KIZUKI the Podcast

In this follow-up to The Slow Death of the Do-er, Mae explores what it truly feels like to “just observe” when fear arises. She reveals how real surrender isn't about silencing fear, but meeting it with gentle awareness—kizuki. This honest reflection offers a step-by-step glimpse into moving from fear-based doing to soul-aligned flow.Mae YoshikawaMae Yoshikawa is the creator of the Kizuki Journaling MAE Y method™, a powerful tool for self-awareness and transformation. A pioneer in wellness and personal development, Mae was the first Japanese woman authorized by the founding school of Ashtanga Yoga in India in 2006. Her work bridges Eastern and Western traditions, shaped by profound life experiences—including the loss of her mother, the sudden passing of her husband, and her ongoing journey as a mother to two sons. Mae's upcoming books share her path of healing and becoming, and her online community, MAE Y, continues to support a growing circle of those on their path of inner growth. She has served as a global ambassador for adidas since 2015.Kizuki Journaling Website: KizukiJournaling.comPersonal Website: https://maey.live/Instagram: ⁠@maeyoshikawa

In this deeply personal episode, Mae reflects on what it actually feels like to live inside the spiral—not as an idea, but as a lived, looping journey. She shares a recent kizuki around the subtle performance of surrender, and what happened when she finally allowed herself to stop trying and just soften. An invitation to all of us who are tired of striving: maybe your softness is already the return.Mae YoshikawaMae Yoshikawa is the creator of the Kizuki Journaling MAE Y method™, a powerful tool for self-awareness and transformation. A pioneer in wellness and personal development, Mae was the first Japanese woman authorized by the founding school of Ashtanga Yoga in India in 2006. Her work bridges Eastern and Western traditions, shaped by profound life experiences—including the loss of her mother, the sudden passing of her husband, and her ongoing journey as a mother to two sons. Mae's upcoming books share her path of healing and becoming, and her online community, MAE Y, continues to support a growing circle of those on their path of inner growth. She has served as a global ambassador for adidas since 2015.Kizuki Journaling Website: KizukiJournaling.comPersonal Website: https://maey.live/Instagram: ⁠@maeyoshikawa

In this episode, Mae reflects on her spiritual development through the metaphor of the spiral, exploring the quiet shift from mental mapping to simply being—letting go of the personality's need to plan or perform. A journal entry from two years ago reveals she's been here before, contemplating surrender. But this time, it's different. The episode gently invites listeners to recognize their own patterns not as stuckness, but as a sacred rising into a new level of awareness.Mae YoshikawaMae is an author, yoga & meditation practitioner, teacher, and mother. In 2006, Mae became the first Japanese woman to be authorized by the founding school of Ashtanga Yoga in India. In 2016, Mae was awarded the “Yoga People's Award” for her remarkable social impact in the wellness field. She is known as the face of adidas yoga as well as being the founder of ⁠MAE Y⁠, a premier online community service. Her upcoming book, Kizuki: Realizations Beyond Time and Death encapsulates her life-changing journey of a metamorphosis of identity after the sudden loss of her husband in 2018.Kizuki Journaling Website: KizukiJournaling.comPersonal Website: https://maey.live/Instagram: ⁠@maeyoshikawa

Mae reflects on a lifelong narrative she's carried about her parents' divorce—and the realization that the deepest wound wasn't the event itself, but the unintended self-blame that followed. Through this powerful kizuki, she explores the difference between pain… and the pain we cause ourselves in reaction to pain. A gentle but profound invitation to release what no longer needs to be carried.Mae YoshikawaMae is an author, yoga & meditation practitioner, teacher, and mother. In 2006, Mae became the first Japanese woman to be authorized by the founding school of Ashtanga Yoga in India. In 2016, Mae was awarded the “Yoga People's Award” for her remarkable social impact in the wellness field. She is known as the face of adidas yoga as well as being the founder of ⁠MAE Y⁠, a premier online community service. Her upcoming book, Kizuki: Realizations Beyond Time and Death encapsulates her life-changing journey of a metamorphosis of identity after the sudden loss of her husband in 2018.Kizuki Journaling Website: KizukiJournaling.comPersonal Website: https://maey.live/Instagram: ⁠@maeyoshikawa

In this quietly powerful episode, Mae shares a raw, present-moment realization: that surrender isn't one grand moment, but a hundred tiny ones. She speaks tenderly about what it means to soften, to be shaped, and to keep walking—through storm, grace, and even breaking apart. A deep, human reminder that we're never alone in the unraveling.Mae YoshikawaMae is an author, yoga & meditation practitioner, teacher, and mother. In 2006, Mae became the first Japanese woman to be authorized by the founding school of Ashtanga Yoga in India. In 2016, Mae was awarded the “Yoga People's Award” for her remarkable social impact in the wellness field. She is known as the face of adidas yoga as well as being the founder of ⁠MAE Y⁠, a premier online community service. Her upcoming book, Kizuki: Realizations Beyond Time and Death encapsulates her life-changing journey of a metamorphosis of identity after the sudden loss of her husband in 2018.Kizuki Journaling Website: KizukiJournaling.comPersonal Website: https://maey.live/Instagram: ⁠@maeyoshikawa

Have you ever witnessed a moment of silence so brimming with meaning that it stayed with you, even without words? Such was Mae's experience when she watched a young man hold his own next to another who was puffing himself up—at his expense. True confidence isn't about proving or reacting but about staying deeply centered. In this episode, Mae explores how we cultivate that quiet, unshaken presence—so that when the world challenges us, we're prepared.Mae YoshikawaMae is an author, yoga & meditation practitioner, teacher, and mother. In 2006, Mae became the first Japanese woman to be authorized by the founding school of Ashtanga Yoga in India. In 2016, Mae was awarded the “Yoga People's Award” for her remarkable social impact in the wellness field. She is known as the face of adidas yoga as well as being the founder of ⁠MAE Y⁠, a premier online community service. Her upcoming book, Kizuki: Realizations Beyond Time and Death encapsulates her life-changing journey of a metamorphosis of identity after the sudden loss of her husband in 2018.Kizuki Journaling Website: KizukiJournaling.comPersonal Website: https://maey.live/Instagram: ⁠@maeyoshikawa

