Mother of Yoga at Cannes Film Festival

In a world fractured by chaos and uncertainty, Yogmata Keiko Aikawa moves with the stillness of someone who has already arrived: In the 5,000 year history of yoga, Aikawa is the first non-Indian and the first—and only—woman in history to earn the title of Siddha master, the highest level of spiritual enlightenment. She holds the title of Mahamandaleshwar (Supreme Master of the Universe), conferred by Juna Akhara, India’s most influential spiritual institution, and her books have sold over 1 million copies worldwide. This year, the globally recognized meditation master is bringing her practice around the world, presenting a series of exclusive meditation experiences across Cannes, Paris, and New York.

Born in Yamanashi, Japan in 1945, Aikawa began her journey in the cultural centers of Tokyo, where she founded her own yoga school in the 1970s and taught asana to thousands. Her practice reached a turning point in 1984, when prominent Himalayan saint Pilot Babaji came to Japan to film a television program and invited her to train with him in the Himalayas. Seven years later, in a remote region of the Himalayas above 5,000 meters altitude, she attained “Samadhi,” a state of human consciousness that transcends physical and mental boundaries to achieve spiritual enlightenment. (Samadhi is considered a dangerous ascetic practice that’s previously resulted in fatalities.) 

Shortly after, World Development Parliament, a world representative yoga and meditation organization of the Indian government, formally bestowed her the name “Yogmata,” meaning “Mother of Yoga” or “Mother of the Universe,” and Aikawa has carried it ever since. From then on, Aikawa has become a globally recognized meditation master, publicly performing Samadhi in India 18 times between 1991 and 2007 to promote world peace and give proof of truth throughout India.

Over the last decade, she’s also graced the United Nations multiple times, first speaking as a guest of honor at the International Day of Yoga at the UN headquarters in 2016, and appearing regularly as a special guest in the years following. In her visit last June, during the summer solstice, Aikawa shared the following message: “Yoga is not just physical exercise—it is the path to knowing the true self and ultimately reaching Samadhi. When people remember their essence and live in harmony with heart and body, that is the first step toward peace.”

This spring and summer, Aikawa is embarking on a world tour that spans some of the most culturally resonant places on earth. During the Cannes film festival this year, she hosted events at the Mondrian Hotel and the American Pavillion, sharing secret Himalayan teachings that transform seekers, as she puts it, “from charcoal to diamond.” A special experience at Soho House Paris followed, where Aikawa brought Himalayan Siddha meditation to filmmakers, creatives and cultural leaders.

Finally, Aikawa will return to New York for her final stop at Soho House New York on June 17 before settling back in at her private meditation dojo in Manhattan. Located on the 34th floor of Olympic Tower, the space serves as a sanctuary of stillness above the hustle and bustle of Fifth Avenue—offering an intimate space for practitioners to experience authentic Himalayan meditation in an accessible city setting.