A retreat into the practice itself

Reiki training can give us the teachings, the methods and the structure, but some understanding can only begin to develop through continued practice. This retreat is not another Reiki level and it is not a weekend of collecting more techniques. It is two full days of entering more deeply into what has already been placed before us.

We will remain with the Gokai, the Hara, the breath, the hands, Reiju and the central practices of Reiki without rushing towards the next subject. There will be teaching throughout the weekend, but much of the learning will come through direct experience. We will practise together, repeat the methods, spend time in silence, work in pairs and small groups, receive guidance where it is needed and allow each person’s understanding to unfold in its own way.

Why I created Retreat Into Practice

The longer I have practiced and taught Reiki, the more I have come to value the foundations. It is easy to believe that depth must come from moving forwards, reaching the next level or learning something new. Yet Reiki often asks us to remain with what is already here.

To sit with the Gokai for longer.

To work with the breath and Hara.

To practise Hatsurei Ho with attention.

To receive Reiju.

To place the hands and listen without deciding in advance what should happen.

I created this retreat because I wanted to offer students and practitioners the time to do that properly. Not as another course to complete, but as a living period of practice.

What we will explore

The exact rhythm of the retreat may vary slightly according to the group, but the weekend may include:

Gassho

the Gokai

Kenyoku Ho

Joshin Kokyu Ho

Hatsurei Ho

Seishin Toitsu

Reiji Ho

self-treatment

hands-on Reiki

Reiju

Hara-centred meditation

standing practice

walking meditation

recitation and chanting

reflective writing

paired and small-group practice

periods of silence

nature contemplation

a 21-day practice commitment

Students who have received Okuden or Shinpiden may also spend time with the symbols and mantras within their own level of practice.

Shoden students will remain fully included through the foundational practices of Reiki, which continue through every stage of the system.

Direct experience

One of the most important parts of this retreat is that each person is allowed to have their own experience. I will not tell you what Reiki should feel like. I will not ask you to search for a sensation, reach a particular state or compare your experience with anyone else’s.

Some practices may feel familiar. Others may be experienced differently when more time is given to them. There may be moments that feel clear, moments that feel ordinary and moments that cannot easily be explained. All of this can belong to practice.

My role is to guide the methods, create the right conditions and give you the time to meet the teachings directly for yourself.

The 2 day retreat

Day One

Entering the practice

The first day begins by gathering the body, breath and mind. We will work with Gassho, the Gokai, Kenyoku Ho, Joshin Kokyu Ho and Hatsurei Ho, with particular attention given to the Hara, posture and awareness. We will take our time with the practices rather than moving quickly through them. The day will also include standing practice, walking meditation, reflection, paired work and hands-on Reiki. You will have opportunities to both offer and receive Reiki. Reiju will also form part of the day.

Day Two

Deepening and integrating

The second day moves further into the relationship between practice and ordinary life. We will explore body, speech and mind, the Gokai as lived teachings, silence within Reiki treatment, compassionate presence and the way Reiki continues beyond formal practice. There will be further Reiju, meditation, hands-on Reiki, movement, nature practice and level appropriate work for Shoden, Okuden and Shinpiden students.

The retreat will close with a 21 day practice commitment. This will not be a long list of everything you feel you should be doing. It will be one clear practice that you can continue with sincerity when you return home.

Hands on Reiki

There will be plenty of time to both offer and receive hands on Reiki. The emphasis will remain on practice rather than interpretation. We will work without diagnosing, directing or deciding what another person needs. Attention will remain with the Hara, the breath, the hands and the person before us.

The practitioner does not need to manufacture an experience, and the person receiving does not need to report one. We practise, we listen and we allow Reiki to unfold in its own way.

Reiju

Reiju is central to the way I understand and teach Reiki. It is not only something received at the beginning of a level and then left behind. Within continued Reiki practice, Reiju may be offered repeatedly as part of the relationship between teacher, student and the teachings. Reiju will be offered during the retreat without spectacle or promise.

Each person may experience it differently, and no response is more valid than another. What matters is how the practice is received and carried forward.

A small retreat

Retreat Into Practice is limited to a maximum of six people. I want the retreat to remain small enough for everyone to take part fully, receive guidance and spend meaningful time both giving and receiving Reiki. A smaller group also allows the weekend to feel more personal and connected. The retreat will run with a minimum of two participants and a maximum of six.

Vegetarian lunch, snacks and refreshments

A delicious vegetarian lunch will be provided on both days, together with snacks, tea, coffee and refreshments. The meal is part of the retreat. There will be time to sit together, eat, talk and allow the group to connect naturally.

Practice can be sincere and focused without becoming severe. Shared food, conversation and laughter belong within the weekend too.

Please provide details of any allergies or dietary requirements when booking. I will do my best to accommodate them, although I cannot guarantee an allergen-free kitchen.

Who this retreat is for

Retreat Into Practice is open to anyone who has received at least Shoden, Reiki First Degree or Reiki Level One within an Usui Reiki lineage. You do not need to have trained with me. You may practise only for yourself, offer Reiki to family and friends or work professionally. You may have trained recently or many years ago.

