I’m about to begin something new in my hometown — a small business built around yoga and personal training. After years away, this is my way of returning to my roots, of reclaiming the sense of pride and direction I once had.
I was born and raised in a coastal town called Shunan, in the western part of Japan. But life took me far away — ten years in London, fifteen in Cape Town. I met countless people, learned endlessly, and changed deeply. Still, I never imagined I’d return here to begin again as a trainer.
Yet sometimes, life calls us back to our origin. To rise again, to rebuild what we’ve lost, to rediscover our pride. For me, yoga is like a silent prayer — a way of speaking without words.
These days, everything happens online — shopping, learning, even conversation. But the act of sharing breath in the same space, of being physically present with others, has become a kind of forgotten luxury. I want to bring that back.
My yoga isn’t the mainstream kind — not the glossy, happy, Instagram-perfect version. It’s like light with a hint of shadow, calmness mixed with silence and reflection. It’s not about how it looks, but about what it awakens within.
That’s why atmosphere matters — the quality of light, the sound in the air, the quiet flow of space. Today, I entered my new studio alone for the first time. I adjusted the lights and felt the room’s breath. Brightness can’t calm the soul. So I sought a gentler glow.
True yoga doesn’t need bright light — it needs the soft glow of a candle. A light that touches the soul. Even an LED lamp can carry that warmth. In the dimness, you see your own shadow — and in that shadow, you find healing and renewal.
I’m still working night shifts while preparing for this new chapter. My schedule is irregular now, but soon I’ll have fixed days — and when that happens, my yoga classes will truly begin. In January, with the turning of the year.
I’ll dedicate December to preparation — building my online presence, sharing quietly on YouTube and Instagram. It’s not just business. It’s about bringing a new light to this town — the beginning of a story about return and renewal.
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