Sennin Foundation Center for Japanese Cultural Arts

Sennin Foundation Center for Japanese Cultural Arts Offering classes in Nakamura Tempu’s Japanese yoga and meditation since 1981. Established in California by H. E. Contact us at 510-526-7518 or hedavey@aol.com.

Learn about this path to better health and spiritual awakening at www.TempuYoga.com. The Sennin Foundation Center for Japanese Cultural Arts has been offering instruction in traditional Japanese arts under experienced, certified teachers since 1981. Davey Sensei, it offers nonprofit training in Japanese systems of yoga, healing arts and fine arts. Ongoing classes are available to people of all ages and levels of health. Members of the Sennin Foundation Center have access to the rich traditions of Japan's cultural arts through practice in the group's classical dojo (literally, "training hall of the Way"). Much more than simply a school or studio, an authentic dojo is a gateway into the timeless realm of Asian art and personal development, allowing members of the Sennin Foundation Center to realize vibrant well-being and longevity. Affordable online instruction and in person meetups are offered worldwide. Classes are taught in English online at a variety of times and class recordings are provided for members of our dojo. We use Zoom to safely and effectively teach folks in multiple nations.

“Love means respecting one another.”True love begins with recognizing a simple yet profound fact: each of us exists in t...
03/15/2026

“Love means respecting one another.”

True love begins with recognizing a simple yet profound fact: each of us exists in this world as a precious life. When we truly accept that, we come to respect each other from the bottom of our hearts. If that sense of reverence is present, there’s simply no room for selfishness or personal interests to creep into love.

When we quietly reflect on another person’s life and deeply feel the mystery of life itself, a feeling of respect naturally arises.

So if we want to create a truly brighter world, the first step is learning to truly love one another.—Nakamura Tempu

Read more in the internationally acclaimed book The Teachings of Tempu: Practical Meditation for Daily Life. Available everywhere!



03/15/2026

/ Marcus Aurelius /
"It’s time you realized that you have something in you more powerful and miraculous than the things that affect you and make you dance like a puppet."
"Marcus Aurelius Antoninus was Roman emperor from 161 to 180 and a Stoic philosopher. He was the last of the rulers known as the Five Good Emperors, and the last emperor of the Pax Romana, an age of relative peace and stability for the Roman Empire lasting from 27 BC to 180 AD. He served as Roman consul in 140, 145, and 161. Marcus Aurelius was born during the reign of Hadrian to the emperor's nephew, the praetor Marcus Annius Verus, and the heiress Domitia Calvilla. His father died when he was three, and his mother and grandfather raised him. After Hadrian's adoptive son, Aelius Caesar, died in 138, the emperor adopted Marcus's uncle Antoninus Pius as his new heir. In turn, Antoninus adopted Marcus and Lucius, the son of Aelius. Hadrian died that year, and Antoninus became emperor. Now heir to the throne, Marcus studied Greek and Latin under tutors such as Herodes Atticus and Marcus Cornelius Fronto. He married Antoninus's daughter Faustina in 145."
W
Predecessor: Antoninus Pius
Successor: Commodus
Co-emperor: Lucius Verus (161–169), Commodus (177–180)
Born: April 26, 121, Rome, Italy
Died: March 17, 180, Vindobona, Pannonia Superior or, Sirmium, Pannonia Inferior
Meditations

How can I tell if someone is teaching the original Shin-shin-toitsu-do and if they're qualified?Great question! After th...
03/10/2026

How can I tell if someone is teaching the original Shin-shin-toitsu-do and if they're qualified?

Great question! After the publication of H. E. Davey’s groundbreaking book Japanese Yoga, some folks set themselves up as teachers of “Japanese yoga” despite having never studied under a certified instructor of Nakamura Sensei’s authentic Shin-shin-toitsu-do, which is still rarely offered outside of Japan. Needless to say, they didn't have teaching certification from any group directly affiliated with Nakamura Sensei's students, and Japanese yoga is commonly used to indicate a connection to him, in that he was the first person to introduce yoga to Japan in 1919.

Kyoto’s International Japanese Yoga Association is the first—and only—group to regularly certify individuals outside of Japan as instructors of Nakamura Sensei’s Shin-shin-toitsu-do. And just as you wouldn’t want to be treated by an unaccredited surgeon, or represented by an attorney without a law degree, think twice about studying with people unable to show proof of IJYA teaching authorization.

