Mae reflects on growing up in a vertical culture of hierarchy and unexpectedly becoming “sensei” herself. Through her resistance to pedestals and followers, she explores how hierarchy soothes anxiety but distorts worth, and why true leadership is not about standing above — but standing level.

Mae Yoshikawa

Mae Yoshikawa is the creator of the Kizuki Journaling™, 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 he ...