A quiet residential area in Mabi, Kurashiki City.
Surrounded by a magnificent garden, there is a salon called Totonoi-dokoro mui.
Totonoi-dokoro mui is operated by the couple Masashi Tasaka, a chiropractor, and Yumi Tasaka, a yoga instructor.
Masashi, who once traveled the world as a backpacker, and Yumi, who worked at a rafting company and immersed herself in nature.
We spoke with them about the journey of Totonoi-dokoro mui so far and its future.
About Totonoi-dokoro mui
Totonoi-dokoro mui is a Thai-style chiropractic and yoga salon run by the Tasaka couple. It opened in 2018 and will celebrate its 8th anniversary in March 2026.
Before opening, Masashi ran a chiropractic clinic in Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture, while Yumi worked at a rafting company and later as a freelance yoga instructor.
A turning point came when Yumi moved to her family home.
The current treatment space utilizes an extension where Yumi's grandfather once lived. This important space, which retains the scenery of the garden that her grandfather loved, has been transformed into a new activity space for Totonoi-dokoro mui.
The Atmosphere of Totonoi-dokoro mui
As you pass through the noren (traditional shop curtain), a beautiful garden unfolds, and as you proceed further, you will find the entrance to Totonoi-dokoro mui.
Inside the room, a calm space filled with gentle natural light welcomes you.
To facilitate self-reflection of the body and mind, unnecessary items are kept to a minimum, allowing for a relaxed experience in a calm space.
Contents of Treatments and Yoga Classes
At Totonoi-dokoro mui, Masashi provides "Thai-style chiropractic and walking," while Yumi offers "yoga," employing a multifaceted approach to care for the mind and body.
The services offered at Totonoi-dokoro mui are as follows:
Masashi's Thai-style Chiropractic and Walking
Masashi focuses on providing safe treatments for users.
Through extensive experience, he reads the condition of the user's body with his fingertips, instantly adjusting the strength and technique of the treatment to minimize pain.
Users range from those in their 20s to elderly individuals nearing 90, and he also conducts visits to facilities for people with disabilities.
When he first started chiropractic, Masashi strictly adhered to the techniques he was taught.
However, as he gained experience, he realized that each person's condition is different and requires a unique approach.
In pursuit of the essence of the body, he reads books on naturally grown fruits. He came to the conclusion that just as there is no waste in nature, humans should also avoid unnecessary burdens, leading him to incorporate a softer and gentler approach into his techniques and continue to refine his skills daily.
Additionally, a new addition to the menu in recent years is walking.
It started from the idea that the commonly recommended "walking with big arm swings" may not apply to everyone. By simply being mindful of how to use the body and slightly adjusting posture and walking style, some people report feeling a lightness in their bodies.
Since walking is such an ingrained part of daily life, they conduct community walking projects to help participants appreciate its importance and depth.
Yumi's Yoga
Yumi's yoga emphasizes allowing users to be in their natural state. Therefore, she first focuses on easing bodily tension to create a comfortable environment for practice.
Moreover, Yumi does not require participants to perform exactly the same poses as her. Based on the fundamental poses, she encourages participants to feel their own bodily and mental changes, asking questions like "Is this too much stretch?" or "Let’s try bending a bit more," allowing them to choose movements that feel good.
Yumi once practiced vigorous power yoga. However, due to health issues, she incorporated knowledge of tai chi learned from her mother and techniques for loosening the body taught by Masashi. What she values now is maintaining a delicate balance between moments of relaxing bodily tension and those of comfortably tightening it.
Online yoga is also offered, creating an environment that makes it easier for participants to join in a more relaxed state.
We interviewed the Tasaka couple who run Totonoi-dokoro mui.
Data of Totonoi-dokoro mui
| Name | Totonoi-dokoro mui |
|---|---|
| Address | 1397-1, Ari, Mabi-cho, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 090-1684-5251 |
| Parking | Available |
| Business Hours | 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM By appointment only |
| Regular Holidays | Irregular holidays |
| Payment Methods |
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| Website | Totonoi-dokoro mui |