Mae explores the tricky nature of fear—how it subtly creeps in as she moves toward big changes. She shares her personal realization (kizuki) that fear is often a habit, something her system has used to fuel hustle and survival. Now, she is choosing a different way—one that is softer, kinder, and more powerful. Instead of letting fear hold her back, Mae learns to honor its presence while continuing to move forward.Mae YoshikawaMae is an author, yoga & meditation practitioner, teacher, and mother. In 2006, Mae became the first Japanese woman to be authorized by the founding school of Ashtanga Yoga in India. In 2016, Mae was awarded the “Yoga People's Award” for her remarkable social impact in the wellness field. She is known as the face of adidas yoga as well as being the founder of ⁠MAE Y⁠, a premier online community service. Her upcoming book, Kizuki: Realizations Beyond Time and Death encapsulates her life-changing journey of a metamorphosis of identity after the sudden loss of her husband in 2018.Kizuki Journaling Website: KizukiJournaling.comPersonal Website: https://maey.live/Instagram: ⁠@maeyoshikawa

We rarely question the idea of “mine”—my body, my time, my life. But during pregnancy, Mae experienced a profound kizuki: the realization that the life inside her was not hers to own, but a gift to nurture. This led to a deeper question—was her own life ever truly hers? In this episode, she explores the illusion of ownership and what shifts when we see life as something entrusted to us rather than possessed.Mae YoshikawaMae is an author, yoga & meditation practitioner, teacher, and mother. In 2006, Mae became the first Japanese woman to be authorized by the founding school of Ashtanga Yoga in India. In 2016, Mae was awarded the “Yoga People's Award” for her remarkable social impact in the wellness field. She is known as the face of adidas yoga as well as being the founder of ⁠MAE Y⁠, a premier online community service. Her upcoming book, Kizuki: Realizations Beyond Time and Death encapsulates her life-changing journey of a metamorphosis of identity after the sudden loss of her husband in 2018.Kizuki Journaling Website: KizukiJournaling.comPersonal Website: https://maey.live/Instagram: ⁠@maeyoshikawa

This episode explores the power of quitting—how letting go can be more transformative than starting something new. Reflecting on two of the hardest things that Mae ever quit in her life—cigarettes and self-criticism—it highlights how quitting creates space for what's next and invites listeners to consider what they might be ready to release.Mae YoshikawaMae is an author, yoga & meditation practitioner, teacher, and mother. In 2006, Mae became the first Japanese woman to be authorized by the founding school of Ashtanga Yoga in India. In 2016, Mae was awarded the “Yoga People's Award” for her remarkable social impact in the wellness field. She is known as the face of adidas yoga as well as being the founder of ⁠MAE Y⁠, a premier online community service. Her upcoming book, Kizuki: Realizations Beyond Time and Death encapsulates her life-changing journey of a metamorphosis of identity after the sudden loss of her husband in 2018.Kizuki Journaling Website: KizukiJournaling.comPersonal Website: https://maey.live/Instagram: ⁠@maeyoshikawa

In this episode, Mae unpacks the concept of empathic guilt—the tendency to feel responsible for others' confusion—and explains how to let go of it. She discusses honoring your clarity, holding your frequency, and stepping fully into your sovereignty.Mae YoshikawaMae is an author, yoga & meditation practitioner, teacher, and mother. In 2006, Mae became the first Japanese woman to be authorized by the founding school of Ashtanga Yoga in India. In 2016, Mae was awarded the “Yoga People's Award” for her remarkable social impact in the wellness field. She is known as the face of adidas yoga as well as being the founder of ⁠MAE Y⁠, a premier online community service. Her upcoming book, Kizuki: Realizations Beyond Time and Death encapsulates her life-changing journey of a metamorphosis of identity after the sudden loss of her husband in 2018.Kizuki Journaling Website: KizukiJournaling.comPersonal Website: https://maey.live/Instagram: ⁠@maeyoshikawa

Mae explores the unseen reciprocity in giving and receiving. Through a recent visit to a beauty salon, she discovers that what seemed like an occasion of receiving was also a significant moment of giving. This episode invites listeners to notice the quiet flow of exchange that is always at play.Mae YoshikawaMae is an author, yoga & meditation practitioner, teacher, and mother. In 2006, Mae became the first Japanese woman to be authorized by the founding school of Ashtanga Yoga in India. In 2016, Mae was awarded the “Yoga People's Award” for her remarkable social impact in the wellness field. She is known as the face of adidas yoga as well as being the founder of ⁠MAE Y⁠, a premier online community service. Her upcoming book, Kizuki: Realizations Beyond Time and Death encapsulates her life-changing journey of a metamorphosis of identity after the sudden loss of her husband in 2018.Kizuki Journaling: https://journaling.mae-y.com/enWebsite: ⁠ https://maey.live/⁠Instagram: ⁠@maeyoshikawa

Mae reflects on what "Thank You for Being" truly means. Through a period of deep grief, she discovers that our worth isn't tied to doing—it's inherent. A schoolgirl's laughter outside her window reminds her that simply existing is enough.Mae YoshikawaMae is an author, yoga & meditation practitioner, teacher, and mother. In 2006, Mae became the first Japanese woman to be authorized by the founding school of Ashtanga Yoga in India. In 2016, Mae was awarded the “Yoga People's Award” for her remarkable social impact in the wellness field. She is known as the face of adidas yoga as well as being the founder of ⁠MAE Y⁠, a premier online community service. Her upcoming book, Kizuki: Realizations Beyond Time and Death encapsulates her life-changing journey of a metamorphosis of identity after the sudden loss of her husband in 2018.Kizuki Journaling: https://journaling.mae-y.com/enWebsite: ⁠ https://maey.live/⁠Instagram: ⁠@maeyoshikawa