Simply being a member of the IJYA isn’t the same as having participated in instructor training or being accredited to teach by the IJYA. Anyone can be an IJYA member, including folks who've never studied Nakamura Sensei’s yoga.

You can contact the IJYA at www.japanese-yoga.com to check the qualifications of people you’re contemplating learning from. They’re happy to help out.​

And for affordable online classes in Nakamura Tempu’s original Shin-shin-toitsu-do, drop by www.TempuYoga.com.



03/09/2026

“The Instantaneous Shift of Mind”

One must always keep in mind the principle of the “instantaneous shift of mind.” Simply put, it means actively and immediately redirecting the mind in response to any situation. In Zen, there is the saying nessatsu kansatsu (熱殺寒殺), which conveys the same idea. It teaches that whether facing heat or cold, one should not let the mind cling or attach to it. If one does this, what are heat and cold but nothing? Similarly, all matters of human affairs and worldly events are no different. This is the subtle art of mental transformation — the essence of the instantaneous shift of mind.—Nakamura Tempu

“Setsuna shinki no tenkan” means instantly changing your mind in each moment. It is the practice of noticing your thoughts, feelings, or reactions as soon as they appear and choosing to switch your mind to a calm, positive, or constructive state. Instead of letting worry, fear, anger, or discomfort take over, you actively direct your mind in a way that keeps you balanced and clear.

Tempu Sensei explained this using the Zen expression nessatsu kansatsu, which means “kill hot, kill cold.” The idea is that when you experience heat or cold, you should not let these sensations disturb your mind. If you do not attach your attention to them, they have no power over you. In the same way, all the challenges, difficulties, and events in life are no different. If your mind does not cling to them, they cannot unsettle you.

This practice is not about ignoring reality or pretending problems do not exist. It is about being aware of your mind in each instant and choosing how to respond. The moment you feel a negative reaction, you immediately shift your focus and attitude. Over time, this trains the mind to remain calm and positive even in difficult situations.

The essence of setsuna shinki no tenkan is freedom from being controlled by your thoughts or emotions. It teaches that your mental state is something you can actively manage. By practicing this, you can face challenges, discomfort, and the uncertainties of life with clarity, strength, and composure. It is a simple but powerful way to live with balance and to keep your mind peaceful and positive, no matter what happens. —H. E. Davey

Read more from H. E. Davey in his books Japanese Yoga: The Way of Dynamic Meditation and The Teachings of Tempu: Practical Meditation for Daily Life. Available everywhere!



Big shout out to my newest top fans! 💎David WilbourneDrop a comment to welcome them to our community,
03/08/2026

Big shout out to my newest top fans! 💎

David Wilbourne

Drop a comment to welcome them to our community,

03/07/2026

What about the offshoots of Nakamura Tempu's Shin-shin-toitsu-do that were created after his death?

After Nakamura Sensei died in 1968, a few people created new versions of Shin-shin-toitsu-do. This was their personal interpretation of his teachings, or it involved mixing Shin-shin-toitsu-do with other disciplines (such as aikido).
​
While these new versions of Shin-shin-toitsu-do may be useful and well taught, they don’t represent Nakamura Sensei's Shin-shin-toitsu-do. Typically, only 30-40% of the original teachings are present in these offshoots. The rest consists of exercises and meditations that have little do with his teachings.
​
Addressing mind and body unification generically isn’t equivalent to teaching Nakamura Sensei's distinctive Shin-shin-toitsu-do ("The Way of Mind and Body Unification"). Along similar lines, practicing something missing as much as 70% of the original format won’t allow you to understand the Shin-shin-toitsu-do created by Nakamura Sensei in 1919. You need to study the entire curriculum to grasp what he created. All his methods are designed to work together, which can’t happen if many of them are missing.
​
Fortunately, H. E. Davey has learned Nakamura Sensei’s whole curriculum, and he’s sharing Shin-shin-toitsu-do authentically and in its original form. This includes multiple mind-body disciplines:
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Kokyu Soren’s nine breathing exercises for robust health

Sekkyoku Taiso’s eight physical movement exercises to enhance positivity.

Asana Ho’s 10 distinctive yoga poses (asana) to build muscle, flexibility, and willpower

Hitori Ryoho’s 17 self-healing arts, which blend massage-like methods, calisthenics, and abdominal breathing.

