Reiki Course in Al Barsha: Levels, Practice Hours and How to Begin
Dr S Pujah explains the three reiki levels, the practice hours she suggests between them, and how to begin a reiki course in Al Barsha, Dubai.
By Dr S Pujah
A good reiki course in Al Barsha takes you through three levels at your own pace: Level 1 for self-practice, Level 2 for symbols and distance practice, and the Master level for teaching. Between each level you build steady practice hours on yourself before moving on. You begin with one simple step: a Level 1 class and a daily routine.
I teach reiki in person in Al Barsha, Dubai, and online for students who live further away. Over the years I have noticed that the people who enjoy reiki most are not the ones who rush through every level in a month. They are the ones who approach each level as a season of practice. Below I walk you through how the levels work, how much practice I suggest, and how to start without overthinking it.
What reiki is, and what it is not
Reiki is a Japanese practice of placing the hands lightly on or just above the body and resting attention there. It grew out of the teachings of Mikao Usui in the early twentieth century and has since travelled around the world through a long chain of teachers and students.
In my classes I present reiki as a practice and a tradition. It is a way to slow down, pay attention and create a calm, caring space for yourself and others. It is not a replacement for a doctor, and I never ask students to make promises about outcomes. What I do ask is that you show up, practise honestly and notice what changes in your own routine.
Many students tell me they come for one reason and stay for another. Someone may arrive curious about energy and leave with a nightly habit that helps them wind down after a long day and the Sheikh Zayed Road traffic. That quiet shift is what reiki does best.
The three levels of a reiki course in Al Barsha
Most traditional Usui reiki training follows three levels. Different schools use different names, but the structure is broadly the same.
Level 1 (Shoden): practice for yourself
Level 1 is about you. You receive your first attunement, learn the hand positions for self-practice and understand the basic principles of reiki. We also cover the five reiki principles, which many students write on a card and keep by their bed.
- History and lineage of the practice
- Self-practice hand positions, head to feet
- The five reiki principles and how to use them daily
- How to sit with a friend or family member for a short session
Level 2 (Okuden): symbols and distance practice
Level 2 introduces the traditional symbols and how they are used. You learn distance practice, which simply means sending reiki intention to a person, place or situation that is not in the room with you. This level suits people who want to offer sessions to friends, family or, later, to clients.
Master level (Shinpiden): deepening and teaching
The Master level is for students who want to deepen their own practice and, if they choose, teach others. It includes the master symbol, the attunement process and guidance on how to hold a class responsibly. I only suggest this level once a student has a solid personal practice behind them.
How many practice hours I suggest between levels
This is the question I am asked most often, so let me be clear. There is no single official number. What I share with my students is a rhythm that has worked well in my own teaching.
- After Level 1: practise on yourself every day for 21 days. This is a long-standing tradition in many reiki lineages. Fifteen to thirty minutes is enough. After the 21 days, keep a lighter routine of three to five sessions a week.
- Before Level 2: wait at least four to six weeks after Level 1, and give a handful of short sessions to family or friends so the hand positions feel natural.
- Before the Master level: I prefer students to have several months of regular Level 2 practice. You should feel at ease using the symbols, giving full sessions and holding quiet space for another person.
Keep a simple practice journal. Write the date, how long you practised and one line about what you noticed. Over time this journal becomes your own map of the practice, and it is far more useful than counting certificates.
What a class in Al Barsha looks like
An in-person class in Al Barsha is small and unhurried. We start with a short grounding exercise, move into theory, then spend most of the time practising. I believe reiki is learned through the hands, not through slides.
A typical Level 1 day includes:
- A welcome circle and a few minutes of breath awareness
- The story of reiki and its principles
- Your attunement, done quietly one person at a time
- Guided self-practice, followed by practice in pairs
- Time for questions and a clear plan for your next 21 days
If you cannot travel to Al Barsha, the online format follows the same structure. Distance attunements are part of the tradition, and many of my online students in Abu Dhabi, the wider GCC and Singapore practise with the same commitment as those in the room.
Who a reiki course suits
Reiki suits a wider range of people than many expect. In my classes I meet:
- Professionals who want a calm, screen-free ritual at the end of the day
- Parents who want a gentle way to help children settle at bedtime
- Yoga and wellness teachers who want to add reiki to their own practice
- People exploring a future career in holistic wellness
You do not need any previous experience, special clothing or a particular belief. You only need curiosity and the willingness to practise. If you have a health concern, keep seeing your doctor; reiki sits alongside ordinary care, never instead of it.
How to choose the right reiki teacher
Dubai has many reiki options, so it is worth asking a few questions before you book. These are the ones I would ask if I were starting today:
- Lineage: can the teacher explain where their training comes from?
- Class size: will you get personal attention during practice?
- Practice time: is most of the class hands-on, or mostly talk?
- Support afterwards: can you ask questions during your 21 days?
- Honesty: does the teacher avoid promising outcomes? A responsible teacher talks about practice, not miracles.
Trust how you feel when you speak to them. Reiki is a relationship with a teacher as much as a set of techniques.
How to begin this month
Starting is simpler than most people think. Here is the path I suggest:
- Choose a Level 1 date that gives you a calm week afterwards, not your busiest work week.
- Set aside a quiet corner at home for your daily practice, with a cushion and soft light.
- Buy a small notebook for your practice journal.
- Tell one person at home what you are doing, so they can give you space for 20 minutes a day.
- After the course, practise every day for 21 days before you think about Level 2.
That is all. No pressure, no rush. A reiki course is the start of a habit, and good habits grow slowly.
Dr S Pujah teaches reiki in person in Al Barsha, Dubai, and online for students across Abu Dhabi, the GCC and Singapore.
If you feel ready to take the first step, you can see the reiki courses and upcoming class dates and choose the level that fits where you are today. I look forward to practising with you.
Questions people ask
How long does a reiki course in Al Barsha take to complete?
Level 1 is usually a single day or two half days. I suggest at least four to six weeks of daily and then regular self-practice before Level 2, and several months of steady Level 2 practice before the Master level. Most students move through all three levels over many months, at a pace that suits their own routine and life.
Do I need any experience before starting reiki Level 1?
No experience is needed. Level 1 is designed for complete beginners and begins with the history of reiki, its five principles and the self-practice hand positions. All you need is curiosity, comfortable clothing and the willingness to practise for around fifteen to thirty minutes a day for the 21 days after your class.
Can I learn reiki online instead of in person?
Yes. Distance attunements are part of the reiki tradition, and the online classes follow the same structure as the in-person ones, with guided practice and time for questions. Many students in Abu Dhabi, the wider GCC and Singapore learn online and keep the same daily practice journal as students who join in the room.
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