Mae reflects on being called chibi (the little one) and how she unconsciously accepted that role in her family. Over time, she realized that being the youngest didn't mean being the smallest. In this episode, she explores how shifting the story we tell ourselves is the key to stepping into our full potential.Mae YoshikawaMae is an author, yoga & meditation practitioner, teacher, and mother. In 2006, Mae became the first Japanese woman to be authorized by the founding school of Ashtanga Yoga in India. In 2016, Mae was awarded the “Yoga People's Award” for her remarkable social impact in the wellness field. She is known as the face of adidas yoga as well as being the founder of ⁠MAE Y⁠, a premier online community service. Her upcoming book, Kizuki: Realizations Beyond Time and Death encapsulates her life-changing journey of a metamorphosis of identity after the sudden loss of her husband in 2018.Kizuki Journaling: https://journaling.mae-y.com/enWebsite: ⁠ https://maey.live/⁠Instagram: ⁠@maeyoshikawa

Mae explores Bhakti, the path of devotion, and why it once felt inaccessible to her. She shares a story of feeling out of place at a kirtan in New York—until she found her own, quieter way into devotion. In this episode, she reflects on how making devotion a practice can bring more richness and beauty to life.Mae YoshikawaMae is an author, yoga & meditation practitioner, teacher, and mother. In 2006, Mae became the first Japanese woman to be authorized by the founding school of Ashtanga Yoga in India. In 2016, Mae was awarded the “Yoga People's Award” for her remarkable social impact in the wellness field. She is known as the face of adidas yoga as well as being the founder of ⁠MAE Y⁠, a premier online community service. Her upcoming book, Kizuki: Realizations Beyond Time and Death encapsulates her life-changing journey of a metamorphosis of identity after the sudden loss of her husband in 2018.Kizuki Journaling: https://journaling.mae-y.com/enWebsite: ⁠ https://maey.live/⁠Instagram: ⁠@maeyoshikawa

Mae reflects on the profound nature of thresholds—those transformative moments when life shifts irreversibly. Through personal inquiry and journaling, she explores what it means to cross into belonging, truth, and destiny, and shares her poem, The Threshold.Mae YoshikawaMae is an author, yoga & meditation practitioner, teacher, and mother. In 2006, Mae became the first Japanese woman to be authorized by the founding school of Ashtanga Yoga in India. In 2016, Mae was awarded the “Yoga People's Award” for her remarkable social impact in the wellness field. She is known as the face of adidas yoga as well as being the founder of ⁠MAE Y⁠, a premier online community service. Her upcoming book, Kizuki: Realizations Beyond Time and Death encapsulates her life-changing journey of a metamorphosis of identity after the sudden loss of her husband in 2018.Kizuki Journaling: https://journaling.mae-y.com/enWebsite: ⁠ https://maey.live/⁠Instagram: ⁠@maeyoshikawa

Mae explores the universal topic of love and reflects on the futility of trying to measure it. Through two powerful stories—one about an Indian milkmaid and another about the Samish people in the Arctic—Mae shares her kizuki that true love is immeasurable and must be approached with honor and humility.Mae YoshikawaMae is an author, yoga & meditation practitioner, teacher, and mother. In 2006, Mae became the first Japanese woman to be authorized by the founding school of Ashtanga Yoga in India. In 2016, Mae was awarded the “Yoga People's Award” for her remarkable social impact in the wellness field. She is known as the face of adidas yoga as well as being the founder of ⁠MAE Y⁠, a premier online community service. Her upcoming book, Kizuki: Realizations Beyond Time and Death encapsulates her life-changing journey of a metamorphosis of identity after the sudden loss of her husband in 2018.Kizuki Journaling: https://journaling.mae-y.com/enWebsite: ⁠ https://maey.live/⁠Instagram: ⁠@maeyoshikawa

Mae sits down with Jesse McCrindle to explore the traps of overthinking, the tension between awareness and ignorance, and what resilience really means. Together, they discuss why choosing the “happier route” can transform fear into freedom—and why, sometimes, “one option sucks.”Mae YoshikawaMae is an author, yoga & meditation practitioner, teacher, and mother. In 2006, Mae became the first Japanese woman to be authorized by the founding school of Ashtanga Yoga in India. In 2016, Mae was awarded the “Yoga People's Award” for her remarkable social impact in the wellness field. She is known as the face of adidas yoga as well as being the founder of ⁠MAE Y⁠, a premier online community service. Her upcoming book, Kizuki: Realizations Beyond Time and Death encapsulates her life-changing journey of a metamorphosis of identity after the sudden loss of her husband in 2018.Kizuki Journaling: https://journaling.mae-y.com/enWebsite: ⁠ https://maey.live/⁠Instagram: ⁠@maeyoshikawa

Mae sits down with her nephew, Jesse McCrindle, a neuroscience graduate, to explore how our perceptions, unconscious priming, and confirmation bias shape our thinking—and ultimately, our happiness and growth.Mae YoshikawaMae is an author, yoga & meditation practitioner, teacher, and mother. In 2006, Mae became the first Japanese woman to be authorized by the founding school of Ashtanga Yoga in India. In 2016, Mae was awarded the “Yoga People's Award” for her remarkable social impact in the wellness field. She is known as the face of adidas yoga as well as being the founder of ⁠MAE Y⁠, a premier online community service. Her upcoming book, Kizuki: Realizations Beyond Time and Death encapsulates her life-changing journey of a metamorphosis of identity after the sudden loss of her husband in 2018.Kizuki Journaling: https://journaling.mae-y.com/enWebsite: ⁠ https://maey.live/⁠Instagram: ⁠@maeyoshikawa

