Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on October 2010

Courtesy of Argutha

Holistic lifestyle center Argutha offers yoga classes, aromatherapy and vegetarian workshops—all under one roof. It’s a one-woman show, too: owner Midori Kameoka handles all of the above. Having logged 15 years at an American corporation before changing directions, she also speaks fluent English.

An aromatherapist with 14 years experience, Kameoka specializes in total body treatments for hormone disorders, auto-immune diseases and even infertility. You needn’t have any specific concern to take advantage of Argutha’s morning Mysore yoga classes with visiting international instructors—or the homemade muffins in the first floor cafe.

Argutha (“Earth” in Nigerian) occupies all four floors of a house in Minami-Aoyama. The first story, with inviting carrot- and melon-colored walls, is part vegetarian deli, part lifestyle shop. Upstairs, there’s a lounge where customers can relax after classes and treatments and dine on food specially prepared to complement their personal regimens. The top-floor yoga studio, which enjoys ample natural light, is wallpapered with clouds.

This “dream come true” is an upgrade from Kameoka’s first, notably smaller, healing center in Nihombashi. “I designed everything to feel spacious,” she says. “I feel that I am not just serving food to people, but also space. It can be very difficult to find space in Japan. This place is very healing, because you get so many vibrations around you.”

1-22-5 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku. Tel: 03-6447-2896. Cafe open Wed-Sun 9am-7:30pm, closed Mon-Tue. Aromatherapy daily 10am-7:30pm (by appointment). See website for details of workshops. Nearest stn: Nogizaka. www.argutha.com