We Are All Family
The Takaya Institute For Somatic Healing Arts was officially founded in 2019 by three members of the Takaya family, all of them a student/graduate of the Novato Institute for Somatic Research and Training based on Thomas Hanna's ground-breaking work.
To learn more about each of our certified practitioners just click on their pictures below.
Our Lineage
Takaya is the family name from our Japanese ancestors, a lineage that was directly linked to the Suzuki and Matsushita clans - notable Samurai families that lived within the Emperor's palace that were responsible for sewing fabrics for kimonos and personally clothing him and his family. After the modernization movement of Japan, many of the old traditions and societal structures were dismantled which forced our ancestors to find new ways of living a meaningful, honorable life.
Founder of Takaya Institute, Fully Certified Hanna Somatic Educator, Ritual Elder, Loving Father, Uncle and Grandfather
Co-founder of Takaya Institute, Somatic Yoga Instructor, Clinical Somatic Practitioner in Training and Devoted Mother
Co-Founder and Director of Takaya Institute, Fully Certified Hanna Somatic Educator, Sound Healer and Artist
One such was Yaeko Takaya, later known as Jean Davis, she was William's mother and Aimee/Seiji's grandmother. In the 1950s she emigrated from Kyoto, Japan and started a new life in the United States. She was a life-long learner, traveler, teacher and acted as an inspiration to her family and community. Her children married into other cultures and made the Takaya family as diverse as it is today!
She peacefully passed away in August of 2018 surrounded by her family and community that now spans whole countries and continents.