In this episode, Mae reflects on her biggest lesson of the year—persistence. She shares how persistence has shown up in her life, not as force or rigidity, but as a consistent act of love and devotion. This episode is a reminder that persistence isn't about pushing harder—it's about listening, learning, and showing up again and again with presence and trust.Mae YoshikawaMae is an author, yoga & meditation practitioner, teacher, and mother. In 2006, Mae became the first Japanese woman to be authorized by the founding school of Ashtanga Yoga in India. In 2016, Mae was awarded the “Yoga People's Award” for her remarkable social impact in the wellness field. She is known as the face of adidas yoga as well as being the founder of ⁠MAE Y⁠, a premier online community service. Her upcoming book, Kizuki: Realizations Beyond Time and Death encapsulates her life-changing journey of a metamorphosis of identity after the sudden loss of her husband in 2018.Website: ⁠ https://maey.live/⁠Instagram: ⁠@maeyoshikawa

Mae shares a surprising lunch conversation overheard in Tokyo, where talk about kids and Santa Claus sparks reflections on belief, doubt, and mindful self-awareness. She explores how learning to question your own thoughts—especially the negative ones—can transform your relationship with yourself.Mae YoshikawaMae is an author, yoga & meditation practitioner, teacher, and mother. In 2006, Mae became the first Japanese woman to be authorized by the founding school of Ashtanga Yoga in India. In 2016, Mae was awarded the “Yoga People's Award” for her remarkable social impact in the wellness field. She is known as the face of adidas yoga as well as being the founder of ⁠MAE Y⁠, a premier online community service. Her upcoming book, Kizuki: Realizations Beyond Time and Death encapsulates her life-changing journey of a metamorphosis of identity after the sudden loss of her husband in 2018.Website: ⁠ https://maey.live/⁠Instagram: ⁠@maeyoshikawa

Mae dives into the art of self-knowledge and the joy of truly attuning to your preferences. She reflects on the difference between recognizing what sparks joy when given choices—and discovering what you want when there are none.Mae YoshikawaMae is an author, yoga & meditation practitioner, teacher, and mother. In 2006, Mae became the first Japanese woman to be authorized by the founding school of Ashtanga Yoga in India. In 2016, Mae was awarded the “Yoga People's Award” for her remarkable social impact in the wellness field. She is known as the face of adidas yoga as well as being the founder of ⁠MAE Y⁠, a premier online community service. Her upcoming book, Kizuki: Realizations Beyond Time and Death encapsulates her life-changing journey of a metamorphosis of identity after the sudden loss of her husband in 2018.Website: ⁠ https://maey.live/⁠Instagram: ⁠@maeyoshikawa

Mae reflects on one of the first major kizuki moments that transformed her life. Struggling with depression and feeling stuck, she found it impossible to “follow her excitement” as advised. But when she flipped this equation and asked herself what she could quit that didn't excite her, everything began to change.Mae YoshikawaMae is an author, yoga & meditation practitioner, teacher, and mother. In 2006, Mae became the first Japanese woman to be authorized by the founding school of Ashtanga Yoga in India. In 2016, Mae was awarded the “Yoga People's Award” for her remarkable social impact in the wellness field. She is known as the face of adidas yoga as well as being the founder of ⁠MAE Y⁠, a premier online community service. Her upcoming book, Kizuki: Realizations Beyond Time and Death encapsulates her life-changing journey of a metamorphosis of identity after the sudden loss of her husband in 2018.Website: ⁠ https://maey.live/⁠Instagram: ⁠@maeyoshikawa

This episode explores the conditions that foster the next kizuki—a moment of greater awareness. While a kizuki cannot be forced, Mae delves into the key elements that prepare the mind for one. This same readiness, she explains, is what opens the door to the next chapter of your life.Mae YoshikawaMae is an author, yoga & meditation practitioner, teacher, and mother. In 2006, Mae became the first Japanese woman to be authorized by the founding school of Ashtanga Yoga in India. In 2016, Mae was awarded the “Yoga People's Award” for her remarkable social impact in the wellness field. She is known as the face of adidas yoga as well as being the founder of ⁠MAE Y⁠, a premier online community service. Her upcoming book, Kizuki: Realizations Beyond Time and Death encapsulates her life-changing journey of a metamorphosis of identity after the sudden loss of her husband in 2018.Website: ⁠ https://maey.live/⁠Instagram: ⁠@maeyoshikawa

In this week's episode, Mae looks back on an incredible experience from her freshman year in high school that was ... highly stressful. Might this be an episode out of the TV series LOST? Or something out of The Hunger Games? And what did Mae learn from the experience?Mae YoshikawaMae is an author, yoga & meditation practitioner, teacher, and mother. In 2006, Mae became the first Japanese woman to be authorized by the founding school of Ashtanga Yoga in India. In 2016, Mae was awarded the “Yoga People's Award” for her remarkable social impact in the wellness field. She is known as the face of adidas yoga as well as being the founder of ⁠MAE Y⁠, a premier online community service. Her upcoming book, Kizuki: Realizations Beyond Time and Death encapsulates her life-changing journey of a metamorphosis of identity after the sudden loss of her husband in 2018.Website: ⁠ https://maey.live/⁠Instagram: ⁠@maeyoshikawa

This week, Mae shares her take on a fun word-usage from colloquial modern-day Japanese. Similar but different than any English version usage of the term, Mae challenges you to incorporate this word into your mind to acknowledge and emphasize the "God Moments" of your daily life.Mae YoshikawaMae is an author, yoga & meditation practitioner, teacher, and mother. In 2006, Mae became the first Japanese woman to be authorized by the founding school of Ashtanga Yoga in India. In 2016, Mae was awarded the “Yoga People's Award” for her remarkable social impact in the wellness field. She is known as the face of adidas yoga as well as being the founder of ⁠MAE Y⁠, a premier online community service. Her upcoming book, Kizuki: Realizations Beyond Time and Death encapsulates her life-changing journey of a metamorphosis of identity after the sudden loss of her husband in 2018.Website: ⁠ https://maey.live/⁠Instagram: ⁠@maeyoshikawa

