Ten years ago, on July 12, 2015, I took my first Reiki training—and I had no idea how profoundly it would change my life.
My first Reiki experience wasn’t exactly inspiring. Sometime in 2014 or 2015, a colleague from the German House offered to share Reiki with me during our lunch break in midtown Manhattan. She promised it would help with my chronic shoulder pain. Nothing happened. I dismissed it as nonsense, woo-woo, and magical thinking.
But that changed when I met a woman named Priya. During my first Reiki session with her, I experienced something I hadn’t felt in a long time: deep relaxation, a sense of calm, and relief. It wasn’t a miracle cure. It took several sessions. But my body finally began to unwind. As the tension eased, so did the racing thoughts in my mind.
What I didn’t realize at the time was that this session marked the beginning of an entirely new path. Priya invited me to join a meditation group, and through that experience, I learned about an upcoming Reiki 1 training.
That class became my turning point. When I heard the Reiki precepts for the first time, a switch turned in my head. It was like someone handed me permission to be kind to myself. I began to see just how much pressure I’d been putting on myself, how long I’d been moving through life pushing myself and striving for perfection.
Reiki has given me another way. It is my anchor, my daily practice, my way of connecting with my body, my breath, and my inner world. It helps me become present and deepen my relationships—with myself and with others.
Now, a decade later, I continue to grow and learn as I support others as a Reiki Master practitioner and teacher. Reiki has taught me to stop pushing the river and start trusting the flow of life. To listen to life’s invitations, like this conversation for the FlashZone Project.
Today, I’m honored to not only work with individuals seeking relief and renewal, but also to mentor fellow Reiki practitioners as they build personal or professional practices rooted in compassion and confidence.
Whether you're new to Reiki or reconnecting with it, I’m here to support your journey—so you can come home to yourself, one breath, one session, one step at a time.
May you experience CALM, LOVE, and PEACE – today and every day.
About Andrea Deierlein & Thrive Reiki, LLC: Andrea's work specializes in helping people transform the pain of life challenges and daily adversity through the practice of Reiki. She helps people struggling with stress, anxiety and overwhelm, to relax, calm down and breathe again. Focusing on stress management and the mind-body-connection, her clients shift out of survival mode, build focus and resilience. Connect with her on www.thrivereiki.com or follow her on Instagram @andreadeierlein