OKABE's Profile

Toshie Okabe was born in Tokyo, where, at the age of four, she began classical ballet training. By adolescence she was experiencing chronic pain. Though pain is not an unusual problem for dancers, she became very curious about its cause.
She was investigating different systems of body awareness and functioning when she encountered the Mitzvah Technique at a Tokyo workshop given by Amelia Itcush, a former dancer with the Toronto Dance Theatre. That same year, Toshie came to Canada to learn more.
She continued to train with The National Ballet School of Canada and performed with Ballet Jorgen while she studied Mitzvah with both Itcush and M. Cohen-Nehemia. After a three year course, she was certified as a practitioner.
Toshie works from her own studio teaching a wide variety of students in private lessons and has taught group classes at institutions such as George Brown College, Ryerson Polytechnical University and The University of Toronto. The body's ability to change and restore itself to balance still fills her with awe.

Media Coverage

◆A Journey Walked Together Mark and Fran's Story

This video is about OKABE’s clients, Mark and Fran.
Mark has been living with Parkinson’s disease with the support of his wife, Fran. He works with Toshie to manage some of the challenges he faces. She supports him using the various skills she has developed through more than 30 years of teaching experience in the Mitzvah Technique.
The Mitzvah Technique deals with postural realignment and muscle tension patterns.

Click to view "A Journey Walked Together Mark and Fran's Story on Youtube"

◆The Globe and Mail

2017/3/23
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Tohie Okabe appeared in an article in The Globe and Mail as a Toronto posture teacher.
STRAIGHTEN UP
After years of slumping over a keyboard, Wency Leung says she developed the posture of a wilted parsley stalk.But while posture correction is proving to be big business, what exactly is ideal posture?

◆HART HOUSE, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO

U of T’s centre for arts & culture, recreation & wellness and debate & dialogue.
→The Hart House Blog
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1. Could Working Out Be Bad For You?
Miztvah Instructor Toshie Okabe explains why frequent movement is better than your workout.
 →Read the article (PDF, 524KB)
2. The Mitzvah Technique: Rediscovering What Your Body Used to Know
Mitzvah Technique instructor Toshie Okabe remembers it as if it had happened yesterday...
 →Read the article (PDF, 481KB)

◆The Toronto Star

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Simple Technique lets life force flow
Rippling motions rectify posture
Energy replaces pain, tightness
→Read the article (PDF, 3.5MB)

From the Clientss

Thanks to Toshie's very skilled and dedicated instruction of the Mitzvah Technique as well as her gentle healing hands, I regained a healthy and pain-free back, knees, shoulders and hips. ( I had experienced many years of faulty postural habits which had caused me very painful and debilitating episodes.) Happily, I also regained my youthful flexibility and vigour.
I am a professional singer and am over 60 years old now. I was first introduced to the Mitzvah Technique 12 years ago and have been practicing it daily for over 7 years. Five years ago I had breast cancer which luckily was caught in a very early stage. However I did have a mastectomy. It was regular Mitzvah lessons with Toshie that were key in my speedy rehabilitation.
Though I have lived nearly two hours drive from Toronto (and Toshie) for over four years, I still see Toshie for instruction several times a year because my body is on-goingly getting a "spinal re-education" from her. Thanks to her plus my daily practice of this simple and super-beneficial technique even my voice has benefited; though in trouble several times before Mitzvah, it now remains flexibile and vigorous with a youthful tone quality. Because of Mitzvah I also have better insight into teaching vocal technique.
In addition, I have been able to greatly enjoy (both emotionally AND physically) my nine years of grandparenting (now 6 grandkids).
To coin an old phrase: Toshie and her instruction of the Mitzvah Technique have given me a 'new lease on life'!"
Anna Tamm-Relyea
Soprano and voice teacher

Working with Toshie helped get me through my studies at graduate school. Her patience and skill relieved not only the physical tension that built up after long hours infront of the computer, but also many mental and emotional stresses and strains.
The exercises of Mitzvah Technique, which are easily incorporated into a daily routine, have taught me how to work with my body in everyday life. The technique provides an awareness of how maintain a natural and balanced posture and has, in consequence, drastically improved my quality of life.
Alexandra Peat
Doctor of Philosophy

After about 6 month of study with Toshie Okabe, I began, with each application of the Mitzvah exercises, to slowly apprehend the organic wisdom inherent in Mitzvah Technique.
A natural spring arose in my step, my spine began to unwrap and connect upwards spontaneously and freely. This elongation and, also, the realization of the S-Curve as an organic principle, is now as much a part of me as my breathing, which, by the way, has also begun to flow in a more relaxed manner.
Sitting or standing, walking or running, Mitzvah Technique is truly a "blessing"
Aron Tager
Multimedia artist. May 2004

Through Mitzvah Technique, I began to see how talented people succeed through efficient body usage.
Miho Hashizume
Violinist, Cleveland Orchestra

I first sought Toshie's help for chronic pain at the back of my neck particularly when I worked at the computer. I had sought help for this problem through different types of treatment including chiropractic, massage, and acupuncture but found no permanent relief from my pain. After several months of treatment with Toshie this condition has disappeared. If that area does become tense, I have learnt a number of techniques from Toshie that relieve the discomfort.
This, however, does not begin to convey the power, the energy--the "magic"--of Toshie's work, all within the context of extreme gentleness that is always respectful of the body. Toshie often uses the metaphor of a plant unfolding in growth to explain the movement of the spine uncurling and straightening; indeed, in the words of the poet Galway Kinnell, she can be said to be reteaching us our "loveliness" until we "flower again from within, of self-blessing." Toshie's consummate skill allows our energies to emerge which, in turn, results in healing and growth not only physically but energetically and even within the spirit.
M. NourbeSe Philip
poet, essayist, novelist, playwright and lawyer, June, 2004
www.nourbese.com

Toshie Okabe is making a contribution to good health and overall balance in psychophysical function with the Mitzvah Technique. Her knowing provision of what is necessary to free the rippling of the spine, and balancing of the head seems a kind of welcome magic to the stressed-out and out-of-kilter Torontonians who find their way to her Mitzvah Downtown Studio. Toshie has many a time set me on the ground, balanced and with a fresh sense of well-being. Following my session, my inner experience is sound, fluid and sensate. Outwardly I notice an ease of movement and responsivity to my environment.
Client
Psychotherapist, November, 1999

FAQ

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Contact

◆OKABE Posture Education

Toshie Okabe
Mitzvah Technique Downtown Studio
100 Granby Street, Toronto, Ontario
M5B 1J1 Canada
Tel：416-596-7426
E-Mail：betterpostureTO[]gmail.com (please change [] to @)