Mae reflects on the #GetToKnowMe challenge on Instagram that she recently took on. To present to someone "Who You Are" takes a little bit ... or a lot of knowing yourself. But, to be known by someone is a whole other feeling; a feeling of love.Mae YoshikawaMae is an author, yoga & meditation practitioner, teacher, and mother. In 2006, Mae became the first Japanese woman to be authorized by the founding school of Ashtanga Yoga in India. In 2016, Mae was awarded the “Yoga People's Award” for her remarkable social impact in the wellness field. She is known as the face of adidas yoga as well as being the founder of ⁠MAE Y⁠, a premier online community service. Her upcoming book, Kizuki: Realizations Beyond Time and Death encapsulates her life-changing journey of a metamorphosis of identity after the sudden loss of her husband in 2018.Website: ⁠ https://maey.live/⁠Instagram: ⁠@maeyoshikawa

Do you ever catch yourself trying too hard? And then knowing that you're trying too hard but not quite being able to stop yourself? Well, there's only one answer. STOP. In this episode, Mae reflects on the simplicity of this answer and what that looks like in a day in her life.Mae YoshikawaMae is an author, yoga & meditation practitioner, teacher, and mother. In 2006, Mae became the first Japanese woman to be authorized by the founding school of Ashtanga Yoga in India. In 2016, Mae was awarded the “Yoga People's Award” for her remarkable social impact in the wellness field. She is known as the face of adidas yoga as well as being the founder of ⁠MAE Y⁠, a premier online community service. Her upcoming book, Kizuki: Realizations Beyond Time and Death encapsulates her life-changing journey of a metamorphosis of identity after the sudden loss of her husband in 2018.Website: ⁠ https://maey.live/⁠Instagram: ⁠@maeyoshikawa

The perks of hitting rock bottom are hard to talk about because no one wants to be there. But it's true, there are some. For Mae, the most notable of these has been her ability to re-create her sense of identity by moving beyond who she thought she was and into ... the unknown. The unknown is the ever-present realm of nowness where she gets to discover and reinvent who she is, moment to moment.Mae YoshikawaMae is an author, yoga & meditation practitioner, teacher, and mother. In 2006, Mae became the first Japanese woman to be authorized by the founding school of Ashtanga Yoga in India. In 2016, Mae was awarded the “Yoga People's Award” for her remarkable social impact in the wellness field. She is known as the face of adidas yoga as well as being the founder of ⁠MAE Y⁠, a premier online community service. Her upcoming book, Kizuki: Realizations Beyond Time and Death encapsulates her life-changing journey of a metamorphosis of identity after the sudden loss of her husband in 2018.Website: ⁠ https://maey.live/⁠Instagram: ⁠@maeyoshikawa

Is our quest to be smart getting in the way of our happiness? The modern-society rat-race often has us striving to rise to the top by being smarter than others. But if the question "Would you rather be smart or happy?" is posed, most of us would answer that we would prefer to be happy. In this episode, Mae explores what true smartness is and how to align it with happiness.Mae YoshikawaMae is an author, yoga & meditation practitioner, teacher, and mother. In 2006, Mae became the first Japanese woman to be authorized by the founding school of Ashtanga Yoga in India. In 2016, Mae was awarded the “Yoga People's Award” for her remarkable social impact in the wellness field. She is known as the face of adidas yoga as well as being the founder of ⁠MAE Y⁠, a premier online community service. Her upcoming book, Kizuki: Realizations Beyond Time and Death encapsulates her life-changing journey of a metamorphosis of identity after the sudden loss of her husband in 2018.Website: ⁠ https://maey.live/⁠Instagram: ⁠@maeyoshikawa

Have you ever noticed that some of the issues you're dealing with in your life didn't even start with you? It might be surprising at first, but it's true that you're shaped more by your upbringing and DNA than you may realize. As you begin to identify these generational patterns, you gain the power to break free from them. In this episode, Mae reflects on your ability to rise above such patterns and the healing that comes from "giving what you didn't get."Mae YoshikawaMae is an author, yoga & meditation practitioner, teacher, and mother. In 2006, Mae became the first Japanese woman to be authorized by the founding school of Ashtanga Yoga in India. In 2016, Mae was awarded the “Yoga People's Award” for her remarkable social impact in the wellness field. She is known as the face of adidas yoga as well as being the founder of ⁠MAE Y⁠, a premier online community service. Her upcoming book, Kizuki: Realizations Beyond Time and Death encapsulates her life-changing journey of a metamorphosis of identity after the sudden loss of her husband in 2018.Website: ⁠ https://maey.live/⁠Instagram: ⁠@maeyoshikawa

Do you believe that thinking makes you smart? One might argue that our society has us believing so. Yet, the troubles of over-thinking seem to be on the rise. In this episode, Mae talks about "what is prior to thinking" that just might be even more important and smarter than thinking.Mae YoshikawaMae is an author, yoga & meditation practitioner, teacher, and mother. In 2006, Mae became the first Japanese woman to be authorized by the founding school of Ashtanga Yoga in India. In 2016, Mae was awarded the “Yoga People's Award” for her remarkable social impact in the wellness field. She is known as the face of adidas yoga as well as being the founder of ⁠MAE Y⁠, a premier online community service. Her upcoming book, Kizuki: Realizations Beyond Time and Death encapsulates her life-changing journey of a metamorphosis of identity after the sudden loss of her husband in 2018.Website: ⁠ https://maey.live/⁠Instagram: ⁠@maeyoshikawa

We all long for peace. Peace comes in the form of quiet. Less movement. Silence, even. And so, it's not uncommon that when peace comes in the form of silence, we end up squirming, moving, and dodging. It's like we're wired to want dynamic action. What does it take for us to find and keep peace, then?Mae YoshikawaMae is an author, yoga & meditation practitioner, teacher, and mother. In 2006, Mae became the first Japanese woman to be authorized by the founding school of Ashtanga Yoga in India. In 2016, Mae was awarded the “Yoga People's Award” for her remarkable social impact in the wellness field. She is known as the face of adidas yoga as well as being the founder of ⁠MAE Y⁠, a premier online community service. Her upcoming book, Kizuki: Realizations Beyond Time and Death encapsulates her life-changing journey of a metamorphosis of identity after the sudden loss of her husband in 2018.Website: ⁠ https://maey.live/⁠Instagram: ⁠@maeyoshikawa

