Dominica Serigano, Shizen Yoga Studio owner and director, has been studying yoga in Tokyo and abroad since 1996 with instructors from the Iyengar lineage: Joan Seow Harakuma, Ramanand Patel, Gabriela Giubilaro, Paul Cabanis and Marla Apt. Teaching since 1999, her classes reflect the concentration and depth of her studies with these great teachers and the integrity of the Iyengar tradition. Dominica opened Shizen Yoga Studio in 2003 to create a space dedicated to the complete and integral practice of yoga, to bring the fullness of yoga to the community, and to build community through the study and practice of yoga. Besides teaching at Shizen, Dominica is also head instructor of Furla Yoga, SHIZEN's sister studio in Aoyama, Tokyo. In addition, she regularly teaches at Myogetsu-bo Studio in Nikko, and is an executive director of EcoNikko.
Her additional workshop schedule can be found on the instructors page.

Dana has 25 years experience in movement studies including dance, martial arts and yoga. She has an M.A. in dance, and performed, choreographed, and taught modern dance for 14 years in the U.S. before coming to Japan in 1997. Practicing aikido for nine years in both America and Japan, Dana received her nidan (second degree black belt) in 2001. Dana began practicing yoga under Dominica's guidance as a prenatal yoga student. After her son was born, she began teaching Yogamoms Postnatal yoga classes. Dana now teaches regular Hatha yoga classes, as well as both Prenatal and Postnatal classes at SHIZEN, while continuing her studies with Dominica. She also teaches at SHIZEN's sister studio in Aoyama, FURLA yoga.

Nao began studying yoga after realizing that years of back pain were largely due to mental factors, and through yoga, she developed an understanding of the mind's immense impact on the body. She was first certified with the Yoga Alliance in Chicago, and continued learning several styles of yoga. In 2004, she studied at the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram in Chennai, India. There, she was deeply impressed by the incredible power of breath combined with asanas to quiet the mind and bring peace to the heart. It was there too that she fell in love with chanting. She continues to study the yoga tradition as taught by Krishnamacharya under Kausthub Desikachar (grandson of Krishnamacharya). In class, she uses the breath as a guide to self-discovery, and strives to assist students to find their own sense of harmony between body and soul.

Junko Tanaka studied the Rudolph Steiner method of Eurythmy with Akira Kasai. She subsequently trained in Noguchi exercises, seitai chiropractic treatment, Duncan dance and Oki style yoga. She began her study of Ashtanga yoga at IYC in October 2001, and participated in Basia Lipska’s Ashtanga yoga teacher’s training at IYC in 2004. Junko began studying with Dominica at Shizen Yoga Studio in January 2005.

Sachiko started studying Iyengar-style yoga in 1997 when she was in the U.S. Since then, she has become more aware of her health and "inner mind" through her yoga study.
After coming back to Japan in 2000, she began studying yoga with Dominica at IYC Tokyo, and also tried different types of yoga styles as well. She hopes she can share with her students the fascinating and powerful asana that she has experienced through her study with Dominica. With this "yoga spice", your daily life could be more meaningful and fruitful.

Madoka began her yoga studies with Asthanga-based vinyasa style yoga in the United States, and upon return to Japan, she studied Hatha Yoga at Studio Zen. She completed a teachers' training course at Shizen Yoga, where she continues to develop her yoga practice under the instruction of Dominica Serigano. The aim of her yoga practice is to cultivate a personal foundation of compassion and peace. As a yoga instructor, her objective is to share her love for yoga with others who would like to learn yoga as a means to balance the physical, mental and spiritual dimensions to deal with the daily stresses of work and life.
She also teaches at SHIZEN's sister studio in Aoyama, FURLA yoga.

Mika discovered yoga during a time when she was feeling a need for physical and spiritual balance, difficult to find in her hectic life as an actress. She was drawn to yoga, because she felt that it helped her to examine the essence of her true nature and to connect with something larger than herself. Mika came to a turning point in her life when she began teaching yoga. She has studied various styles of yoga in studios and workshops in Japan and abroad, including Iyengar yoga and Kundalini yoga. In 2005, she first encountered Anusara yoga, and continued training to become, in 2006, the first person in Japan to receive certification as an Anusara-Inspired Yoga Teacher from John Friend. Mika is also a member of the Japan Maternity Yoga Association. True to her motto, "a tender heart always," her classes are gentle to body, heart and mind, and filled with energy and enthusiasm.
She also teaches at SHIZEN's sister studio in Aoyama, FURLA yoga.

Born and raised in Sapporo. Licensed ski instructor and experienced in classical ballet and kendo. The stress of moving to Tokyo in 2000, as well as sports injuries, led Chica to begin yoga to restore both her mental and physical health. In 2001, she studied maternity yoga at IYC under Dominica's instruction. She also studied Oki yoga, Iyengar yoga and Ashtanga yoga, completing a yoga teachers training course with Mayumi Fukushima, an East Indian dance teacher. In 2002, after giving birth, she organized baby massage classes and practiced various other physical therapy methods at home, such as Noguchi Seitai. She also used yoga to recover from an accident in 2005, and has thus experienced for herself how effective yoga can be for healing. In class, she strives to provide a space where women can shine as both mothers and as women, developing strength as well as relaxing both body and mind.

