Mayuko Okai

Mayuko Okai is an Intuitive Eating coach with over ten years of experience as a Registered Dietitian. In her past life, she was a clinical dietitian, seeing over a dozen patients a day in the hospital.

Telling sick or injured patients the foods that they couldn't have in their restrictive diets and encouraging them to down supplemental shakes 3 times a day was not my idea of helping people become healthy.

Growing up, Mayuko always sensed that her purpose was to help others find good health and happiness. Hearing about people becoming terminally ill, she felt a calling to help prevent such tragic stories. In 2009 she started her career as a Clinical Dietitian at one of the largest public hospitals in the country. But Mayuko hopes quickly crumbled as she spent her days reciting nutrition spiels to patients at their bedside. Her role didn't feel valuable or reflective of my calling.

She knew there was much more out there for her. One day, she found that listening to patients and connecting to them on an emotional level was much more appreciated than nutrition education. This stuck with her for the years to come as she stayed in healthcare, still lost in her path. She struggled feeling out of place for many years, until she found yoga. When she decided to deepen her yoga practice and took up teacher training, everything shifted. Through yoga philosophy, she faced her higher truth and decided to take her path into her own hands. In 2017 she left healthcare to pursue her passion and allowed her intuition to guide her. She then studied intuitive eating, which aligned perfectly with her beliefs on the mind-body-spirit approach to wellness.

I’m so excited for you to connect with Mayuko, check out work, and follow along as she continues to connect to clients on an emotional level to guide them through their healing journey.

I'd love it if you'd introduce yourself, what you do, and what you're working on.

I’m Mayuko and I’m an Intuitive Eating Coach, Registered Dietitian, and Yoga instructor based in Los Angeles. I help women heal their relationship with food and body so that they don’t ever need to feel guilty about eating. I work with clients one on one through my signature online coaching program.

How did you get started?

Growing up, I always sensed that my purpose was to help others find good health and happiness. Hearing about people becoming terminally ill, I felt a calling to help prevent such tragic stories. In 2009 I started my career as a Clinical Dietitian at one of the largest public hospitals in the country. But my hopes quickly crumbled as I spent my days reciting nutrition spiels to patients at their bedside. My role didn't feel valuable or reflective of my calling. I knew there was much more out there for me.

One day, I found that listening to patients and connecting to them on an emotional level was much more appreciated than nutrition education. This stuck with me for the years to come as I stayed in healthcare, still lost in my path.

What inspired the work that you're doing?

I struggled feeling out of place for many years, until I found yoga. When I decided to deepen my yoga practice and took up teacher training, everything shifted. Through yoga philosophy, I faced my higher truth and decided to take my path into my own hands. In 2017 I left healthcare to pursue my passion and allowed my intuition to guide me. I then studied intuitive eating, which aligned perfectly with my beliefs on the mind-body-spirit approach to wellness. I finally get to connect to clients on an emotional level to guide them through their healing journey.

What is your biggest passion? Do you feel like you're living your passion and purpose?

Studying yoga and self-development and serving those who need guidance is my greatest passion. So yes, I’m so grateful to love the work I do!

What is your joy blueprint? What lights you up, brings you joy, and makes you feel the most alive?

Being in nature – the mountains, the desert, the ocean
Deep conversations
Farmer’s market – I love seeing all the colorful produce lined up and to be able to see the faces of people who grew them
I also love to eat

How do you live intentionally? Are there tools/resources/practices that you rely on to help you stay mindful and grounded?

I wouldn’t say I rely on any practices, but I journal and practice yoga just about every morning. I started practicing Ashtanga yoga last year and it’s been a great way for me to have a regular morning practice, which sets the tone for the day!

It’s important for me to stay aligned with my authentic self, which includes uncovering my deeper truths, working on my shadows, while trying not to take myself too seriously!

What would your younger self think about what you're doing now?

My younger self somehow knew that I would be helping people in health, but definitely wasn’t expecting it to be in this form. But of course, I didn’t know about intuitive eating and coaching probably wasn’t a known job, so it wasn’t on my radar. Looking back, it does make sense what I do. The core essence of my work stems from my childhood intuition.

Do you have a go-to mantra or affirmation?

I like to remind myself that I am blessed to have everything I need.

What is your biggest dream?

My biggest dream is to live simply in a quaint home surrounded by nature and to run a retreat center.

To learn more about Mayuko and her 90 Day Intuitive Eating Coaching Program visit her website www.mayukookai.com and on Instagram @mayukookai.rd and you can find her Facebook support group here

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Mayuko Okai - Intuitive Eating Coach, Registered Dietitian, and Yoga instructor