What matters is that you are willing to enter the weekend with an open mind, take part in the practices and respect the experiences of those around you.

This retreat may be especially meaningful for people who:

• want sustained time within Reiki practice

• value the Japanese foundations of the system

• want to spend longer with the Gokai, Hara and Hatsurei Ho

• would like to both offer and receive Reiki

• appreciate small-group teaching

• want continued practice without moving into another level

• are drawn to meditation, movement, walking and nature practice

• want to meet Reiki through direct experience

What is included

Your place includes:

• two full days of guided Reiki practice

• Reiju

• hands-on Reiki

• paired and small-group practice

• guided meditation

• Hara-centred practice

• movement and walking practice

• nature contemplation

• reflective exercises

• a retreat workbook

• a personal 21-day practice commitment

• vegetarian lunch on both days

• snacks and refreshments

• access to a follow-up recorded practice

The setting

Retreat Into Practice is held at:

Holistic Care Durham Therapy and Training Centre, TS28 5DJ

This is the centre I have created for specifically for Reiki treatment, training, continued practice and the work of The Reiki Dojo. The retreat is non-residential and intentionally small.

The weekend will include teaching, meditation, hands on Reiki, periods of silence, shared food, conversation and community. The atmosphere will be grounded, welcoming and centred upon practice.

About me

I am Leanne Barker, founder of Holistic Care Durham Therapy and Training Centre and The Reiki Dojo. Before moving fully into therapeutic practice and Reiki teaching, I worked for eighteen years as an NHS nurse. That background continues to shape the way I work, particularly my commitment to care, responsibility, honesty and ethical practice.

My teaching is rooted in Usui Reiki Ryoho, Japanese Reiki practices and continued self-cultivation. I have trained many students through Shoden, Okuden and Shinpiden, yet I continue to regard myself as a student of the system.

My understanding continues to develop through daily practice, research and further training. I do not believe we honour Reiki by trying to have all the answers. We honour it by continuing to practise.

Investment

£225 per person

The price includes both retreat days, all teaching and practices, Reiju, the workbook, vegetarian lunches, snacks and refreshments.

The retreat requires a minimum of two participants and is limited to a maximum of six.

Your booking is non-refundable. However, when sufficient notice is given, the value of your booking may be transferred towards:

• the next date of Retreat Into Practice

• eligible Reiki training

• therapies at Holistic Care Durham Therapy and Training Centre

All transfers must be agreed directly with me. If you do not attend and have not contacted me beforehand, the booking will be treated as used.

Should I need to cancel or postpone the retreat, or if the minimum number of participants is not reached, you will be offered a transfer, account credit or a full refund.

Retreat times

Day One

9:30am–5:00pm

Day Two

9:30am–4:00pm

Please arrive with enough time to settle before the opening practice.

What to bring

Please bring:

• comfortable layered clothing

• warm socks

• a notebook and pen

• a yoga mat if you have one

• a blanket

• a cushion if preferred

• a refillable water bottle

• suitable outdoor clothing and footwear

Chairs and meditation cushions will be available throughout the retreat. All practices can be adapted, and no one will be expected to sit, kneel or move in a way that causes discomfort.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to have trained with you?

No. Students from other Usui Reiki lineages are welcome. Some of the teaching may differ from what you have previously learned, but those differences will be approached respectfully.

Can I attend if I am only Shoden or Reiki Level One?

Yes. Any Okuden- or Shinpiden-specific practice will only be offered to students who have received that level.

Is this another Reiki level?

No. Retreat Into Practice is not a replacement for Shoden, Okuden or Shinpiden and does not qualify you for another level.

Will there be hands-on Reiki?

Yes. You will have opportunities to both offer and receive Reiki. All hands-on practice will take place with consent, clear boundaries and appropriate adaptations.

Do I need to sit on the floor?

No. Chairs will be available throughout the weekend.

Will the whole retreat be silent?

No. There will be periods of silence, but there will also be teaching, questions, shared meals, conversation and time to connect.

Is accommodation included?

No. The retreat is non-residential. Local accommodation suggestions can be provided for anyone travelling to County Durham.

Are meals included?

Yes. A vegetarian lunch will be provided on both days, together with snacks and refreshments.

What happens if I cannot attend?

Your booking is non-refundable, but with sufficient notice it may be transferred to the next retreat, eligible Reiki training or therapies at Holistic Care Durham Therapy and Training Centre.

What happens if only one person books?

The retreat requires a minimum of two participants. If the minimum is not reached, you will be offered another date, account credit or a full refund.

Book

Retreat Into Practice

Retreat Into Practice

A Two-Day Reiki Retreat

£225 per person

• Vegetarian lunch, snacks and refreshments included

• Minimum two people | Maximum six people

• For Shoden, Reiki First Degree and above

• Held twice each year at Holistic Care Durham Therapy and Training Centre

There are some teachings that can be explained. Others need to be practiced.