Born in Canada, John has practiced meditation for several decades, completing intensive retreats in Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, Japan and North America. John began teaching meditation in 2001 and emphasizes practical application of awareness in action through a broad range of meditative techniques. In addition to teaching meditation, John runs a marketing business in central Tokyo. He makes regular TV appearances and is an avid scuba diver. For more information about John and Dharma Japan,please visit: www.dharma-japan.org
He also teaches at SHIZEN's sister studio in Aoyama, FURLA yoga.

Makino Shugen began studying Zen meditation around the age of 15. He has been teaching various forms of meditation for the past 25 years, including Zen, Tao, and chakra meditation. Gifted in selecting forms of meditation beneficial for the student, students come away with a heightened awareness of Self.

Hiromi began both yoga and aerobics to restore her health in 2001. In 2003, she began teaching aerobics at fitness clubs. The following year, she began teaching power yoga and studying Ashtanga Yoga at the International Yoga Center. In 2005, Hiromi completed her teachers training at IYC. At present, Hiromi is attending teacher training classes at SHIZEN and studying Hatha Yoga under Dominica's instruction. While studying asanas with emphasis on alignment and energy, in addition to more spiritual aspects (yoga philosophy), Hiromi works on freeing both body and soul. She wants to share her love for yoga to bring balance to body and mind.

Melanie first started taking yoga classes in Boston in 2002. She fell in love of course and has been learning about yoga ever since, experimenting with different styles. As an elementary school teacher in Boston , she started incorporating yoga in her daily routine with her students and seeing that they loved it trained to become a children's yoga teacher through YogaKids for one year. She loves seeing children smile and grow through yoga. Her dream is to teach yoga to children all the time!

Reiko studied art in college and began work as a designer for a television station. While working a busy job, she fell in love with diving and underwater photography and began traveling both in Japan and abroad to pursue her interest in photography. While doing so, she learned about yoga and eventually decided to quit her job, feeling she did not have enough time for herself. After leaving her job, she continued to work as a freelance designer while attending various yoga workshops and training courses. In 2005, Reiko took her first class with Dominica, and has been studying at SHIZEN since. When she first started yoga, Reiko’s instinct told her she had found something good. Now, she finds comfort in her practice and while continuing to feel the benefits, she is grateful that she began studying yoga. Reiko wishes to share her love for yoga, and she continues to study various ways to better convey the teachings of yoga to a wide range of people.
She also teaches at SHIZEN's sister studio in Aoyama, FURLA yoga.

Originally from Fukuoka. Hideko began Yoga in 1992 as a way to find relief and peace of mind while working in a stressful environment in advertising. She first studied Sivananda Yoga, and went to India twice. A year later, she became a yoga instructor, teaching at sports clubs in Fukuoka and maternity clinics.　　In 1999, she came to Tokyo after getting married, and gave birth to a baby girl. In order to help alleviate the difficulty of raising a child in the city, she began yoga classes for parents and their children. She also studied Reiki, energy work, and healing.　　At present, Hideko teaches yoga at various locations, and from November 2007, began teaching maternity yoga and baby yoga at SHIZEN.
She also teaches at SHIZEN's sister studio in Aoyama, FURLA yoga.

Aya encountered yoga through her interest in marathons. She took classes in various styles of hatha yoga, and in 2005, completed a teacher training course in Anusara Yoga at studio yoggy.  Since then, she has continued to practice mainly Anusara Yoga, compelled by the detailed approach to poses and its spiritual depth.  In spring of 2006, she went to northern India to Uttarkashi's Sivananda Yoga Ashram, and enjoyed experiencing yoga with people from around the world. After returning to Japan, she herself practiced prenatal and postnatal yoga, and is now raising a child.  She is grateful for the encounters and opportunities yoga brings to her every day. Aya is a regular substitute for Mika Matsukawa.
・Anusara Inspired Yoga Teacher
・Completed Japan Maternity Yoga Association's Basic Course
・Completed studio yoggy's postnatal yoga teacher training course

Ineko Homma
Yoga Instructor

She started yoga while living in Hong Kong, yoga became a part of her everyday life until she returned to Japan in 2005.
At that time, she tried Power Yoga, but she wished to study asana more deeply, and was introduced to Dominica at SHIZEN Yoga Studio.
Soon after, in June, 2007, she received her 500-hour yoga instructor’s certification from the American Yoga Alliance in Dallas.
From January 2008, began teaching Intro, Yoga for Works at FURLA and AM Yoga. She continues studying Hatha Yoga under Dominica.