Koi Fish | Balancyoga

Kanshō

The Ritual of Observing
Koi & goldfish

The Art of Contemplation

In Japan, watching koi & goldfish is part of the art of refined relaxation.
Sound of water. Slow movement. Focused attention.

A simple way to return to the present moment.

Every fish has a character

Presence beneath the surface

Almost every fish has its own personality.
Some are confident. Some are reserved. Some lead the group.

It is fascinating to observe not only the richness of their colours, but also their behaviour.

Our pond is home to around 40 fish, and in February 2026 five tiny new koi have joined the family.

We have highlighted the most expressive ones and given them names.
Meet them.

Practice

Find all the fish

Notice what changes in your body as you observe them.

Guests often say they forget everything else during this practice.

Their attention rests only on water, colour and movement.

Afterwards, they feel lighter. Clearer. Joyful.

You can watch the pond for hours.

There is also a quiet feeding ritual — a simple moment of connection.

Naomi

Sarasa Goldfish

Naomi is always a bright spot in the Balancyoga pond.

Her red markings glow against the darker water, drawing the eye immediately. Even from a distance, she is unmistakable.

Over the course of a year, she transformed from a shy, delicate little fish into a vivid and active presence.

Naomi reminds us how quietly confidence can grow — until one day it becomes light.

Mei

A young Kohaku Koi

One of the five tiny koi who joined us in February 2026, no bigger than 7 centimetres.

In her first days, she explored everything — together with the four friends she arrived with from her previous pond.
Tracing the perimeter, hovering near the surface, curious and unafraid, as if testing the scale of her new world.

The larger fish soon established their quiet hierarchy.

For nearly a week, Mei spent most of her time near the bottom — subtle, hidden, a shimmer among the shadows.

And yet, sometimes, she rises.
A flash of silver. A spark of red.

Each appearance feels like a gift.

We will continue to watch her grow,
and we invite you to be part of her story.

Nautilus

Kin Matsuba

Named after the ancient spiral of life — the symbol of evolution and quiet strength.

Our largest koi, around 70 cm, and striking in his quiet majesty.

Despite his impressive size, he is remarkably gentle — the smaller fish constantly circle around him, as if orbiting something steady and safe.

Hoover

Mirror Carp

Hoover was one of the very first to arrive.
He was brought to the pond from an ordinary grocery store — rescued before his life could follow a very different path.

He is unquestionably the head of the pond.

From the moment the tiny newcomers arrived, he broke up their tight formation, scattering them just enough to make them discover their own character. He doesn’t intimidate — he challenges.

You can recognise Hoover from afar by the unmistakable smacking sound he makes at the surface. During practice, his dramatic “kisses” often make us laugh.

He sets the mood in the pond.

He teaches the others how to communicate boldly with humans.

Hoover earned his name — “the vacuum” — because when he opens his mouth, it seems wide enough to swallow almost anything.

Born for entirely different purposes,
he now lives a different destiny.

Not survival — but presence.