Kumbhaka breathing to calm the mind and combat stress

Yodo Ho’s four rhythmic, moving exercises for a stronger body and more peaceful mind

Anjo Daza Ho’s sonic meditation

Muga Ichinen Ho’s visual meditation

Jiko Anji Ho's five powerful autosuggestion techniques to alter negative habits

The unique Tempu diet to enjoy a long life

The complete Tempu philosophy, which includes a deep exploration of impermanent existence/genuine existence, the impermanent self/genuine self, the dysfunctional impermanent self/functional impermanent self, and the unconscious genuine self/conscious genuine self.

And much more
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Many of these mind-body methods are not found in English language books. You need to learn them from a certified teacher.

Never tried Shin-shin-toitsu-do before? No problem. Davey Sensei’s online classes offer step-by-step instruction. But they’re also helpful if you've been exposed to a newer derivative of the original discipline, and you'd like to find out what you've been missing.

Learn more at www.TempuYoga.com.





Thanks for being a top engager and making it on to my weekly engagement list! 🎉William Bennett
03/06/2026

Thanks for being a top engager and making it on to my weekly engagement list! 🎉

William Bennett

Looking for an alternative to more typical forms of yoga? Want something that emphasizes the mind as much as the body? D...
03/03/2026

Looking for an alternative to more typical forms of yoga? Want something that emphasizes the mind as much as the body? Drop by http://www.TempuYoga.com.



02/28/2026

“The Success of a Business”

What I want to say to entrepreneurs is this:

Things attempted purely out of one’s own desires rarely succeed. Business succeeds when a person steps away from personal greed, reflects deeply on something, and then puts those thoughts into action.

Even among businesspeople, there is a vast difference in results between those who act as a bundle of selfish desires and those who work with the intention, “Through this work, I will truly provide something useful for the people of the world.”—Nakamura Tempu

Read more of Nakamura Tempu’s life-affirming philosophy in The Teachings of Tempu: Practical Meditation for Daily Life. Available everywhere!



“In Japan, a number of time-honored everyday activities (such as making tea, arranging flowers, and writing) have tradit...
02/28/2026

“In Japan, a number of time-honored everyday activities (such as making tea, arranging flowers, and writing) have traditionally been deeply examined by their proponents... Through these Ways or Do forms, the Japanese have sought to realize the Way of living itself. They have approached the universal through the particular.”—H. E. Davey

From The Japanese Way of the Artist. Available everywhere!



Do you practice asana, or "yoga poses?"Asana training isn't part of the official Shin-shin-toitsu-do curriculum. However...
02/27/2026

Do you practice asana, or "yoga poses?"

Asana training isn't part of the official Shin-shin-toitsu-do curriculum. However, Nakamura Tempu Sensei did teach his version of asana as a supplemental practice.
​
​Rather than presenting a large and complex system of asana, he used a streamlined approach focusing on a smaller number of asana to simply and quickly build strength, flexibility, balance, willpower, and concentration. These asana are based on ancient esoteric yoga poses, or postures, he learned in Nepal in 1911. While they resemble modern Hatha yoga asana, they're not identical, being older in some cases and having been influenced by Nakamura Sensei's ideas.
​
The Tempu Asana Ho ("Tempu Asana Methods") are taught to advanced students in our online yoga dojo, although beginners try a few of them from time to time. The heart of Shin-shin-toitsu-do is meditation, reflecting the founder's background in Raja yoga. The autosuggestion, diet, stretching, breathing methods, healing arts, and mind and body coordination training are like spokes emanating from the hub of a wheel. The hub is meditation.

Learn more at www.TempuYoga.com.



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About the Sennin Foundation Center

The Sennin Foundation Center for Japanese Cultural Arts has been offering instruction in traditional Japanese arts under experienced, certified teachers since 1981. Established in California by H. E. Davey Sensei, it presents separate training in Japanese systems of yoga, healing arts, martial arts, and fine arts. Ongoing classes are available to people of all ages and levels of health, including classes for children ages five and up. Members of the Sennin Foundation Center have access to the rich traditions of Japan's cultural arts through practice in the group's classical dojo (literally, "training hall of the Way"). Much more than simply a school or studio, an authentic dojo is a gateway into the timeless realm of Asian art and personal development, allowing members of the Sennin Foundation Center to realize vibrant well-being and longevity. In fact, the word "Sennin" describes the ancient Japanese equivalent of a yogi. The Sennin were known for enlightenment, splendid health, and according to some ancient myths, their ability to attain immortality. This same emphasis on spiritual realization and wellness is stressed by the Sennin Foundation. Drop by our website: www.senninfoundation.com. Contact us at 510-526-7518 or hedavey@aol.com.