Reiki Master and Founder of the NYC Reiki Center
Brian Brunius is a Reiki Master Instructor and founder of the NYC Reiki Center, one of New York City’s most established centers for traditional Usui Shiki Ryoho Reiki. With over 32 years of experience, Brian has devoted his life to Reiki practice, healing, and teaching.
His journey began in the early 1990s and evolved into a full-time vocation rooted in service and spiritual growth. Known for his depth of knowledge and grounded presence, Brian has helped thousands of clients and students experience the benefits of Reiki.
Early Journey into Reiki
Brian’s journey into Reiki began in 1993, during a period of personal exploration and spiritual awakening. Drawn to the practice for its simplicity and depth, he began studying under John Harvey Gray—one of the original Reiki Masters trained by Hawayo Takata, who brought Reiki to the West.
By 1995, Brian had completed his First and Second Degree trainings, and in 1997, he founded his first Reiki practice, Loving Heart Reiki. For nearly a decade, he offered treatments to clients as a Level 2 practitioner, gaining valuable experience while balancing a parallel career in the media industry. During this time, he produced educational content for WNET, New York’s PBS station, and further deepened his professional development by earning an MBA from Villanova University in 2005. further developing the communication skills that would later shape his teaching style.
Master Apprenticeship and Teaching
In January 2007, Brian embarked on an intensive Master apprenticeship under the guidance of Elaine Abrams, a fellow Reiki Master trained by John Harvey Gray. This rigorous 3.5-year training encompassed approximately 2,000 hours of hands-on experience, during which Brian assisted in classes and honed his skills in both practice and instruction. Upon completing his apprenticeship in 2010, he received his Master initiation from Elaine Abrams, marking the beginning of his journey as a Reiki teacher.
Establishing NYC Reiki Center.
Concurrent with his Master training, Brian founded the NYC Reiki Center in 2007, transitioning to a full-time Reiki practice. Since then, he has trained over 4,500 students across the United States in traditional Reiki and has initiated nine Reiki Masters. His teachings emphasize the importance of lineage, daily practice, and the transformative power of Reiki.
Contributions and Ongoing Work
Beyond his teaching, Brian is a Board member of The Reiki Alliance, an international community of Reiki Masters dedicated to the practice of Usui Shiki Ryoho. He has served in various roles, including Northeast USA Local Representative, and Finance Administrator.
In 2013, Brian founded Reiki Centers of America, a non-profit organization committed to preserving the early teachings of Reiki and supporting practitioners in establishing successful Reiki businesses. The organization has collaborated with Reiki historian Dr. Justin B. Stein to translate and republish the 1933 Reiki classic “Reiki tō Jinjutsu” by Kaiji Tomita.
Brian is also the author of Walk in Power, Live in Prayer: Six Principles to Make Your Prayers Powerful (2014), a guide that introduces readers to spiritual principles and practices designed to enhance the efficacy of prayer.
In 2022, Brian spearheaded the 40th-anniversary reissue of Reiki: The Grey Book, a historically significant text originally compiled in 1982 by Alice Takata Furumoto following the passing of her mother, Hawayo Takata. This limited edition of 1,500 exact replicas was produced in partnership with the Office of the Grandmaster and the Estate of Phyllis Lei Furumoto. The reprint faithfully mirrors the original, featuring content in both English and Japanese, including Takata’s diary entries, the Hayashi Reiki Therapy Guide, and “The Art of Healing” essay. To make this resource widely accessible, Brian also launched ReikiGreyBook.com, offering the full contents of the book translated into multiple languages, including Dutch, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Ukrainian, Polish and Spanish.
Through his dedication to teaching, mentorship, and community building, Brian continues to inspire and guide individuals on their Reiki journeys, fostering a deeper connection to healing and spiritual growth.