A space for thoughtful professionals to lead with presence — without self-erasing to belong.
You’ve learned to hold a lot.
You track the room.
You soften your tone.
You anticipate needs, smooth tension, and stay two steps ahead — not because it’s strategic, but because it’s instinctual.
You’ve learned to survive by staying composed, agreeable, appropriate.
And somewhere along the way, it got harder to know what you actually think. What you need. What you want to say.
I've seen it again and again.
Brilliant, capable people — especially those who’ve been marginalized — working twice as hard to feel half as safe.
Shape-shifting to fit.
Overthinking every word.
Presenting a version of themselves just to get through the day.
The most capable people often feel the least free.
This isn’t about fixing you.
It’s about a different way of being —
One that doesn’t rely on holding your breath, overexplaining, or staying small to feel safe.
It’s about creating space for your full self to emerge — steady, clear, and unapologetically present.
Hi, I’m Asuna
(she/they)
I hold space for that return.
I help thoughtful professionals stop self-editing and start inhabiting their full presence — in work, in leadership, in life.
My approach integrates over 15 years of clinical and creative experience across trauma healing, drama therapy, somatics, and sound. But more than that, it’s rooted in a life lived across cultures, shaped by moments of both belonging and dissonance, and a lifelong sensitivity to what lives in the quiet.
Born in Japan and raised between East and West, I carry with me a cross-cultural way of sensing, a reverence for nuance, and a deep belief that your body knows.
People often tell me they leave our work feeling more grounded, more themselves — not just regulated, but reconnected.
But at the center of it all is presence: yours, mine, ours.
When your body no longer braces to be seen...
When your voice doesn’t freeze under pressure...
When your presence no longer hinges on perfection...
You start to feel at home in yourself.
You lead with integrity and inner steadiness.
You speak up without spiraling or over-explaining.
You stop hiding and start showing up — fully, unapologetically, you.
This is the work I guide.
Whether through experiential programs like Unshrinkable at Work, or immersive wellness offerings for organizations, my work supports people like you to reclaim what’s always been within reach:
A steady presence.
A trustworthy voice.
A leadership that honors your wholeness.
At the heart of my work is a framework I’ve come to call Arinomama AT E.A.S.E.™
Rooted in the Japanese term arinomama (“as you are”), my approach draws from four guiding principles:
Embodiment: because healing doesn’t happen in the mind alone.
Acceptance (Arugamama): meeting life as it is, without resistance or denial.
Self-Compassion: a radical act of unlearning harshness and control.
Expansion: growing into who you were always meant to be.
Who This Is For & What Becomes Possible
My offerings are for you if:
You’re tired of second-guessing and self-monitoring in professional spaces.
You want to lead with more authenticity, while honoring your nervous system’s need for safety.
You’re interested in deeper, embodied work that speaks to your complexity.
You sense that something in you is ready to emerge — not just manage.
What becomes possible:
Speaking up with clarity, even when it feels hard.
Making decisions that align with your truth, not just expectations or obligation.
Leading without over-functioning or over-adapting.
Reclaiming your full presence — without apology!
I don’t offer quick tips or high-performance hacks.
I offer spaces of transformation: creative, body-led, and rooted in care.
A few things you might not learn from my résumé:
🎭 I found my way to the healing arts through theater. It was the first place I saw parts of myself come alive.
🎶 I believe song can be a portal, and that stillness can be too.
🍵 Tea, slowness, and stories have long felt like medicine to me.
🌏 I’ve spent my life translating across cultures, which taught me to listen for what’s beneath the words.
🌀 My favorite sound is the exhale that happens when someone finally feels safe.
Here are a few truths I hold close:
✨ Your voice is powerful, not in spite of your sensitivity, but because of it.
✨ You don’t have to push, perform, or prove to be a grounded leader.
✨ Your leadership starts with how you lead yourself — with presence, truth, and care.
✨ You are allowed to be seen, supported, and sovereign.
Whether you're stepping into a bigger role, navigating burnout, or untangling perfectionism and people-pleasing, there’s a way through that honors your body, your wisdom, and your wholeness.
And it begins with saying "yes" to yourself.
If something in you is saying yes, here’s where to begin:
Your voice doesn’t need perfect phrasing.
It just needs room to return.
Testimonials
Discover what others have said about what it's like to work with me.
What I love about Asuna is her ability to be present to others, hear and honor their story, and sift through it to their core needs.
Gena Jefferson
CEO
Asuna is insightful and has developed gentle, effective approaches to trauma, shame, and overwhelm. She inspires self-care and community care.
Tara Fox
Trauma Therapist
Asuna was an incredible mentor, helping me build confidence, set boundaries, and assert myself on behalf of clients.
Catharine Sciolla-Schechter
Social Worker
💫Support this work
Easeful Presence Center is sustained through both service fees and the generosity of those who want to make these offerings more accessible. If you feel moved to support this work, you’re welcome to contribute in any amount.
Your support helps:
Keep programs, workshops, circles, and other offerings available at lower cost for those with limited resources
Cover materials, space, and other costs so the work can continue sustainably
Expand the reach of healing and growth practices in community
Please note: contributions are not tax-deductible donations (Easeful Presence Center is not a nonprofit), but they are deeply appreciated and directly support the continuation of this work.
