By Vidya Reddy, Holistic Health Expert with 25+ Years in Ayurveda and Wellness | Tea & Turmeric, Laguna Beach
The holidays are beautiful and exhausting in equal measure. Somewhere between the shopping, the family dinners, the end of year pressure at work, and the emotional weight of it all, your nervous system quietly starts waving a white flag.
This is where Reiki comes in. Not as a luxury. Not as something you need to book an appointment for. As something you can do for yourself, right now, in five minutes, sitting exactly where you are.
I want to tell you how I came to Reiki, because it did not happen the way you might expect.
My father was a medical doctor who believed deeply in alternative therapies and energy healing. He introduced me to Reiki almost thirty years ago. And I ran in the other direction. I was young, I thought it sounded too woo woo, and I avoided it like a plague.
But Reiki kept following me.
It followed me all the way to India. I was visiting the Salar Jung Museum in Hyderabad, one of the most extraordinary museums in the world, and I got completely lost in the basement. I stumbled into a room where a flyer caught my eye. A Reiki level one information session was happening right there, right then. I walked in by accident.
The Reiki master took one look at me and said "Welcome, master garu." Garu is a term of deep respect in the Telugu language. I immediately said no, I am so sorry, I am here by mistake, I was lost.
He smiled and said: "We both know this is by mistake. You are here at the right time."
I sat down.
I was initiated into Reiki that day in India and went on to become a Reiki master in Ottawa, Canada, where I ran my private practice for years before co-founding Tea & Turmeric in Laguna Beach.
That story is why I trust this practice completely. And it is why I want to teach it to you.
If you missed the earlier practices, start with Part 1: Boxed Breathing paired with our Eternal Om Tea.
Part 2 pairs the Peace Begins with Me mantra meditation with our Peace of Mind Tea
[Part 4] takes you into Ayurvedic self-massage with our Organic Relaxing Herbal Tea.
Each practice stands on its own, so start wherever feels right.
What Reiki Actually Is
Reiki is an energy healing practice developed in Japan in the late 1800s. The word breaks down simply: Rei means universal, Ki means life energy. It is the practice of working with the energy that runs through all living things to restore balance and ease.
In many ways Reiki is like an active meditation. You are consciously connecting with your own energy and releasing what no longer serves you, so the body, mind, and spirit can receive what they actually need.
Here is the thing most people do not know: you do not need a practitioner to benefit from Reiki. You can do it yourself. Your hands carry energy. Science tells us we are all made of energy (thanks, Einstein). And when you place your hands intentionally on your own body with the conscious intention of releasing stress and inviting calm, something shifts. It is subtle and it is real.
A 2022 systematic review published in Frontiers in Psychology found that Reiki consistently demonstrated a greater therapeutic effect than placebo for clinically relevant levels of stress and depression, and a moderate to high effect for anxiety. Read the full review.
You do not need to fully understand the mechanism for it to work. You just need five minutes and an open mind.
Before You Begin: Brew Your Tea
Before you start the practice, brew a cup of Mindful Meditation Tea. White peony tea, jasmine pearls, and rose petals. It is as close to calm in a cup as I have ever found. The act of brewing it is already the beginning of the practice. Let the aroma do its work before you even sit down.
Hold the warm cup in both hands for a moment before you set it aside. Notice the warmth. Take one slow breath. You are already shifting out of stress mode.
Your Five-Minute Self-Reiki Practice
Find a quiet space. Lie down or sit comfortably. Let yourself disconnect from everything outside this room for the next five minutes.
Step 1: Palms Behind Your Head
Place your hands behind your head, palms cradling the back of your skull. Close your eyes and take three slow, deep breaths. For the next two minutes, focus on your breath and imagine healing energy flowing from your palms into your mind. Picture it gently releasing the thoughts that have been crowding your head, the to-do lists, the worries, the noise. Replacing them with something quieter. Peace, light, a little more space.
Step 2: Hands Over Your Heart
After two minutes, move your hands slowly and rest them gently over your heart. Stay here for another two minutes. Let the warmth of your palms sink in. Imagine that same healing energy flowing into your heart space now, releasing any heaviness you have been carrying. Stress. Disappointment. The weight of trying to make everything perfect for everyone this time of year. Feel your heart getting a little lighter with each breath out.
