WakoWa Salon: Everyday Wellness

WakoWa Salon: Everyday Wellness is dedicated to sharing, exploring and discussing ideas and concepts around living in a way that is healthy and sustainable. I believe that when we pay Attention to our selves–in body, mind, heart as well as spirit–and to how we live our lives, we can best set Intentions for living well. And we can do this Everyday, in ways that fit comfortably into our lives.

This philosophy guides the way I live my own life, and was the focus of WakoWa Wellnes, which was formerly my wellness coaching and training business based in the San Francisco Bay Area. My practice was rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Five Elements theory and Acupressure modalities–shiatsu, reflexology, tui na and gentle pressure acu–, and also incorporates stretches and body-awareness principles based in yoga, as well as learnings from meditation.

Finally, I’m an anthropologist, so I have a deep interest in understanding the broader context of a person’s life. What is important to you? What’s the first thing you do when you wake up? What’s on your desk? What’s in your purse? What books are on your nightstand?

Therefore, this will be a “worldly” virtual salon; pulling from the philosophy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, as well as inviting in knowledge and wisdom from the larger world, to help us in living in a healthy and sustainable way.

- Wako

wako takayama Wako Takayama, MA
certified acupressure practitioner

Wako trained at the Acupressure Institute in Berkeley, California where she completed a Professional Specialization Program in Traditional Asian Therapies. She brings a rich background of service, education, business experience and life passions to her wellness work. She has degrees in Social Anthropology from Harvard and Stanford Universities, and has worked for over 20 years developing and marketing technology and consumer products in the US and Asia. Wako practices Anusara yoga, plays latin-jazz violin, and loves to travel and speak Spanish. Wako was the resident acupressure-practitioner at Jazz Camp West 2006.

Wako also has a blog to chronicle her year of wearing orthodontic braces: What’s In a Smile.