In a world torn by chaos and uncertainty, Yogamata Keiko Aikawa moves with the stillness of someone who has already arrived: In the five-thousand-year history of yoga, Aikawa is the first non-Indian and the first—and only—woman in history to attain the title of master, the highest level of spiritual enlightenment. She holds the title of Mahamandaleshwar (Supreme Master of the Universe), bestowed upon her by Juna Akkara, India’s most influential spiritual institution, and her books have sold more than a million copies worldwide. This year, the internationally recognized meditation master is bringing her practice around the world, offering a series of exclusive meditation experiences in Cannes, Paris and New York.
Born in Yamanashi, Japan in 1945, Aikawa began her journey in the cultural centers of Tokyo, where she founded her own yoga school in the 1970s and taught asana to thousands. Her practice reached a turning point in 1984, when prominent Himalayan saint Pilot Babaji came to Japan to film a television program and invited her to practice with him in the Himalayas. Seven years later, in a remote region of the Himalayas at an altitude of more than 5,000 metres, she reached samadhi, a state of human consciousness that transcends physical and mental limits to achieve spiritual enlightenment. (Samadhi is a dangerous ascetic practice that has previously led to deaths.)
Soon after, the Parliament for World Development, a global yoga and meditation organization affiliated with the Indian government, officially bestowed on her the name “Yogmata,” which means “Mother of Yoga” or “Mother of the Universe,” and Aikawa has carried it ever since. Since then, Aikawa has become an internationally recognized meditation teacher, performing samadhi publicly in India 18 times between 1991 and 2007 to promote world peace and provide evidence of the truth throughout India.
Over the past decade, she has also graced the United Nations several times, first speaking as a guest of honor at International Yoga Day at UN Headquarters in 2016, and appearing regularly as a special guest in the following years. On her visit last June, during the summer solstice, Aikawa shared the following message: “Yoga is not just physical exercise – it is the path to true self-knowledge and ultimately samadhi. When people remember their essence and live in harmony with heart and body, this is the first step toward peace.”
This spring and summer, Aikawa embarks on a world tour that takes in some of the most culturally resonant places on Earth. During this year’s Cannes Film Festival, she hosted events at the Mondrian Hotel and the American Pavilion, where she shared the secret Himalayan teachings that are turning researchers, as she puts it, “from coal to diamonds.” This was followed by a private experience at Soho House Paris, where Aikawa brought her Himalayan master’s meditations to filmmakers, creatives and cultural leaders.
Finally, Aikawa will return to New York for her final stop at Soho House New York on June 17 before settling back into her meditation dojo in Manhattan. Located on the 34th floor of the Olympic Tower, this space serves as a haven of serenity above the hustle and bustle of Fifth Avenue – providing an intimate space for practitioners to experience authentic Himalayan meditation in an accessible city setting.