Sometimes the wisest thing you can do is to recognize your own limitations. Such was the case for Mae, as she reflects on the period of her life following her divorce from her first husband. This is a juicy episode reflecting on the path of healing and revival. There are some types of healing, Mae discovers, you can't do alone.Mae YoshikawaMae is an author, yoga & meditation practitioner, teacher, and mother. In 2006, Mae became the first Japanese woman to be authorized by the founding school of Ashtanga Yoga in India. In 2016, Mae was awarded the “Yoga People's Award” for her remarkable social impact in the wellness field. She is known as the face of adidas yoga as well as being the founder of ⁠MAE Y⁠, a premier online community service. Her upcoming book, Kizuki: Realizations Beyond Time and Death encapsulates her life-changing journey of a metamorphosis of identity after the sudden loss of her husband in 2018.Website: ⁠ https://maey.live/⁠Instagram: ⁠@maeyoshikawa

The modern world can feel super fast-paced and hurried. Which results in, as Mae reflects in this episode, a internal experience of impatience. As Mae catches herself trying too hard to "get there," the words of Louise Hay delivers an aha-moment and she realizes what she was missing.Mae YoshikawaMae is an author, yoga & meditation practitioner, teacher, and mother. In 2006, Mae became the first Japanese woman to be authorized by the founding school of Ashtanga Yoga in India. In 2016, Mae was awarded the “Yoga People's Award” for her remarkable social impact in the wellness field. She is known as the face of adidas yoga as well as being the founder of ⁠MAE Y⁠, a premier online community service. Her upcoming book, Kizuki: Realizations Beyond Time and Death encapsulates her life-changing journey of a metamorphosis of identity after the sudden loss of her husband in 2018.Website: ⁠ https://maey.live/⁠Instagram: ⁠@maeyoshikawa

Mae reflects on a conversation she heard between the Zen Buddhist teacher Adyashanti and a student who was experiencing mental turmoil. Mae related to this student and the sense of banging her head against the wall, or, reaching the limit of the mind. "Trust the Process," we've heard it said many times before. But it never quite landed so well for Mae, until she heard Adyashanti follow it up with a few simple words: "not perfectly" and "messy."Mae YoshikawaMae is an author, yoga & meditation practitioner, teacher, and mother. In 2006, Mae became the first Japanese woman to be authorized by the founding school of Ashtanga Yoga in India. In 2016, Mae was awarded the “Yoga People's Award” for her remarkable social impact in the wellness field. She is known as the face of adidas yoga as well as being the founder of ⁠MAE Y⁠, a premier online community service. Her upcoming book, Kizuki: Realizations Beyond Time and Death encapsulates her life-changing journey of a metamorphosis of identity after the sudden loss of her husband in 2018.Website: ⁠ https://maey.live/⁠Instagram: ⁠@maeyoshikawa

Mae reads a deeply personal and meaningful article that she wrote three years ago. It is a piece that encapsulates the key kizukis of her grief experience; something that has shaped her to become who she is today. Have you ever been loved SO much that it hurts?Mae YoshikawaMae is an author, yoga & meditation practitioner, teacher, and mother. In 2006, Mae became the first Japanese woman to be authorized by the founding school of Ashtanga Yoga in India. In 2016, Mae was awarded the “Yoga People's Award” for her remarkable social impact in the wellness field. She is known as the face of adidas yoga as well as being the founder of ⁠MAE Y⁠, a premier online community service. Her upcoming book, Kizuki: Realizations Beyond Time and Death encapsulates her life-changing journey of a metamorphosis of identity after the sudden loss of her husband in 2018.Website: ⁠ https://maey.live/⁠Instagram: ⁠@maeyoshikawa

Returning home from summer vacation, Mae reflects on the quality of friends in her life. What are the key elements that all of her dear friends across the world have in common?Mae YoshikawaMae is an author, yoga & meditation practitioner, teacher, and mother. In 2006, Mae became the first Japanese woman to be authorized by the founding school of Ashtanga Yoga in India. In 2016, Mae was awarded the “Yoga People's Award” for her remarkable social impact in the wellness field. She is known as the face of adidas yoga as well as being the founder of ⁠MAE Y⁠, a premier online community service. Her upcoming book, Kizuki: Realizations Beyond Time and Death encapsulates her life-changing journey of a metamorphosis of identity after the sudden loss of her husband in 2018.Website: ⁠ https://maey.live/⁠Instagram: ⁠@maeyoshikawa

How does one live true to oneself without being too stubborn, especially when your thoughts differ from your loved ones? A question from a student prompts Mae to reflect on the essential nature of how to best keep this balance of integrity.Mae YoshikawaMae is an author, yoga & meditation practitioner, teacher, and mother. In 2006, Mae became the first Japanese woman to be authorized by the founding school of Ashtanga Yoga in India. In 2016, Mae was awarded the “Yoga People's Award” for her remarkable social impact in the wellness field. She is known as the face of adidas yoga as well as being the founder of ⁠MAE Y⁠, a premier online community service. Her upcoming book, Kizuki: Realizations Beyond Time and Death encapsulates her life-changing journey of a metamorphosis of identity after the sudden loss of her husband in 2018.Website: ⁠ https://maey.live/⁠Instagram: ⁠@maeyoshikawa

