Founder
Meet Yumi
Yumi Tomita -
Chief Director
Certified Senior Trainer for Imagination Improvement
Hi, I’m Yumi — founder of Imagination Improvement Institute.
I help people relax, reset, and reconnect with themselves using sound-guided imagination, gentle reflection, and calming music. My work creates a comfortable space where your mind can slow down, breathe, and quietly recharge.
It’s been over 10 years since I was introduced to Imagination Improvement. I discovered it during a time when long-term anxiety was affecting my everyday life, which started after moving from Japan to Palo Alto as a teenager. I was doing fine on the outside, but often felt anxious and lost inside.
When my father invited me to try this imagination-based method inspired by ancient philosophy, it wasn’t about digging into problems — it simply gave me a way to relax my mind, listen inwardly, and feel more like myself again.
Since then, working together with the developer of the methodology, I’ve shared this method with individuals, students, and teams — from small businesses to tech professionals. In 2024, I led imagination workshops as part of an internship program at Stanford University, organized by their mindfulness professor, and facilitated sessions for creative groups and corporate teams looking to unwind after long weeks, overcome mental blocks, and refresh their energy.
My approach is gentle and easy. In sessions, you simply listen to carefully crafted music and follow light imagination prompts — there’s no need to analyze yourself or share your whole story. Many people find that music opens a comfortable inner space, making it easier to unwind, reduce stress, and reconnect with what feels good and true.
At Imagination Improvement Institute, we see imagination and sound as simple, learnable tools — ones that can help you feel calmer, clearer, and more centered, while opening space for fresh ideas and new possibilities in everyday life.
If you’re curious to experience it, you’re warmly welcome to visit the Sessions page or send me a message — I’d love to connect.
Experience
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10+ years working with imagination-based methods, stress relief techniques, and creative visualization
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Led imagination workshops at Stanford University as part of an internship program organized by mindfulness professor Dr. Stephen Shigematsu
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Facilitated sessions for corporate innovation teams, engineering groups, and small business professionals
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Certified Senior Trainer in the Imagination Improvement methodology
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Collaborate closely with the developer of the methodology to expand this work in the U.S.
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Specialist in using crafted sound to make imagination feel easy, relaxing, and accessible
Ready to try it for yourself?
You’re warmly welcome to explore a session.
Team members
Yumi Tomita
Chief Director
Shinichi Hasegawa
Director
Timeline
2016：Stress continued to be a major health issue worldwide. Stress check at workplace became mandatory in Japan.
2017：Companies and individuals used our program to take care of their stress.
2018：Gained the program rights. Translated the programs to English. Founded Open-Alpha, LLC.
Location：San Mateo, California
Founders：Chief Director: Yumi Tomita / Director: Shinichi Hasegawa
Clients served: food manufacturer, IT related company etc.
2019：Programs used by one of the consulting companies etc.
2020：Developed "mental cleansing program."
2021：Programs taken by a manufacturing and sales company etc.
2022：Established "Imagination Improvement Institute" within the company.
Name: Imagination Improvement Institute
Chief Director: Yumi Tomita / Director: Shinichi Hasegawa
Established on: December, 2022
Location: Within Open-Alpha, LLC
Purpose: Research how to improve imagination
Implementation: Trainings are handled by Open Alpha, LLC.
2023：Started holding workshops at universities including: Occidental College & Minerva University.