A quiet residential neighborhood in Mabi, Kurashiki City.
In a place surrounded by a beautiful garden is a salon for restoring balance to mind and body, “Totonoidokoro mui (Totonoidokoro Mui).”
Totonoidokoro mui is run by married couple Tasaka Masashi, a bodywork therapist, and Tasaka Yumi, a yoga instructor.
Masashi once traveled the world as a backpacker, while Yumi worked for a rafting company and spent time immersed in nature.
We spoke with them about the journey of Totonoidokoro mui so far and what the future holds.
The information presented here is current as of the article’s publication in March 2026. Please note that it may differ from current information.
About Totonoidokoro mui
Totonoidokoro mui is a Thai-style bodywork and yoga salon run by the Tasaka couple. It opened in 2018 and celebrated its eighth anniversary in March 2026.
Before opening the salon, Masashi ran a bodywork clinic in Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture, while Yumi worked for a rafting company and later as a freelance yoga instructor.
The turning point came when they moved into Yumi’s family home.
The current treatment space makes use of an extension where Yumi’s grandfather once lived. They made this cherished space, with its garden view that her grandfather loved, the new home of Totonoidokoro mui.
The atmosphere at Totonoidokoro mui
Beyond the noren (traditional shop curtain) is a beautiful garden, and further along is the entrance to Totonoidokoro mui.
Inside, it is a quiet space filled with gentle natural light.
With no unnecessary items, the calm space offers a relaxing place to spend time and connect with your body and mind.
Treatments and yoga classes
At Totonoidokoro mui, Masashi’s “Thai-style bodywork and walking” and Yumi’s “yoga” are the main offerings, providing care for mind and body through a multifaceted approach.
The services offered at Totonoidokoro mui are as follows.
Masashi’s Thai-style bodywork and walking
Masashi’s priority is to provide treatments that are safe for clients.
Drawing on his extensive experience, he reads each client’s physical condition through his fingertips and adjusts the pressure and way he touches them in the moment, providing treatments that minimize pain.
His clients range from people in their 20s to those nearing 90, and he also makes visits to facilities for people with disabilities.
When he first began bodywork, Masashi followed the techniques he had been taught to the letter.
But as he gained experience, he came to realize that each person’s condition is different and requires a different approach.
As he explored the essence of the body, he read a book about naturally growing fruit. This led him to consider that, just as nature has no waste, people may also be better off avoiding unnecessary strain. He continues to hone his skills, including by incorporating a gentler, softer approach.
Another service added to the menu in recent years is “walking.”
It began with the idea that the commonly recommended way of walking—swinging your arms widely—may not suit everyone. Some people say they feel lighter simply by becoming aware of how their body naturally moves and making small adjustments to their posture and walking style.
Because walking is such an everyday activity, they organize group walks around the local area to help participants take an interest in its importance and depth.
Yumi’s yoga
In her yoga classes, Yumi values helping clients feel at ease in their own bodies. To that end, she first focuses on releasing tension in the body and creating a safe, comfortable environment for practice.
Yumi does not insist that participants perform exactly the same poses as she does. Using basic poses as a starting point, she encourages participants to notice changes in their bodies and minds—“Will it hurt if I stretch any further?” or “Let’s try bending a little more”—and choose movements that feel comfortable.
Yumi once practiced power yoga, which involves a lot of physical activity.
However, after experiencing health problems, she began incorporating what she had learned about tai chi from her mother and ways to loosen the body from Masashi. What she values now is maintaining a delicate balance between moments that release tension in the mind and body and moments that gently strengthen them.
She also offers online yoga, creating an environment where participants can join in a more relaxed state.
We interviewed the Tasaka couple, who run Totonoidokoro mui.
Totonoidokoro mui details
| Name | Totonoidokoro mui |
|---|---|
| Address | 1397-1 Arii, Mabi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 090-1684-5251 |
| Parking | Available |
| Hours | 9:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. By appointment only |
| Closed | Irregular holidays |
| Payment methods |
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| Website | Totonoidokoro mui |
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