Mae had a little bit of a surprise this week. She received an unexpected compliment about, well, none other than this very podcast. It was about "being kind" which led Mae to reflect on the meaning of kindness, especially as it relates to non-judgment.Mae YoshikawaMae is an author, yoga & meditation practitioner, teacher, and mother. In 2006, Mae became the first Japanese woman to be authorized by the founding school of Ashtanga Yoga in India. In 2016, Mae was awarded the “Yoga People's Award” for her remarkable social impact in the wellness field. She is known as the face of adidas yoga as well as being the founder of ⁠MAE Y⁠, a premier online community service. Her upcoming book, Kizuki: Realizations Beyond Time and Death encapsulates her life-changing journey of a metamorphosis of identity after the sudden loss of her husband in 2018.Website: ⁠ https://maey.live/⁠Instagram: ⁠@maeyoshikawa

Delightfully like a child on Christmas morning, Mae opens the small gray box that her friend handed to her in celebration for her birthday. In it, Mae discovers not only a gift that means something to her--she also receives her next unexpected kizuki.Mae YoshikawaMae is an author, yoga & meditation practitioner, teacher, and mother. In 2006, Mae became the first Japanese woman to be authorized by the founding school of Ashtanga Yoga in India. In 2016, Mae was awarded the “Yoga People's Award” for her remarkable social impact in the wellness field. She is known as the face of adidas yoga as well as being the founder of ⁠MAE Y⁠, a premier online community service. Her upcoming book, Kizuki: Realizations Beyond Time and Death encapsulates her life-changing journey of a metamorphosis of identity after the sudden loss of her husband in 2018.Website: ⁠ https://maey.live/⁠Instagram: ⁠@maeyoshikawa

Ever find yourself appalled with your own ignorance? While shocking at first, Mae reflects that this is a state that is essential for the yoga and meditation practitioner, or anyone who's on the journey of expanding awareness. While it can feel like a wipeout, it might just work more like a humbling ego-check on the road to greater consciousness.Mae YoshikawaMae is an author, yoga & meditation practitioner, teacher, and mother. In 2006, Mae became the first Japanese woman to be authorized by the founding school of Ashtanga Yoga in India. In 2016, Mae was awarded the “Yoga People's Award” for her remarkable social impact in the wellness field. She is known as the face of adidas yoga as well as being the founder of ⁠MAE Y⁠, a premier online community service. Her upcoming book, Kizuki: Realizations Beyond Time and Death encapsulates her life-changing journey of a metamorphosis of identity after the sudden loss of her husband in 2018.Website: ⁠ https://maey.live/⁠Instagram: ⁠@maeyoshikawa

Meditation teaches us to observe our thoughts, and therefore, to begin to dis-identify with them. But what about the thoughts that we believe make who we are? "I am a mother." "I am a woman." "I am so-and-so years old." In this episode, Mae shares an interesting journal prompt that flips these thoughts around.Mae YoshikawaMae is an author, yoga & meditation practitioner, teacher, and mother. In 2006, Mae became the first Japanese woman to be authorized by the founding school of Ashtanga Yoga in India. In 2016, Mae was awarded the “Yoga People's Award” for her remarkable social impact in the wellness field. She is known as the face of adidas yoga as well as being the founder of ⁠MAE Y⁠, a premier online community service. Her upcoming book, Kizuki: Realizations Beyond Time and Death encapsulates her life-changing journey of a metamorphosis of identity after the sudden loss of her husband in 2018.Website: ⁠ https://maey.live/⁠Instagram: ⁠@maeyoshikawa

Mae dives into the highly charged topic of male chauvinism, reflecting on how triggered she was with the gender bias she witnessed at her nephew's graduation ceremony at a Japanese high school. Where does chauvinism spring from? Mae inquiries into the history and culture that have colored our collective experience.Mae YoshikawaMae is an author, yoga & meditation practitioner, teacher, and mother. In 2006, Mae became the first Japanese woman to be authorized by the founding school of Ashtanga Yoga in India. In 2016, Mae was awarded the “Yoga People's Award” for her remarkable social impact in the wellness field. She is known as the face of adidas yoga as well as being the founder of ⁠MAE Y⁠, a premier online community service. Her upcoming book, Kizuki: Realizations Beyond Time and Death encapsulates her life-changing journey of a metamorphosis of identity after the sudden loss of her husband in 2018.Website: ⁠ https://maey.live/⁠Instagram: ⁠@maeyoshikawa

Neither here nor there, the in-between space can be a very challenging place to spend any amount of time. Mae knows this from personal experience. This episode is an encouraging hug and a confirmation, as well as a lesson on how to be in the limbo space.Mae YoshikawaMae is an author, yoga & meditation practitioner, teacher, and mother. In 2006, Mae became the first Japanese woman to be authorized by the founding school of Ashtanga Yoga in India. In 2016, Mae was awarded the “Yoga People's Award” for her remarkable social impact in the wellness field. She is known as the face of adidas yoga as well as being the founder of ⁠MAE Y⁠, a premier online community service. Her upcoming book, Kizuki: Realizations Beyond Time and Death encapsulates her life-changing journey of a metamorphosis of identity after the sudden loss of her husband in 2018.Website: ⁠ https://maey.live/⁠Instagram: ⁠@maeyoshikawa

Certain lessons in life, Mae claims, repeat itself over and over again as if rising upward on a spiraling staircase. Such is the case for the lesson of relaxation for Mae—uncovering layers upon layers of tension that she didn't even know she had. Listen out for a key “hack” that's helped Mae along her path of coming home to herself.Mae YoshikawaMae is an author, yoga & meditation practitioner, teacher, and mother. In 2006, Mae became the first Japanese woman to be authorized by the founding school of Ashtanga Yoga in India. In 2016, Mae was awarded the “Yoga People's Award” for her remarkable social impact in the wellness field. She is known as the face of adidas yoga as well as being the founder of ⁠MAE Y⁠, a premier online community service. Her upcoming book, Kizuki: Realizations Beyond Time and Death encapsulates her life-changing journey of a metamorphosis of identity after the sudden loss of her husband in 2018.Website: ⁠ https://maey.live/⁠Instagram: ⁠@maeyoshikawa

