I found Reiki on the sofa. Sick again.
Too tired to do anything else.
It was 2020. I was having another flare, one of many, and I was lying on the sofa looking for something to watch. I ended up on The Goop Lab on Netflix, on the episode about energy healing.
I got chills watching it. Not the skeptical kind, but the kind that mean pay attention. I Googled "energy healer near me" and booked an appointment before I could talk myself out of it.
I had no idea what Reiki was. I showed up harried from work, probably with a diet soda in hand, and lay down on the table.
I couldn't lay still. My Reiki Master and teacher, Nikki L. Ward, still talks about what a fidgety client I was in those early sessions. My body was so dysregulated that it couldn't even rest properly. There was just too much it hadn't been able to process.
But something kept bringing me back. I'd come in scattered and leave feeling like me again. I didn't understand why. I just kept going.
As the months passed, the sessions deepened. I started to change - not just physically, but in ways I hadn't expected. I became quieter inside. Clearer. More able to hear what my body was actually telling me.
I didn't give Reiki enough credit for years. It wasn't until I lost my job and finally had time to fully lean into my healing that I understood how much it had been doing, quietly, all along.
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In September 2023, I gutted my diet and stopped my medications - and for the first time in years, my mind cleared enough to hear what my body had been trying to tell me.
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In May 2024, after months of stillness and slowly coming back to myself, I took Reiki Level I - just for myself.
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In September 2024, I took Reiki Level II.
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In May 2025, I became a Reiki Master.
All trained under Nikki L. Ward, Certified Medical Reiki Master and Reiki Master Teacher in two traditional lineages, based in Ellicott City, Maryland. If you are interested in learning Reiki yourself, I recommend her without reservation.
nikkilward.com
How is Reiki different from Spinal Flow?
Both practices work with the nervous system. Both support your body's own ability to heal. But they come at it differently.
Spinal Flow is a hands-on technique with a specific protocol. It locates blockages along the spine and releases them through targeted light touch. It's precise, structured, and grounded in the science of the nervous system.
Reiki works with the whole body's energy field, following what the body needs rather than a fixed protocol. It tends to feel more meditative and surrender-based. Less about locating a specific thing and more about creating the conditions for the body to do its own work.
Some clients do both. I've started combining them back-to-back for clients seeking deeper healing. Spinal Flow to address the nervous system directly, followed by Reiki to support the energetic integration. The results have been remarkable.
There are many ways to regulate the nervous system. Spinal Flow and Reiki are two of the most effective I've found. The right one depends on where you are and what your body is asking for.
If you're not sure, that's exactly what the free consultation call is for.
My Reiki lineage
I trained entirely under Nikki L. Ward — Certified Medical Reiki Master, Reiki Master Teacher in two traditional lineages, and one of the most respected Reiki teachers in the Maryland and DC area.
My lineage in the Usui Shiki Ryoho tradition runs:
Mikao Usui → Chujiro Hayashi → Hawayo Takata →
Libby Barnett → Nikki L. Ward → Amanda Fries
Nikki has been practicing Reiki since 2009 and teaching since 2010. She is a member of the International Association of Reiki Professionals and has trained with some of the most gifted teachers in the world.
I am a proud product of her teaching. She was endlessly patient with the most fidgety student she had ever seen — and I am living proof that Reiki works even when you can barely lay still on the table.
If you are interested in learning Reiki yourself, I recommend Nikki without reservation.
You can find her at nikkilward.com.
Ready to begin? Here's how it works.
⭐ Starter Pack
Most Popular
$240 for 3 Sessions
Includes:
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Your initial 1.5-hour appointment + first session
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Two follow-up 1-hour sessions
Most people leave their first session wondering why they waited so long. By the third, something has genuinely changed..
Initial Session:
$75 · 1.5 hours
Includes:
a full intake conversation, Q&A with Amanda, and your first complete Reiki session.
After your initial session, continue with:
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Pay as you go: $125/session
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4-session pack: $100/session ($400)
Reiki works best with consistency. I recommend weekly sessions to start.
Common Questions
What does Reiki feel like?
Most people feel deep relaxation almost immediately. Many experience warmth, tingling, or a sense of heaviness in the body, the kind of heaviness that means you've finally let go of something. Some people feel emotional with tears or unexpected relief. Some simply fall asleep. All of these are normal and welcome.
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Do I need to believe in Reiki for it to work?
No. Your body doesn't require belief, it just requires presence. Many of my most skeptical clients have had the most profound experiences. Show up with curiosity and an open mind. That's enough.
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Is it the same as massage?
No. Reiki is not massage. There is no manipulation of muscles or tissue. The touch is extremely light or can be done with no touch at all. You remain fully clothed. The work is energetic rather than physical, though the physical effects are very real.
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How is it different from Spinal Flow?
Spinal Flow works specifically along the spine and nervous system using a structured protocol. Reiki works with the whole body's energy field in a more flowing way. Both support nervous system regulation. Some clients do both. I've started combining them back-to-back for clients seeking deeper healing.
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How often should I come?
I recommend weekly sessions to start, especially if you're navigating something specific. Once you start to feel the shift, you can reduce to every two weeks or monthly maintenance. Your body will tell you what it needs, and I'll help you listen.
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Can Reiki help with [specific condition]?
Reiki doesn't treat specific conditions. It supports your nervous system and energy field so your body can do its own work. Clients have used Reiki sessions as a complement to their care while navigating anxiety, depression, chronic pain, grief, burnout, cancer treatment, fertility challenges, and more. I am not a medical provider. Always continue working with your healthcare team.
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Do you do distance Reiki?
Not currently. I practice in person at my Ellicott City location. If this is something you're interested in for the future, feel free to ask me about it on the consultation call.