Step 3: Come Back Gently
Open your eyes slowly. Take a moment before you move. Notice how your mind and body feel together. Then reach for your tea. Take a slow sip. Let the warmth of it meet the calm you just created.
That is it. Five minutes. You just did Reiki on yourself.
The Teas I Created for Moments Like This
Mindful Meditation Tea is the one I reach for during the practice itself. But I also want to mention The Greatest Love Organic Herbal Tea, because the hands-over-heart step in this practice is really an act of self-love. And that tea was made for exactly that kind of moment.
You are the greatest love of your life. That is not a wellness cliche. That is something worth sitting with for five minutes in December, when everything and everyone is pulling at you.
Browse our full Stress and Anxiety Tea collection if you want to explore what else might support you through the rest of the season.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Reiki and how does it work?
Reiki is a Japanese energy healing practice that works with the body's natural energy field to restore balance. The word means universal life energy. During a session, whether with a practitioner or self-administered, hands are placed on or near the body with the intention of channeling healing energy to areas of tension, stress, or imbalance. The research on Reiki is still developing but a 2022 systematic review found it consistently outperformed placebo for clinically relevant stress and depression.
Can I really do Reiki on myself?
Yes, and that is one of the most underappreciated things about this practice. You do not need to be attuned or certified to experience the calming effects of self-Reiki. The simple act of placing warm, intentional hands on your own head and heart while breathing consciously activates your body's parasympathetic nervous system, the same system that tells your body it is safe to relax.
How often should I do this practice during the holidays?
Daily if you can. Even three to four times a week makes a noticeable difference. The five-minute practice in this post is designed to be low-commitment enough that there is no excuse not to do it. The more consistently you practice, the faster your nervous system learns to settle.
What tea works best with a Reiki or meditation practice?
Our [Mindful Meditation Tea](https://teaandturmeric.com/products/meditative-mind-tea) is what I reach for during Reiki. White tea, jasmine pearls, and rose petals create a sensory experience that naturally quiets the mind. The Greatest Love Tea is beautiful for the heart-centered part of the practice. And Peace of Mind Tea from Part 2 of this series works well any time you need to come back to yourself quickly.
Is Reiki a religious practice?
No. Reiki has spiritual roots but it is not affiliated with any religion and does not require any particular belief system. People of all backgrounds and beliefs practice and benefit from it. The only thing it asks of you is a willingness to slow down and pay attention to how you feel.
What if I fall asleep during the practice?
That is your body telling you it needed rest more than anything else. Let it. Sleep is its own form of healing and if five minutes of intentional stillness takes you there, that is not failure. That is success.
Five Minutes Is Enough
You do not need a full retreat or a perfectly quiet house or a practitioner on speed dial. You need five minutes, your own two hands, and the willingness to turn your attention inward for just a moment.
I ended up in a basement in Hyderabad by accident and walked out a Reiki student. The practice has followed me ever since, through a private practice in Canada, through the opening of Tea & Turmeric, through every busy December that has tried to pull me away from stillness.
It works. Not because of anything mystical. Because when you place warm, intentional hands on your own body and breathe slowly, your nervous system responds. Every time.
Give yourself five minutes today. Your nervous system has been asking for it longer than you realize.
Part 4 of this series takes you into Ayurvedic self-massage with our Organic Relaxing Herbal Tea. We will meet you there.
Originally published December 18, 2023. Updated May 16, 2026 with new teas, brewing tips, and frequently asked questions.
About the Author
Vidya is a holistic health practitioner with over 25 years of experience in Ayurveda and wellness, including a private practice in Canada before co-founding Tea & Turmeric in Laguna Beach, Orange County, California. She creates functional herbal teas and spice blends and writes about stress, sleep, digestion, adaptogens, and nervous system support. Her work brings traditional Ayurvedic knowledge into practical everyday rituals. She is the host of The Tea on Wellness Podcast.
Resources and Links
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Tea and Turmeric, 1175 S Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach, California
Shop Online: teaandturmeric.com
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Email: hello@teaandturmeric.com
This post is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult your healthcare provider before beginning any new wellness protocol, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or managing a health condition.
