Introduction

The word “ikigai” is so deeply ingrained in everyday Japanese life that it has, paradoxically, become difficult to perceive.

Meanwhile, in the West, the concept of “Mindful Aging” is gaining traction. This philosophy reinterprets aging not as a decline, but as a conscious process of living with wisdom and maturity. It is deeply connected to the fundamental questions that ikigai originally posed—the meaning of life, daily joy, and living authentically.

Italian psychotherapist Cristina Ombra is a practitioner who has spent over 30 years integrating Western psychotherapy, Eastern mindfulness, and awareness of bodily sensations. Following a workshop in Kamakura last year, she is now launching the first experimental online session connecting Japan and Italy.

What You Will Experience

This is not a seminar where you sit and listen. It is a two-hour session where you engage with your body, move, and feel.

Mindful Breathing A practice of returning to the present moment through breath

Washino Dance A practice of opening up your inner self through movement, guided by instructions

Somatic Exercises Releasing tension accumulated in the body and balancing the nervous system

Brain Gym® / Kinesiology A practice that promotes brain-body integration and enhances coordination and attention

Sharing Insights A time to put your experience into words and share it with participants from Japan and Italy

The session will be conducted in English with Japanese interpretation.

Cristina’s Approach — Three Practice Systems

At the core of this program are three practice systems that have been integrated over more than 30 years.

Bioenergetics An approach that promotes self-understanding and personal growth through body movement and sensation

Mindfulness Protocols A practice of mindfulness rooted in daily life, utilizing clinically validated methods

T.R.E.© (Tension and Trauma Release Exercises) A practice that releases stress and tension accumulated in the body through natural vibrations

What You Will Gain from This Workshop

Deeper Awareness You will cultivate a sense of inner awareness in your daily life

Relaxation You will alleviate mental heaviness and stress through your body

Improved Focus By reconnecting the mind and body, your attention becomes more stable

The Background of This Workshop

In an era where AI handles information processing and intellectual tasks, what remains for humans?

Isn’t it sensitivity through the body, the ability to read the atmosphere of a situation, intuition that cannot be put into words, and mature judgment? I believe that what Mindful Ageing asks, and what IKIGAI originally asked, is the same thing. How do we cultivate wisdom rather than knowledge, and bodily sensations rather than information?

This workshop is one sincere response to that question.

Recommended for

・Those who want to experience an approach that begins with the body

・Those who want to cultivate human sensitivity and intuition in the age of AI

・Those who want to live the second half of their lives more deeply and consciously

・Those interested in mindfulness or meditation

・Those interested in experimental spaces connecting Japan and Italy

Open to all ages, including first-time participants.

Previous Event in Kamakura

In November 2025, Cristina Ombra held an in-person workshop at the Kamakura Lifelong Learning Center. Conducted as an “approach to connecting mind and body,” the workshop was bilingual (Japanese and English) with a capacity of 20 participants. This online workshop is a new initiative that builds upon that experience.

About the Instructor

Cristina Ombra

Psychologist, Psychotherapist, Bioenergetic Analyst

Graduated from the University of Turin with a degree in Clinical Psychology. She has practiced meditation for over 30 years and has explored the integration of Buddhist philosophy and psychology. Using a unique approach that combines Western psychotherapy (Bioenergetics, Mindfulness Protocol, T.R.E.©, etc.) with Eastern meditation practices, she conducts sessions and workshops for individuals, couples, and groups. Website: https://cristinaombra.it/en/

Co-host

Koji Miki (Support Staff & Interpreter)

Representative Director, enmono Inc. / Co-Representative Director, Zen2.0 General Incorporated Association

After gaining experience in international sales at Fujitsu and completing his graduate studies at Keio University, he became independent following layoffs at an IT startup during the Lehman Shock.

 Drawing from his personal experiences, he developed “zenschool,” a program that fuses Zen philosophy with innovation. He established the “True Innovation Theory,” which helps business leaders generate innovation through a Zen-based approach, and supports business creation based on the Zen “Ten Ox-Herding Pictures.” He appeared on the TV program “Gaia no Yoake” in 2016 and will deliver an invited keynote speech on “AI and Ikigai” at Stockholm in 2024.

Future Developments

This workshop is a pilot project leading to an in-person retreat at a temple overlooking the sea in Zaimokuza, Kamakura. As the Mindful Body School, we envision building a continuous learning environment that integrates Zen, embodied knowledge, and mindfulness.

Event Overview

Date & Time

Sunday, April 26, 2026, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM (Japan Time)

Format

Online (Planned via Google Meet)

Languages

English and Japanese (with interpretation)

Participation Fee

5,000 yen Capacity: 20 participants

Organizers

zenschool / Cristina Ombra

Important Information

This program is not intended to treat specific medical conditions.

If you are currently receiving medical treatment or taking medication for physical or mental health issues, please consult your primary care physician before participating.

Additionally, if you have such circumstances, please let us know in advance so that you can participate with greater peace of mind.