Mao started traveling widely overseas from her teen years. Upon entering university, she moved to Tokyo where she has been living since then. After working as an apparel designer for five years, she discovered yoga in 2000.
In 2003, she went to India for the first time and studied yoga in Rishikesh including Yoga Niketan Ashram and Sivananda Ashram.
In March 2004, she finished the level 1 Teachers Training course at the Sivananda Ashram, India and upon her return to Japan, she started teaching yoga.
In April 2005, Mao finished the Advanced Teachers Training at the Sivananda Ashram, India. She has also studied other yoga traditions including Iyengar in order to deepen her knowledge. During her three trips to India, apart from spending her time in yoga ashrams, she also visited numerous sacred places and Tibetan temples.
These experiences gave her opportunities to contemplate her spiritual growth and deepen her meditation. Mao wishes to communicate the greatness of Yoga beyond asana into the deeper meaning of integrating it into experiential life.