Mae catches herself doing the creepy mom thing--staring her child down in awe of him. It's an outpouring of endearment and love. As Mae reflects on her experience raising two children, she comes to the kizuki that when we experience something for the first time or experience something as though it might be our last, we imbue it with special meaning. It helps us to cherish each moment as it is.Mae YoshikawaMae is an author, yoga & meditation practitioner, teacher, and mother. In 2006, Mae became the first Japanese woman to be authorized by the founding school of Ashtanga Yoga in India. In 2016, Mae was awarded the “Yoga People's Award” for her remarkable social impact in the wellness field. She is known as the face of adidas yoga as well as being the founder of ⁠MAE Y⁠, a premier online community service. Her upcoming book, Kizuki: Realizations Beyond Time and Death encapsulates her life-changing journey of a metamorphosis of identity after the sudden loss of her husband in 2018.Website: ⁠ https://maey.live/⁠Instagram: ⁠@maeyoshikawa

In this week's episode, Mae takes a poke at a common practice in Japanese culture, where the sense of "in" or "out" is pronounced by selectively using different forms of language. In addition, there's an underlying understanding of "honne and tatemae" or "truth and front." While people generally wouldn't like to think of themselves as wearing fake fronts, there just might be other ways where one may unknowingly employ sneaky little fronts, even in the closest relationships.Mae YoshikawaMae is an author, yoga & meditation practitioner, teacher, and mother. In 2006, Mae became the first Japanese woman to be authorized by the founding school of Ashtanga Yoga in India. In 2016, Mae was awarded the “Yoga People's Award” for her remarkable social impact in the wellness field. She is known as the face of adidas yoga as well as being the founder of ⁠MAE Y⁠, a premier online community service. Her upcoming book, Kizuki: Realizations Beyond Time and Death encapsulates her life-changing journey of a metamorphosis of identity after the sudden loss of her husband in 2018.Website: ⁠ https://maey.live/⁠Instagram: ⁠@maeyoshikawa

Meditation creates space in consciousness. In the same way that yoga creates space in the body and in turn allows for increased energy flow, meditation creates space in the mindーthen, invites us to "rise above" the mental self. In the process, old, long-hardened emotions rise up to be seen, known, and healed. Such is the stage that Mae is going through, as she shares a deeply personal journal entry from her morning pages.Mae YoshikawaMae is an author, yoga & meditation practitioner, teacher, and mother. In 2006, Mae became the first Japanese woman to be authorized by the founding school of Ashtanga Yoga in India. In 2016, Mae was awarded the “Yoga People's Award” for her remarkable social impact in the wellness field. She is known as the face of adidas yoga as well as being the founder of ⁠MAE Y⁠, a premier online community service. Her upcoming book, Kizuki: Realizations Beyond Time and Death encapsulates her life-changing journey of a metamorphosis of identity after the sudden loss of her husband in 2018.Website: ⁠ https://maey.live/⁠Instagram: ⁠@maeyoshikawa

Have you ever pondered the source of human suffering? The topic can sound heavy; but in this episode, Mae's brings it home by discussing the it in very real, down-to-earth, how-mothers-raise-their-children sort of way. No offense to our mothers who have laid the foundation in generations before us, but my, times have changed. Incorporating this kizuki in your life may just serve to shed new light on some of the sticky, suffering issues you might be contending with.Mae YoshikawaMae is an author, yoga & meditation practitioner, teacher, and mother. In 2006, Mae became the first Japanese woman to be authorized by the founding school of Ashtanga Yoga in India. In 2016, Mae was awarded the “Yoga People's Award” for her remarkable social impact in the wellness field. She is known as the face of adidas yoga as well as being the founder of ⁠MAE Y⁠, a premier online community service. Her upcoming book, Kizuki: Realizations Beyond Time and Death encapsulates her life-changing journey of a metamorphosis of identity after the sudden loss of her husband in 2018.Website: ⁠ https://maey.live/⁠Instagram: ⁠@maeyoshikawa

No doubt self-acceptance is one of the most essential and indispensable practices you will meet on your path of personal growth. In this intimate episode, Mae shares her personal experience with grief as something that largely helped to expand her capacity for acceptance. In addition, Mae shares another, more recent kizuki about her self-acceptance practice. It was a sneaky, insidious aspect of her practice that, metaphorically speaking, brought her to her knees in repentance.Mae YoshikawaMae is an author, yoga & meditation practitioner, teacher, and mother. In 2006, Mae became the first Japanese woman to be authorized by the founding school of Ashtanga Yoga in India. In 2016, Mae was awarded the “Yoga People's Award” for her remarkable social impact in the wellness field. She is known as the face of adidas yoga as well as being the founder of ⁠MAE Y⁠, a premier online community service. Her upcoming book, Kizuki: Realizations Beyond Time and Death encapsulates her life-changing journey of a metamorphosis of identity after the sudden loss of her husband in 2018.Website: ⁠ https://maey.live/⁠Instagram: ⁠@maeyoshikawa

Do affirmations make you cringe? Or, are you someone who pronounces them proudly in the mirror? Mae reflects on how easy it is to think negatively about oneself and how difficult it used to be for her to focus on the positive aspects. Have you ever wondered why affirmations feel comfortable and right sometimes, and why they could feel like a far-off stretch at other times? This episode might help you understand why.Mae YoshikawaMae is an author, yoga & meditation practitioner, teacher, and mother. In 2006, Mae became the first Japanese woman to be authorized by the founding school of Ashtanga Yoga in India. In 2016, Mae was awarded the “Yoga People's Award” for her remarkable social impact in the wellness field. She is known as the face of adidas yoga as well as being the founder of ⁠MAE Y⁠, a premier online community service. Her upcoming book, Kizuki: Realizations Beyond Time and Death encapsulates her life-changing journey of a metamorphosis of identity after the sudden loss of her husband in 2018.Website: ⁠ https://maey.live/⁠Instagram: ⁠@maeyoshikawa