Within the traditional Japanese system of Reiki, breath and mind are central. Hands-on treatment is one expression of practice, supported by the foundation of how we breathe, how we focus, and where we rest our attention. Koki Hō and Seishin Tōitsu are companion practices that help cultivate a steady inner base.

Koki Hō (呼気法): Healing with the Breath

Koki Hō is the “method of exhalation” or “healing with the breath”. This practice involves drawing Reiki through the body into the hara and gently breathing it out through the mouth toward a specific area. It is used to direct Reiki when hands-on contact is difficult, such as with burns, acute pain, or when a recipient prefers not to be touched.

Inner Qualities of the Practice:

• Compassion: Allowing a sincere wish for the person’s wellbeing to fill you.
• Soft Focus: Awareness resting in the hara rather than in the thinking mind.
• Non-forcing: The breath is natural, steady, and unhurried.
• Radiance: Recognizing that Reiki radiates from the whole body, eyes, and posture.

How to Practice:

1. Preparation: Sit comfortably with your spine relaxed and natural. Bring hands into Gassho at the chest. Allow attention to sink to the hara—the area a few finger-widths below the navel. Stay for a few breaths, feeling the movement of breath under your hands.
2. Connect and Notice: Gently invite Reiki. Rest one hand over the area in need, or place your awareness there. Notice sensations like heaviness, tightness, buzzing, or a “pull” of attention.
3. Inhale Into The Hara: Inhale slowly through the nose. Let the breath travel down into the lower belly. Sense Reiki drawing in through the crown and hands, gathering at the hara as soft light or warmth. A simple felt sense is enough.
4. Exhale Through The Mouth: Shape the lips into a small “o” and exhale slowly through the mouth. Let the breath travel toward the area you are supporting, carrying the gathered light from your hara. The exhale is gentle, not forced. You can imagine it as a warm breeze or a quiet stream of light.
5. Repeat In Short Cycles: Continue for 3–9 breaths. Between sets, rest in natural breathing and notice any shift in sensation. (If practicing with another person, keep your mouth a respectful distance from the area) .

Seishin Tōitsu (精神統一): Unifying the Mind

Seishin Tōitsu is the practice of “unifying the mind” or “gathering mind and spirit”. It is a meditation that uses Gassho and breath to bring the mind, intention, and hara together as one. It trains you to gather scattered attention into a single, steady flow.

How to Practice:

1. Preparation: Sit comfortably on a chair or the floor. Bring the hands into Gassho with the middle fingers lightly touching. Close the eyes or soften the gaze. Quietly recall the Gokai.
2. Establish The Hara: Bring awareness to the hara and feel the gentle rise and fall of the breath. Soften the jaw, throat, and shoulders.
3. Inhale Through The Hands: As you inhale through the nose, imagine light entering through the palms and middle fingers. Let this light travel down the arms into the hara. Trust whatever you sense, even if subtle.
4. Exhale Back Through The Hands: As you exhale, allow the light to remain in the hara while a portion of it travels back out through the arms and hands. Notice if your hands grow warm, heavy, or buzzing. You are not pushing; you are letting the flow move naturally in two directions while the hara stays steady.
5. Continue The Circulation: Continue for 5–15 minutes. If the mind wanders, bring awareness back to the feeling of light moving between hands and hara. Over time, the sense of separation softens until the whole body feels like one field of presence.

Practical Application & Daily Rhythm

• Morning Practice: 5 minutes of Joshin Kokyu Hō followed by 5–10 minutes of Seishin Tōitsu.
• Before Self-Treatment: 3 minutes of Seishin Tōitsu to gather the mind.
• Integration: Use Koki Hō on areas that feel tender or busy. Use it during daily life, such as on a train or before sleep.
• Workday Close: Use Seishin Tōitsu to return attention to the hara and hands instead of a digital screen.

Safety Guidelines:

• Keep the breath natural; if you feel dizzy or strained, shorten the breath and rest.
• Practice where you can relax fully.
• If living with significant mental health or respiratory conditions, treat the breath gently and stay in contact with medical support.
• Reiki practice does not replace medical or psychological care.