The car was flying over me!!!

On Saturday, 11th April 2026 I finished a cooking lesson at my friend’s house and drove back to

the unit where I was staying. I stopped at a train crossing just 20 metres away from the unit as

the lights were flashing and the boom gates were coming down. At the very moment I saw the

train at the furthest right-hand side, I also saw a car driving towards me at high speed from the

other side of the train track.

In an instant, the train hit the car on the rear flank, hurtling it into my car, hitting it from the front,

bouncing around and over to the left-hand, rear side. I remembered everything very clearly. As

soon as the car hit, I felt that my body didn’t get any impact. I was sitting with bandha activated

and didn’t lean onto the car seat, but I was relaxed, too. My body had a strong axis and didn’t

travel with the car.

Moments after the accident, I stepped out from the car, thinking I probably would have to do CPR

for the driver. Surprisingly, though, she wasn’t injured either. We were so lucky. In that moment, I

thought I was protected by so many spirits, ancestors and the universe that I cannot see.

One gentleman walked towards us. He said that he lived just around the corner, and that this

kind of accident had been happening so often, recently. He was wearing gloves in preparation to

help out. He asked us if we had our phones and wallets with us. He rang 000. He said his name

was Anthony and asked my name. I said I am Tomoko. He said, “You must be Japanese. I am

Anthony from ‘Candy Candy’ (a Japanese animation from my childhood).” We laughed out loud

even during this serious situation. He suggested that we should organise a tow truck by

ourselves since some tow truck companies come without request, take your car and then ask a

high price.  

I rang my husband to tell him what had happened. He ran over to inspect the situation. Upon

meeting the fireman on the scene, he recognised him as a colleague he used to work with 30

years ago on the river.

Once everything was reported, recorded and established, we pushed the car to the side of the

road. Even the leftovers from my cooking lesson were intact, despite the accident. We then had a

nice dinner and watched the women’s final of the Asian Cup soccer: Australia VS Japan. It’s as if

nothing unusual had happened that day.

People suggested to me that I should check for any soreness over the next few days. I didn’t

have any symptoms. Once again, I was so lucky.

In the end, my car was written off. Through insurance, I was able to drive a Toyota Hybrid car for

12 days. It was a nice car. I really enjoyed driving it.

Whenever something happens, I always consider what message I received from the experience.

This time, I followed the traffic rules and there was no real difference before and after the

accident. One thing that occurred to me was that this accident may have happened for me to

prove why it is so important to apply bandhas in any circumstance. It is very natural for me to

apply bandhas all the time. My friend told me that she always recognised me when she sees

when I drive because I am sitting so straight. Through my 29 years of yoga experience, at one

stage I realised that I could apply bandha all the time without noticing. Then I noticed that I

wasn’t influenced by whatever happened around myself. When I have a strong axis, I can be

flexible. Like a tree with strong roots and trunk with flexible branches and leaves, it won’t fall

down, even during a strong storm. I was able to keep calm all the way through these accidents

because I had a yoga mind and body. The body and mind work together. I am so lucky to keep

practicing yoga.