Mari Fukuda


Mari Fukuda

Born in Tokyo and raised in Florida, Mari began her yoga journey about a decade ago while working as a legal secretary and event coordinator at an international law firm. Mari originally began yoga as a form of exercise, and her interest in yoga rapidly grew as she tried various styles of yoga: Iyengar, Bikram, Anusara, Ashtanga Vinyasa, and AcroYoga. Upon leaving her career in 2009, Mari attended the Hot Yoga teacher training in Tokyo in order to deepen her knowledge and improve her health. During this teacher training, Mari was introduced to Ayurveda, which later became her greatest passion.

Mari’s yoga exploration led her to 7 Centers Yoga Arts in Sedona, Arizona. The school is an Ashram setting and rather than focusing on physical asana, they focus on individual internal being and detoxification. It was during her training at 7 Centers Yoga Arts that Mari was exposed to the profound depth of Ayurveda, Jyotish, and Vipassana Meditation. It was a huge transformative experience, as it opened another door for her to study Ayurveda.

Mari’s study then lead her to The Ayurvedic Institute in Albuquerque, New Mexico, under the tutelage of Dr. Vasant Lad, the world-renowned Ayurvedic physician. At the Ayurvedic Institute, Mari had the privilege to learn not only Ayurveda, but also Sanskrit, Marma Therapy, Jyotish, and Vastu.

Mari was fortunate to learn from masters such as Dr. Claudia Welch, Dr. Robert Svoboda, and Dr. David Frawley, in addition to Dr. Lad. After learning more of the ancient medicine, Mari has also gained great interest in women’s health, including fertility, pregnancy, and birth, and will further her studies on postpartum.

Currently, Mari is a certified Ayurvedic practitioner, registered with the National Ayurvedic Medical Association, and a registered yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance. Having returned to her home country Japan, she is here to offer Ayurvedic consultations, Marma Therapy, prenatal massage, and private yoga sessions in the style of Hatha Yoga, focused on Ayurvedic principles.

Qualifications and Certificates:

  • Ayurvedic Practitioner Level 1
  • NAMA (National Ayurvedic Medical Association)
  • Shirodhara Certificate
  • Pulse Reading For Clinical Assessment And Specific Herbal Protocol
  • 200-hour RYT: Yoga Alliance
  • Hot Yoga Teacher Certificate