Gassho (合掌) means "palms together." The two hands are joined lightly in front of the chest, fingers pointing upward — a gesture of respect and gathering found throughout Japanese practice.
The posture
Sit comfortably with a straight but relaxed back. Bring the palms together at the level of the heart, with the fingertips at about the height of the nose and the elbows softly away from the body. Let the shoulders drop and the breath settle. The touch between the hands is gentle — enough to feel, not to press.
Gassho meditation
Held on its own, gassho becomes a short meditation. Rest your attention on the point where the two middle fingers meet and follow the breath. When the mind wanders, simply return to that point. A few minutes morning and evening is a traditional way to steady the practice.
"Focus the mind at the point where the two middle fingers meet, and breathe."
In a session
Gassho marks the beginning and end of most Reiki sessions. Practitioners pause in the posture to settle and set an intention before placing the hands, and return to it at the close as a small gesture of gratitude. It is also the posture in which the five principles are traditionally recited.
A posture of humility
Beyond its practical use, gassho carries a quiet meaning. Bringing the palms together is, across much of Asia, a gesture of respect and of setting the self aside — an acknowledgement that the practitioner is not the source of anything, only a willing pair of hands.
Held for even a few breaths, it marks a shift out of ordinary busyness and into attention. Many practitioners find that this small act of composure, repeated daily, does as much to shape their practice as any technique.