NaturalHealingCenter.com - Online Store and Resource Center

Reiki - Qigong - Tai Chi

Reiki Master, Qigong - Ba Duan Jin and Tai Chi Chuan Teacher Barbara Ferretti Matsuura Tokyo Interview

Q. You founded the Integrated Healing Arts Centre in Tokyo, Japan; what do you mean by Integrated Healing Arts?

There are various modalities of healing arts. The ones I practice are Reiki Healing, Reiki with Gemstones Healing, Zen Shiatsu Massage, & Qigong Healing. The treatments I give are healing treatments which on their own provide balance in the human body, mind and spirit through clearing of blockages in the body’s inner energy system. These healing treatments also complement Western medicine, and can be used safely together.


Qigong in the snow - Barbara Ferretti Matsuura

I teach Qigong /Ba Duan Jin and Tai Chi Chuan which are Internal Martial Arts for Health and Longevity. In addition to giving the above described treatments, I like to advise my clients to study Qigong and TaiChi so that they can keep up with their own healing through a daily exercise regimen. One can do an exercise regimen of 20 min in the morning and evening, and it will keep the energy flowing through thereby releasing toxins and stresses and refreshing the mind and body. This is what is meant by integrated. Reiki, Shiatsu, and Qigong treatments as well as each person doing their daily practice keeps the body, mind and spirit in a total healthy balance.

Q. How does Reiki work and how can that help one’s health?

Reiki is an ‘intelligent energy’. Reiki is Universal Life Force energy. As long as something exists there is life force in it. ‘Rei’ means universal, or spiritual and ‘ki’ means energy.

Reiki is a gentle, safe “hands-on” technique used to amplify the Universal life force energy which naturally flows through us all. When Reiki is directed through the recipient, the body and mind are balanced. This in turn awakens and develops our natural healing ability. Reiki thus in turn reduces stress and encourages clarity and vitality. As the recipient’s energy is brought into balance, she usually feels a deep sense of relaxation and warmth. Continuous Reiki treatments release old thoughts and patterns in our life that obstruct our balance and create dis-ease.

Reiki provides a deep state of relaxation where any energy blockages in our system are released creating a free flow to all parts of the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual bodies.

Reiki can be learned as well. In result, the client does not always have to rely on the Practitioner, but will be able to maintain her health by herself, with occasional treatments from the Practitioner.

Q. How does the Zen Shiatsu massage work and help to improve one’s health?

Zen Shiatsu is a healing type of shiatsu. Shiatsu massage does not have to hurt to be effective. In other types of massage or shiatsu massage it is often rather rough and there is sometimes a feeling that more pain has been created, then naturally the body fights back and after such a massage a person can feel rather exhausted and sore, BUT Zen Shiatsu is a soft approach with a profound feeling at the end.

Zen Shiatsu is a method of pressure on the acu-points (tsubo) of the meridians (energy lines) in the physical body. This practice came to Japan from China more than 1000 years ago. Chinese doctors practice acupuncture to cure and prevent many illnesses. Acupuncture is the insertion of thin needles to acu-points in the meridian system. Shiatsu works in the same way but without the intrusion of needles. Shiatsu is a form of manipulative therapy administered by the thumbs, fingers, palms, elbows, and knees. Pressure applied on certain points of the skin stimulates the body’s natural recuperative powers. This is a gentle and healing type of Shiatsu. Regular periodic Shiatsu therapy has the effect of creating a self-defence mechanism that increases the body’s powers of resistance and thus lowers the likelihood of sickness. Once again the meridian system is opened and freed of blockages, and the inner energy system can become free flowing without any obstruction barring its way. Once again there is a feeling of total integration of all aspects of ourselves, relaxed and free.

Q. What are Qigong and Tai Chi? What is the difference and how can the practice of these empower the human body?

The word “Qigong” pronounced ‘chee’ gong, comes from two Chinese characters; “Qi” meaning energy and ‘gong’ meaning skill. Qigong is the general term for the various Internal Martial Arts practices.

Tai Chi on Mitake San (mountain) in Japan

There are many forms of Qigong and many different usages. Qigong is like the big umbrella that contains Ba Duan Jin and Tai Chi Chuan which is commonly referred to as Tai Chi amongst many others.

One of the Qigong practices I teach is Ba Duan Jin, translated as ‘The Eight Pieces of Brocade”. The Chinese likened good health to the brilliant weave of the brocade material. Ba Duan Jin consists of 8 separate but consecutive forms, each one profound in meaning and result. In essence, it opens and frees the entire meridian system allowing the energy to flow freely unimpeded throughout the physical body. Ba Duan Jin is easy to learn and remember. Practiced daily, it keeps the energy flowing freely throughout the body which helps the blood circulation as well. If there are any weaknesses in the body, or poorly functioning organs, the effect of the energy getting to these places causes the functioning of the organs to improve. This also helps with such conditions as various forms of arthritis, rheumatism, disturbances in the nervous system, etc.

We usually see people practicing Tai Chi Chuan in the parks in early morning moving in slow motion. There are many forms of Tai Chi and 5 different main schools. I teach what is called the Yang 24 Form.

Some effects of practicing Tai chi are:
• Tai Chi Chuan rebuilds one’s spirit and body. It removes both spiritual and physical defects in all parts of the body.

• It is a form of Meditation. Long practice of sitting Meditation may hinder blood circulation, but Tai Chi Chuan helps to quicken it. It also helps to bring about the peace of mind and the exercise of breathing as desired by those who practice Meditation. It is referred to as ‘Zen in Motion’.

