Akari Yokokawa, R.TCMP, R.Ac, RMT - Pregnancy and Lactation Wellness -

Hello — it’s been a while.

After more than a decade walking the path of Chinese Medicine, I’ve arrived at something that feels like home.

Tsumugi Healing Arts
(Tsoo-moo-ghee)

This is the new name for my work — but not a new beginning so much as a weaving together of all that’s come before.

“Tsumugi” (紬 / 紡) is a Japanese word that means:
• the hand-spinning of silk
• the act of weaving
• a woven kimono fabric

No, I’m not selling kimonos!

But I’ve always felt that healing is like weaving — slow, intentional, and uniquely yours.

My work remains rooted in Chinese Medicine, massage therapy, and deep listening — with a focus on pelvic, breast, and emotional health.

My role is still the same:
to walk beside you as you untangle and reweave the threads of your life.

A small nerdy fact I love:
There are actual meridians for weaving life —Yang Wei (for weaving) and Yin Wei (for fabric).
That’s always been my compass.

Also, running a business under my own name never quite fit.
I’m someone who holds space from behind the scenes — and Tsumugi gives me the right shape to keep doing that with more clarity and care.

I’ll no longer be posting here.

You can find me now at Tsumugi Healing Arts

If our paths continue to cross there, I’d be so glad.

And if not, thank you for being part of the thread that led me here.

With love & threads of healing,

Akari | Tsumugi Healing Arts

Hello, and welcome.

It’s taken over a decade since I entered a Chinese Medicine world to arrive here—with clarity, with softness, with a name that finally feels like home.

Let me introduce you to Tsumugi Healing Arts.
A new chapter, not just in name—but in meaning, in rhythm, and in relationship.

“Tsumugi” (紬 / 紡) is a word from my country - Japan.
It means:
• hand-spinning silk
• the act of weaving
• woven kimono fabric from that silk)
A slow, intentional process. Thread by thread. Life by life.

You are already whole, born with everything you need to weave your life.
But sometimes life pulls, knots, or tangles our threads.

At Tsumugi, we gently untangle what’s been held too tightly, and together, begin the reweaving.

I offer care rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine, bodywork, and deep strategy—supporting pelvic, breast, and emotional health for women.

Here, we don’t chase symptoms.
We listen. We trace patterns.
We honour the fabric of your story.

This isn’t a place for quick fixes.
This is a space for weaving.

And I’m honoured you’re here.

— Akari

Founder, Tsumugi Healing Arts

Kintsugi and life lessons

I am learning Kintsugi, a classic Japanese art of putting broken pieces together while honouring the damage by applying decorative gold lines.

(You can check the Highlight to learn more about what it is, or check out my teacher here https://www.instagram.com/kintsugica/ .)

In the recent class, I was presented with the following three lessons:

- Know when to stop (know where you are and how you are engaging with things).
- Use appropriate tools (know your options).
- Pay attention to cues.

At the previous class, I filled tiny, shallow chipped areas with the bengara urushi mixture, but it didn't stay, or rather, darn!, I removed it for the second time!

My teacher told me it was because I scraped the layer too much with the metal blade; I needed to switch to a plant-based, softer polishing material (Tokusa) earlier in this process. I knew I needed to switch the tools once I'd done 80% of the trimming work, but I kept going until too late. Recalling it now, he placed Tokusa near me at some point while I was trimming this with a metal blade. Maybe he was hinting that it's time to switch the tools, or maybe not. It doesn't matter. The fact is that I acknowledged that there was another option available for me, but I ignored the cue and kept going because I believed firmly that I wasn't doing it enough and wasn't ready to switch.

This is a very classic everyday story for me.

I appreciate that the teacher didn't step in and let me "fail" so-to-speak, intentionally or unintentionally, and that those lessons were presented in a very obvious way for me.

I know my tendency, but this time, it hit me differently. It was a somatic learning moment that's deeper than an "a-ha" moment. I am still reflecting and processing it a lot...

Now what, you ask?

Round three: I will fill them in with the next layer, not overdo it when removing the excess, and use appropriate tools by knowing where I am in the process and looking around for what's available. Or maybe a different approach is needed.

Another lesson.

If you couldn't achieve what you want, no biggie. You just do it again.

Fail = "First Attempt at Learning"

Too philosophical?

Akari

(Peri)menopause; signs of the body not letting go

Many people esp. in (peri)menopausal phase experience a new set of symptoms without apparent reasons and feel very puzzled.
When body and mind speak up, it might look acute from just how the symptoms started, but the fact is, things have been accumulating for many years and it just happened to show up as “surprise” with the slightest and latest trigger.

It’s basically your body and mind throwing the towel. During the making process. we desensitize and create a new “normal/homeostasis” which actually puts a lot of strain on our system.

It’s a strong piece of metal that breaks after years of repetitive strain situation.

Such imbalances can look like below;
- Nagging headaches/migraines
- Insomnia
- Jaw clenching
- Dizziness and Tinnitus
- Eye issues ie; glaucoma
- High blood sugar
- Chronic postnasal drip, nasal polyps
- Neck/Shoulder tension, Frozen shoulders
- Asthma
- Acid reflux, food sensitivities, IBS
- Low back pain
- Chronic UTIs, Overactive Bladder, Leakage etc.
- Fibroids/ovarian cysts and menstrual issues
- Breast cysts
- Cancer
- Arthritis
- Skin conditions
- Chronic pain
- Anxiety, Depression, Panic attack
- Ridge thinking, stubbornness
- Identity crisis
- Lack of motivation
- Chronic frustration (that you aren’t aware but others are picking up)
- Chronic inflammation or poor immunity
- Degenerative disease

The list goes on...

Those are due to a disharmony of external influence and who you really are… The body has given in and is no longer able to maintain the false homeostasis at this point.

TCM recognizes it and has been treating this for thousands of years, namely Divergent channel issues. We strongly nourish them internally, this allows the person to regain some inner strength to adapt with the environment and help them rediscover who they truly are by connecting Heart and Kidneys (in TCM language), and letting go of old patterns. And to evaluate the entire life and restructure how they want to exist in the world moving forward.

Registered Acupuncturists assist this process so well! If any of this post resonates with you, consider having treatments with an acupuncturist :)

Akari

Compostable Medical Mask!

Working in the health/medical industry can come with lots with medical waste, depending on the profession.

Acupuncture treatment does produce medical waste to some degrees from single use needles and its packaging, alcohol swabs, cotton balls, Q-tips, gloves, to masks,,, and much more.

Those are important for public safety but as a TCM practitioner who sees that our health and nature are inseparable, I always feel bitter to see how much stuff I am dumping into the garbage bin that will go to landfill and hurt our planet.

So I am always looking for a way to be respectful to the environment and sustainable, and still follow the guidelines for public safety.

During the pandemic, I found out disposable gloves that are BIODEGRADABLE, and started using them 2+ years ago.

I am sooo excited to find out that now they have COMPOSTABLE MEDICAL MASKS!

And I cannot be happier that it's a local business.

It's pretty cool, right?
I'm so excited I even took a selfie with them! 😳 Hahaha.

There are always ways to make things kinder to more caring 🥰

Thanks to Good Judy!
https://www.facebook.com/people/goodjudyca/100063119025282/

Akari

(I'm not affiliated with them)