Wisdom in the Classroom: Reiki Lessons from My Students
/By Jennifer Stano — Last Updated: January 14, 2026
Anyone who has stood up in front of a group knows the scary sensations that often accompany public speaking and teaching … the sweaty palms, trembling voice, a strong urge to disappear into the floor.
I still remember leading my first opening blessing and invocation, early on in my Reiki teaching career. It was nothing short of terrifying! As I was standing in front of the group, I wondered why on earth I had chosen to take on such a scary role, especially as the quiet and shy introvert I had been for most of my life.
But I also remember the day that everything started to shift. I looked around the classroom and found myself flooded with a profound sense of gratitude. I remembered my “why.”
Yes, I wanted to share this beautiful, ancient teaching that had deeply touched my life. I began teaching Reiki to pass on the skills, the history, the principles and the ability to heal with our hands. But so much more than that, I wanted to create a deeply transformative container for students to experience their own growth and evolution.
Over time, I learned that each student plays a key role in shaping that sacred container. As a teacher, I may be the guide and facilitator, but the students themselves, their curiosity, openness, and quiet vulnerability, that create the life-changing space and energy of a Reiki class.
Of course, the structure and content of the class matters. It creates a safe, grounded space for transformation. But once the class begins, that container fills with something alive and unpredictable: human beings. Each student arrives with their own history, sensitivities, and relationship to energy. Reiki meets each of them differently, and my role as a teacher is not to manage that process, but to listen to it.
This is central to my Reiki Level IV Teacher Training course. We don’t just talk about teaching—we practice being teachers. I offer co-teaching experiences that provide a safety net, allowing students to step into leadership gradually and authentically.
“Confidence doesn’t come from having all the answers, but from being staying present with what unfolds.”
My students have also taught me the power of community. A Reiki class becomes a temporary circle of shared intention—a place of safety, practice, and growth. The bonds that form remind me that Reiki is not meant to be practiced in isolation. Creating an inclusive, respectful, supportive space is just as essential as teaching technique.
Ultimately, teaching Reiki has shown me that mastery is not a destination. Each class, each student, reveals something new—about the practice and about myself. In this way, teaching is its own spiritual path. It invites humility, curiosity, and service.
As a Reiki teacher, I see myself as a fellow traveler—someone who knows the terrain but is still learning with every step.
I may guide the journey, but I am never walking it alone.