• It can change the weight of the body and adjust the physique, creating a solid healthy body.

• It promotes digestion and enables the stomach to absorb the nourishment from food more efficiently.

• It makes unusually sound kidneys, which are a great help to all other parts of the body.

• It lowers blood pressure and softens blood vessels, so as to prevent apoplexy.

• It prevents lime formation or precipitation in the bones of old people, such as is likely to cause paraplegia.

• It regulates blood circulation, thus preventing paralysis, cramping, etc.

• It is a diuretic and laxative, and cleans the digestive organs.

• It wastes no energy, causes no panting, promotes perspiration, eliminates wastes and expels superfluous dampness and excessive water in the body.

• It promotes the assimilation of nourishment from food, and so mends the bones and marrow. It makes one indefatigable, and capable of performing hard work.

• It strengthens the skin, and keeps it free from eruptions, etc.

• The brain also becomes more sensitive and active.

• These are just some of the benefits of performing Qigong & Tai Chi Chuan.

Q. What then is the Qigong Healing and Qigong Beauty Facelift Rejuvenation? How does it differ from the practices of Qigong and Tai Chi Chuan?

Before and After Qigong Beauty Rejuvenation Energy Facelift

First of all Qigong and Tai Chi Chuan are Self practices that we perform daily to keep our body mind and spirit in balance, this in turn keeps us in optimum health.

In the case of Qigong Healing, this is a healing done by a practitioner for the client using the Universal Nature Energy to change the condition or what we refer to as an unbalanced condition ‘dis-ease’ in the body to a condition of balance and health. It is basically a hands-off treatment.

Qigong Beauty Facelift Rejuvenation is a method by which the practitioner uses very little lotion and a bit of water on the face, and mostly Qi energy from the Universal Nature. The practitioner works at the ‘micro-world’ level.

Q. How will mixing Reiki, Shiatsu, Qigong and TaiChi Chuan help one’s health and increase one’s natural healing power?

I believe an integrated approach is necessary to good health. Regular periodic treatments of Reiki or Shiatsu, continuous daily practices of exercise and meditation with Qigong and Tai Chi Chuan, clears and tones our energy system as well as our physical body creating a self-defence mechanism that increases the body’s powers of resistance and thus lowers the likelihood of sickness.

Q. How does natural healing differ from Western medicine and is it safe to use western medication while practicing the Internal Healing Arts?

Western medicine addresses the effects or symptoms of a disease or imbalance in the body. We have very good medicines these days, so I believe that in combination with modern western medicine we should practice the internal healing arts, as they will complement each other. The Healing treatments I give and the exercises I teach are not meant to replace proper western medical treatments, but often clients find that with continued healing treatments and their own daily exercise practice their health improves to a point that their physician may lower the dosages or eliminate certain medicine that they no longer require. I might remind you that one should always consult his physician before embarking on any physical exercise.

Reiki treatment using crystals


Reiki Treatment

Q. What is the Belavi Facelift Massage and how does it differ from the Qigong Beauty Rejuvenation Energy Facelift?

Belavi, comes from “La vie belle”, ‘beautiful life’ and was developed in the USA by Belle Tuckerman, a massage therapist, esthetician and researcher who wanted to create a treatment that totally immersed the client in a nurturing environment; one in which that person would feel safe, special, and pampered. She wanted to help people feel good about themselves.

Before and after Belavi Facelift Massage

The Belavi Facelift Massage is a technique that combines stimulating, lightly lifting movements with special toning strokes and acupressure. This approach effectively treats the problems of sagging, aging skin and circulatory systems, assists in regenerating collagen and elastin, and reduces facial wrinkles. Like a trainer at a gym who guides you to work certain exercises to lift and tone various muscles, the Belavi Facelift massage teaches your facial muscles to lift and tone. It is a treatment of about 90 min. and is very pampering. The results are that the facial skin is replenished in moisture and elastin and uplifted. The client feels extremely relaxed and revived.

Qigong Beauty Rejuvenation Energy Facelift
This method is one that is purely energy work. There is no hands-on massage but only a bit of hands resting on a towel on the face, and working in the aura of the client.

Qigong Beauty Facelift Rejuvenation is a method by which the practitioner uses very little lotion and a bit of water on the face, and mostly Qi energy from the Universal Nature. The practitioner works at the ‘microworld’ level. The client can see and feel the changes in the facial structure, the uplifting and the softness of their skin. In addition to the face becoming uplifted and rejuvenated, the added bonus is that the body will also respond. The practitioner works at the microworld level, so the cells that are created are not just in the face but throughout the body and mind.

Both of these treatments are very relaxing and energising at the same time. Both of them create similar effects.

Ba Duan Chin the 8 Piece Brocade Yomeji Style

With which modality would you suggest one start?
I would suggest that one start with Reiki. After a couple of treatments one can begin to feel changes happening. I also suggest that one begin a program of Qigong exercises and Tai Chi as this will benefit the person long term.

I would encourage people to try the other treatments as well to keep themselves in tip top shape, FACE, MIND, BODY… and your SPIRIT will soar! You will feel good about yourself, what you are doing for yourself and thus in turn create happiness abounding around you! Welcome!

See Barbara’s website

Home • Naturopath • Aromatherapist • SHOPPING ONLINE • Contact Us
Healers, Teachers & Creative People • Magazine - Online • Useful Info
Meditation, Mantras & Prayer • Vegetarian Info • Famous Vegetarians • Links