Could you tell us a bit more about your spiritual quest over the years?
Ever since I was a child, I feel I have been guided by the fundamental question, “Why was I born?” This path led me to explore academic fields such as philosophy, psychology, cultural anthropology, Indian philosophy, and animism, deepening my inquiry into the heart and spirit. Simultaneously, through practices like dance and yoga, I have layered in an approach that begins from the body. Learning and practice, mind, body, and spirit—these seemingly separate paths eventually converged into one. They continue to resonate with each other internally, leading me to where I am today.
After such a deep spiritual quest, what are the core values and stances that guide your work now?
“I want to see what lies beyond the world we have yet to see.”
The word yoga is derived from the Sanskrit root yuj, which means “to connect,” “to unite,” or “to integrate.” Under this spirit, I have continued to create spaces that serve as a bridge between the seen and unseen worlds, and that unite people with one another. What I hold most dear is the practice of Bhakti Yoga (the path of love and devotion) and Karma Yoga (the path of service and action). This means to act without seeking reward, offering the act itself to the divine as a form of service. These two paths lead to a way of life where giving and receiving resonate with each other, allowing a cycle of gratitude to expand infinitely. It is this way of being that I wish to share with many and spread throughout the world.
What is your role at nehan?
Drawing on my experience participating as staff in various retreats both in Japan and abroad, I am in charge of assisting participants with their follow-up and integration, coordinating the retreat programs, and serving as a retreat facilitator and space holder.
What is the source of your motivation in creating the nehan retreat experience?
When participants connect with their own breath, they reclaim sovereignty over their bodies. In the process of integrating their entire life’s journey into the “here and now,” they experience the pure joy of life itself.
To be able to share in this process of consciousness transformation as it returns to the Source is a supremely sacred honor.
