June at Tomonaga Yoga

— Embracing the Gentle Rainy Season with Care and Calm

The weather keeps shifting—temperature swings, humidity rising and falling, and atmospheric pressure dancing up and down. Some days are bright, others overcast. All of this—light, sound, air, touch—changes constantly.

And our nervous systems are doing their best to keep up.

These changes don't go unnoticed by the body. Our senses—eyes, ears, skin—all send signals, and the nervous system works continuously to keep us balanced.

In fact, in recent years, this kind of fluctuation seems to be the new normal.

As a result, our nervous systems are constantly active, even when we’re not aware of it. That’s why you may find yourself thinking, “I'm just tired,” or “I don't have the energy I used to,” or “I feel unmotivated lately.”

Because autonomic nerve activity is—well, automatic—we often don’t notice when it’s been working overtime. Unlike the tiredness you feel after a workout, this kind of fatigue sneaks up on us.

It isn’t until discomfort shows up—sometimes in surprising ways—that we realize something's off. And sometimes, even then, we don't quite make the connection.

Lately, we’ve heard about all kinds of ailments people are experiencing:

• Sudden lower back pain

• Frozen shoulder

• Persistent cough

• Shingles

• Knee trouble

• Sciatica

• Colds

• Digestive issues

• Sprains

• Even strokes

(I, too, went through a spell of stomach trouble recently…)

So if you've been sensing fatigue—even vaguely—you actually have a healthy internal sensor.

And that means: when your nervous system is worn out, give it the rest it needs.

Frequent, short cycles of effort and recovery are the key to preventing breakdown. In theory, this helps us feel well consistently.

But it does take some practice. Unless you’re regularly tuning in to your body and your mind, you may not even notice when tension builds up.

That's why daily practices like yoga and meditation, or simply living more meditatively, are so important.

June brings the summer solstice—when the sun's energy is at its peak. That also means more dramatic changes in air pressure and other environmental factors.

Now more than ever, yoga can help us stay grounded.

• Move your muscles gently and mindfully

• Pay attention to your breath, especially in daily life

• Lighten the load on your internal organs (by eating lighter meals, walking, inverting your body occasionally, and using gentle twists)

• Spend more time free from looping thoughts

In short: let yoga become part of your daily rhythm.

To make that possible:

• Learn to move with ease, to release tension, and to engage muscles consciously

• Start noticing how your brain and nerves are functioning

• Find joy and refreshment through movement

• Create time for meditative stillness and release mental overactivity

• Build and maintain a healthy amount of muscle

As our late director Junko Tomonaga often said:

"Yoga isn't just something nice to do anymore—it's something we need to do."

Let's enjoy and deepen our yoga together this June—with heart, meaning, and a touch of joy.

Class Schedule (All Conducted in Japanese)

From Sunday, June 1 to Monday, June 30:

• Online classes run from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM (Tuesdays only till 9:00 PM)

• In-person classes are from 9:30 AM (Sundays) to 7:30 PM (Mondays)

• Regular classes will be held every day—no days off this month.[See the full regular class curriculum here.]

Upcoming Workshops (All Conducted in Japanese)

June 7 (Sat) | 9:00–10:00 PM "Yoga Nidra for Summer" – with Iku Suda

In this session, you'll learn a method to consciously release tension while remaining aware. With repeated practice, your busy thoughts will quiet down, and a sense of calm will return.

June 13 (Fri) & June 14 (Sat) | 3:00–5:00 PM

"Opening the Ears" – with orans Chiharu

This is Chiharu-sensei’s second voice healing session at Tomonaga Yoga.

In the city, we rely too much on our eyes. This workshop invites you to rediscover the power of sound—and to open your ears with intention.

I joined her last session, “Your Voice is Your Medicine,” and came away loving my own voice for the first time.

June 22 (Sun) | 2:00–3:00 PM

"Loquat Leaves and Living with Nature’s Healing"

Did you know the humble loquat tree—often seen in residential neighborhoods—has remarkable healing properties?

Learn how to make simple home remedies using natural ingredients. You'll go home with about 300ml of healing extract—enough to last 6 months to a year.

I'll be teaching the Sunday 9:30 AM in-person class this month. Looking forward to seeing you from the very first day—Sunday, June 1!

Warmly,

Kenji Tomonaga