The Path to Becoming a Pilates Instructor ①

Yes, as the title says,
I have decided to aim for an instructor certification.
Surprisingly, it's only been two months since I started taking lessons.
(Isn't that moving too fast?)

I kept telling myself, 'Is this right? This is the correct path, isn't it?', and with a push from my peers,
it became my biggest expense since becoming a working adult.
Thinking that this would be money well spent, I made the transfer with slightly trembling hands (hundreds of thousands of yen).

There are many different organizations for Pilates,
and although I was worried, I decided on
'PHI Pilates' because it has a strong medical foundation.

For the general public, obtaining Matt I & II is mandatory,
and there was a preferential rule that medical professionals could start from Reformer I,
but

Matt Pilates is the foundation.

That comment from a peer stuck in my head, so I decided to take the courses in the logical order of Matt followed by Reformer.

By the way, the first equipment course you take
has an exam.
Since you obviously can't practice for the Reformer exam without access to a Reformer,
I am now glad that I started with Matt, which I can practice anytime and anywhere.

---Attending the Matt Pilates Instructor Course---

This day has finally arrived!
The Matt course lasts for a total of four days, from morning until night.
Due to scheduling, I took the course in Tokyo.

My thoughts?
Honestly, being cooped up for lectures and practical training like I was back in school was tough.

What was tough, you ask? Sitting on the floor to listen to lectures (is that really it?)

As someone who is used to moving around for work, time felt like it was crawling! I felt restless just sitting still! While thinking that, I listened to the explanations and commentary for each exercise, such as the body's mechanics and the effects of the movements.

Yes, I was listening seriously.
After all, I had paid good money for it!

I exchanged greetings with people I was meeting for the first time,
touched each other's bodies, performed posture assessments, and gave exercise instructions.

It's hard to gauge the right distance between people when you're an adult.
The age range was wide, from 20s to 40s.
Despite having various thoughts,
everyone was kind, and we had a fun and friendly time.

There were other physical therapists there, and people had gathered from all over the country.

It's nice to make acquaintances in the same profession across the country.
And I thought, 'Everywhere (work environment) is the same, isn't it?' lol

Side note:

Being the worrier that I am, I was afraid I wouldn't be able to move on the day, so I studied the textbook and exercised until the day of the course.

But there was no need to worry.

Everyone was just human like me (the rest is omitted, lol).

About a month after finishing the four-day course, there is a practical exam and an oral exam.

The month of dreading exams like I did back in school has begun.