We checked out downtown Tokyo’s newest mental oasis, and came away feeling better about our “lightly cloudy” selves.
Over the last several years, the practice of meditating has become a popular way for people to manage their stress. Celebrities like Madonna and Steve Jobs have advocated for the practice, which caused luxurious meditation clinics and studios to pop up all across the world.
As potentially one of the most stressed out cities in the world, Tokyo probably needs one. That’s why muon, a meditation specialty studio, has opened its doors on June 25. Unlike other meditation studios that mostly combine yoga and meditation, muon focuses solely on offering a pure and genuine meditation experience, and might be the first studio to do so.
Having received a flyer in the mail, our Japanese language reporter Anji was curious to check it out. She learned from the pamphlet that reservations for the studio are online only, and you can reserve a slot up to one hour in advance. Canceling is easy too; so long as you do it up to one hour before your session, it’s free.
You don’t need a change of clothes or any equipment, so you can just show up empty-handed. You won’t even need to bring your wallet; you’ll pay for your appointment when you book it online.
Upon arriving at the studio, the first thing Anji saw was this mystical entrance. A straight, bright line waited for her at the end of a completely dark hallway. It was like a guiding beacon that would lead her to peace and Nirvana.
Once she entered, Anji was greeted by a young woman who offered her hot water that was boiled in a heavy iron pot. Seated in the waiting area, drinking hot water, and taking in the aromas carefully mixed by a professional aromatherapist, Anji felt her body and her mind start to switch into “off mode”.
Soon she was led into the meditation studio, which was filled with pillars of dim light that gave off the feeling of warm trees. No cell phones or digital devices are allowed, as they want you to have the full experience of lacking possessions that tie you to your physical body (though Anji was allowed to take photos for the sake of this article).
Placed between the pillars of light were comfortable-looking cushions and mats to sit on. Although it was indoors, the whole atmosphere resembled being in a forest, surrounded by beautiful trees.
Anji picked a spot she liked, and once she was settled in, the session began. At muon there are four courses to choose from, but being a beginner Anji chose the beginners course, “Mindfulness”. This 30-minute course encourages you to focus on your breathing and your movement.
Following the voice of a former news caster, she performed some light stretches while focusing on her breathing. Then, she was instructed to place her hand on her stomach and feel the warmth of it against her skin. This was a way for her to formally learn about “being in the moment”.
It was easy to feel relaxed in the room. There was one staff member who remained with her, but as she was able to sit where she liked, Anji didn’t feel crowded, nervous, or uncomfortable by their presence. Anji felt herself shift naturally into a meditative state. Except…
Except for idle thoughts! Anji found that she could not stop her mind from thinking, and she realized this was the embodiment of her worldly desires. But as if it could read her mind, at the very moment when she began to feel exasperated, the recorded guide said, “Everyone has idle thoughts. Let’s try to look at ours objectively.”
That was the best thing she took away from her experience at muon. She was really proud that she was able to re-examine herself and her mental focus on worldly desires. She also learned that, through focusing on her breathing, she can quiet her busy mind, which she was very happy about.
After the session, a studio associate helped Anji download their app, which measured the state of her mental and physical well-being using the tip of her finger. “Sunny” is apparently a better result, but Anji received “lightly cloudy”, to which the staff responded, “Ah, you tend to be tired a lot, don’t you?”
But what Anji thought was the biggest benefit of the studio was the environment. After her session at muon, she tried to meditate at home, but actually found it rather difficult; she couldn’t really replicate the feeling of the studio that helped her be more in the moment. She’d also relaxed so much more at the studio, so if she can swing it, she might even try to go about once per week!
And right now, she can. Until July 31, muon is holding a campaign that lets the customer decide the price of their practice. They can pay as little as 1,000 yen (about US$9) for a session. Since muon is really the first meditation-only studio, they didn’t have a pre-established market to base pricing on, so after August 1 they will consider suggestions from their customers to finalize their pricing.
Anji asked what kind of customers have been visiting so far, and the staff told her that it has been roughly equally divided between men and women, who were between 20 and 60 years of age. The most popular courses are the “Mindfulness” one that Anji took and the “Sleep and Recovery” course, which is conducted lying down on a comfortable futon-like cushion.
As expected, many tired Tokyoites end up falling asleep during the latter course, but for muon that isn’t a problem at all. They simply want people to slow down, relax, and forget about their busy lives, and that’s something we can all get behind.
When you’re having a rough day or a stressful week, combine a visit to muon with a session at the sleep-inducing head massage parlor, and you will be treating yourself to an afternoon in Nirvana.
Studio information
muon
Address: Tokyo-to Shinjuku-ku Nishi Shinjuku 1-21-1 Meihou Building 2nd floor
東京都新宿区西新宿1-21-1明宝ビルディング2F
Contact through their website; responses will be returned between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Website
Photos ©SoraNews24
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