positions and techniques. The common structure is Reiki I (self-healing and hands-on practice), Reiki II (distant healing and symbols), and Reiki III or master level. To understand the bigger picture of this modality, see our guide to what Reiki healing is.
Chakra healing is a set of practices aimed at clearing blockages and restoring balance in the body’s seven main energy centers, or chakras. The word chakra comes from Sanskrit and means wheel or disk. In Indian yogic and tantric traditions, chakras are described as spinning centers of subtle energy located along the spine, from the base to the crown of the head.
The seven chakras are the root, sacral, solar plexus, heart, throat, third eye, and crown. Each one is associated with a location, a color, and an area of life, such as safety for the root, creativity for the sacral, confidence for the solar plexus, love for the heart, and communication for the throat. When a center is blocked or overactive, practitioners believe the related area of life and body can feel out of balance.
Chakra healing techniques include chakra meditation, breathing exercises, color visualization, seed sound mantras, crystals placed on the centers, and energy work such as sweeping the aura. Unlike Reiki, chakra healing is not a single codified technique with formal levels; it is a family of practices that share the chakra model. Our complete guide to what chakra healing is covers the system in depth.
The core distinction is one of focus and method. Reiki works on the whole energy system by channeling universal life force energy through the practitioner, while chakra healing works on specific energy centers using a range of techniques. Here are the main differences at a glance:
In short, Reiki is one specific method, while chakra healing is a broader approach organized around the chakra map of the body. If you want to compare Reiki with other healing systems more broadly, our post on Reiki versus other healing modalities explains where it fits among energy practices.
For all their differences, the two practices share a common worldview. Both assume that the human body is surrounded by and filled with a subtle energy that influences health and mood, and both aim to restore a smooth, balanced flow of that energy. Both are gentle, non-invasive, and suitable for people who want a relaxing complementary practice. Neither requires the recipient to believe in it for the session to feel pleasant, though regular practice is where the deeper benefits are said to appear.
Both practices also place the recipient in a calm, restful state, which by itself supports the nervous system. Many people use Reiki and chakra healing interchangeably in conversation, and in practice many practitioners are trained in both and blend them freely within a single session.
Choose based on what you are looking for:
If you are unsure where your energy feels stuck, our guide to the signs of blocked chakras can help you identify the center that needs attention first.
Yes, and combining them is common. Many Reiki practitioners work with chakras as part of their sessions, pausing at each hand position to visualize the related center and its color. Many chakra healers, in turn, use Reiki-style hand placements as the energy delivery method while working through the seven centers.
A combined session might look like this: you lie down, the practitioner begins with a few minutes of Reiki to settle your whole energy field, then moves attention center by center, using visualization and light hand placements on the areas of the body where the chakras sit, and finishes with a full-body sweep to smooth the energy again. The two systems complement each other because Reiki provides the flow and chakra healing provides the map.
If you would like to experience either practice, our energy healing services are available online, and we are happy to discuss which approach fits your situation. You can reach us through the contact page to ask questions before booking.
Both practices are generally considered gentle and safe for most people. They are non-invasive, involve no medication, and carry no known physical risks when performed by a trained practitioner. Two cautions are worth keeping in mind. First, neither practice is a substitute for medical care; if you have a diagnosed condition, physical symptoms, or a mental health crisis, consult a qualified healthcare professional first. Second, choose a practitioner with proper training, and tell them about any health conditions or sensitivities before the session begins. A responsible practitioner will never claim to cure illness or pressure you into repeated sessions.
Session prices vary widely by location, practitioner experience, and whether the session is in person or online. In general, a single Reiki or chakra healing session falls in a similar price range, since both are offered by the same kind of practitioner and last roughly the same time, usually 45 to 90 minutes. The bigger difference is in training costs. Reiki training has fixed levels with a fee per level, while chakra healing courses are usually part of broader meditation or yoga programs. Distance sessions, whether Reiki or chakra focused, tend to cost less than in-person sessions and can be booked from anywhere.
No. Reiki is a specific Japanese technique that channels universal life force energy through hand placements, while chakra healing is a broader set of practices that focus on balancing the seven energy centers. They are related but distinct.
Neither is better overall. Reiki is better if you want a structured, passive, whole-body relaxation session. Chakra healing is better if you want targeted work on a specific center and enjoy meditation and self-practice. Many people use both.
Many do. Reiki hand positions naturally cover the areas where the major chakras sit, and most modern Reiki training includes the chakra system as part of the curriculum, even though Reiki itself does not require it.
Yes. Chakra meditation, breathing exercises, color visualization, and working with crystals can all be done at home. Reiki self-treatment is also possible after Reiki I training, but receiving a session from a practitioner is the usual way to experience it.
There is no fixed number. Some people feel a difference after one session, while others book a series of three to six sessions for deeper or long-standing patterns. Practitioners usually recommend starting with one session and deciding from how you feel afterwards.
No. Both are complementary practices with roots in spiritual traditions, Reiki in Japanese spirituality and chakra healing in Indian yogic philosophy, but neither requires any religious belief and both are practised by people of many faiths and none.
Yes. Many practitioners blend Reiki and chakra work in a single session, using Reiki hand placements while focusing on specific centers. If you want this, ask the practitioner when booking so they can structure the session for you.
Reiki and chakra healing answer the same question in different ways. Reiki offers a simple, universal flow of energy delivered through the practitioner’s hands, while chakra healing offers a detailed map of the body’s energy centers and targeted ways to clear each one. Whichever you try first, both are gentle entry points into energy work, and they combine beautifully for anyone who wants the relaxation of Reiki with the precision of chakra work. If you are still unsure which to book, reach out through our contact page and we will help you decide.
Choose what you're looking for. You can choose multiple options.
