What’s so great about Pilates?
“Don’t you feel like you’ve been hearing about Pilates everywhere lately? Athletes, celebrities, models… they all seem to be doing it. But what’s it actually like?”
This time, Ashiya Tsushin’s main writer Fu-ko（self-proclaimed hopeless at sports） went to try the newly introduced machine Pilates, commonly called “Rakuraku Pilates”, at TSUTAYA Conditioning Nishinomiya Yakushicho.
Here it is on the map↓
The address is 2-38 Yakushicho, Nishinomiya, Hyogo.
It’s that TSUTAYA along the Nakatsuhama Line, the one with Little Mermaid and Seria inside, plus a parking lot.
Since the Pilates studio at TSUTAYA is a women-only facility, Shachomi(in women’s clothing) snuck in as an observer (photographer)!
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Here’s How It’s Different from a Regular Gym! What Is TSUTAYA Conditioning?
TSUTAYA Conditioning, built around the concept of “conditioning” your body, isn’t about “training hard” but about “getting your body in balance.”
So instead of intense strength training, they offer AI machines you can keep using comfortably, yoga, and now the newly launched machine Pilates.
There’s a Book Lounge?!
TSUTAYA Conditioning has been renovated a few times. This is the entrance after going up to the second floor.
This time, it had changed a lot again, and somehow it felt so much more spacious!!
Before we knew it, the book lounge had been renovated.
It’s a space where you can hang out like you’re at a cafe, read books, work on your laptop,
and they even have tables with power outlets. The fact that “you can come just to read books, even if you don’t exercise” is seriously generous. If it were me, I’d want to write Nishi2 articles in this lovely space.
A Women-Only Machine Pilates Studio
It’s small-group＆women-only, so it’s friendly for anyone who feels self-conscious about being watched!
Apparently, it actually just started in February, and the period through the end of March is the best time to try it! （We’ll explain why later.）
What’s Good About Pilates? How Is It Different from Yoga?
Generally speaking, yoga is mainly about flexibility and relaxation. Pilates focuses on posture and core strength.
Yoga also involves taking poses while breathing slowly, but Pilates feels like it has a stronger element of “aligning and conditioning the body.” In particular, it seems to focus on the pelvic area and deep muscles（inner muscles）, and it can apparently help with lower back pain, too!!
What’s So Good About Training Your Inner Muscles?
You often hear the term inner muscles（deep muscles）, but basically, it means the muscles located deep inside your body. Training them brings all kinds of benefits.
For example, better posture, relief from lower back pain and stiff shoulders, feeling less tired, and more! Shachomi is in her 40s, so this is definitely something she cares about. You can’t help but get excited thinking, “If Pilates makes everyday life easier, that would be amazing.”
It Can Also Help with Dieting
Strictly speaking, “Pilates = strength training” isn’t quite accurate, but when your core becomes stable, you can expect your basal metabolism to increase.
Because it improves circulation and posture, it’s said to help your body become more prone to staying slim. Also, Pilates has been incorporated by Japan’s national rugby team since 2008. Since athletes use it too, it feels pretty trustworthy.
Trying Machine Pilates Was Way Easier Than Expected
Once we stepped into the studio, there were rows and rows of specialized machines.
For a second, I panicked like, “Whoa… this looks hard…” But the instructor adjusts the resistance to each person’s level and physical strength, so it’s totally fine. Even people who aren’t good at exercise can start casually.
The studio is also women-only＆small-group, and above all, it has a super warm, welcoming atmosphere. They support you really carefully. They gently reassure you that “even if you’re worried about your lower back or shoulders, just do what you can.”
Waking Up the Core with the “Mermaid Pose”
“Be aware of your neutral pelvis” is a hallmark of Pilates. At first, Fu-ko was basically thinking, “Where even is my pelvis?!”
But because the machine firmly supports your back and legs, it’s easy and comfortable to understand which part of your body you’re supposed to move.
