These days, Pilates is well known throughout the fitness world and is taught at gyms and private studios across the globe, including here in Japan. But when Andrew Crowne first visited Japan more than ten years ago, he found that the method he had fallen in love with in his native Toronto, Canada, had barely begun to take off in Tokyo. Drawn in by Japanese culture such as taiko drumming and aikido, and with a dedication to helping guide people down the path to individual well-being, Crowne settled in Fukuoka to teach and is now known as a true pioneer of Pilates in Japan. When he’s not in his comfortable, spacious studio at Pilates Japan in Daimyo, Crowne travels between Nagoya and Tokyo teaching instructor classes. “Pilates is about educating people how to use their bodies,” he says. “People who are interested in healing find their way here.” Crowne’s own poised physique is testament to the fact that he and his committed team of instructors at Pilates Japan have much to offer to those seeking balance. We asked Andrew some questions, to find out more…
How did you get involved in Pilates?
I began studying ballet in Toronto when I was about 21 years old, which sounds late, but isn’t so much for a guy. Pilates came to Toronto around that time, and one of my ballet teachers recommended it for strength. I started practicing and fell in love with the way it allowed me to create a light, comfortable, strong, and flexible body.
How did you end up owning a Pilates studio in Fukuoka City?
I was visiting my brother, who was teaching English in Kitakyushu at that time, and discovered that no one was teaching Pilates in Japan outside of a tiny group in Tokyo. I started off in Kokura, teaching language (English, German, French, Spanish) to supplement my Pilates instruction. It was slow at first, but my brother introduced me to some dancers and I was able to open a small studio in a Japanese-style house I was renting. I realized that there was a bigger market for something like Pilates in Fukuoka City, so I moved here after two years and had a studio on Watanabe-dori for five years. Then I moved the studio to it’s current location, and here we are.
What kind of clients come to your studio?
The majority of my clients are women, mostly because men aren’t that interested in precise movement. However, people who are interested in healing find their way here. I have many clients, including a few men, who are practicing to recover from an injury, prevent having surgery, or are coming off of physical therapy. I’ve also worked with some local celebs, including some of the Softbank Hawks.
Tell us about your approach to teaching Pilates.
My goal is to teach Pilates in a way as to put myself out of the job. I aim to teach healing, but also self-practice and self-reliance. A body in balance heals itself. So I give all my clients exercises to do at home as well. Healing is the client’s responsibility- here at Pilates Japan, we are just the guides along that path.
There are four goals or concepts I use in training: 1) Pilates training 2) Practice to encourage concentration 3) Practice as a way to get rid of stress 4) Changing and thinking about movements, building awareness. I have also developed my own system called ASRT (Accumulated Stress Reduction Technique), which is a fusion of manual therapy and Pilates.
As one of the first instructors of Pilates in Japan, to what extent are you involved in training other Pilates instructors?
I travel between here, Nagoya, and Tokyo, teaching instructor courses and training about 30 Pilates instructors a year. It’s not a huge number, but I focus on quality over quantity. I used to be in Nagoya or Tokyo 3-5 days out of every month, but now I only travel every other month.
What’s it like owning a business in Japan?
It’s stressful, of course. And this is not a money-making business. But I have had so much support from people who wanted to help, so I have been very lucky.
Finally, do you have any message to send to our readers regarding living in Japan, well-being, etc.?
I recommend that everyone get involved in Japanese culture. The Japanese have a lot to teach us. In terms of well-being, I think that everyone has to find their own path to health. It should feel good, and importantly, to move.
Hometown: Toronto, Canada
Time in Japan: 10 years
Identity: Pilates Japan Founder/Director (Pilates Master Instructor), Founder A.S.R.T. ™, Specialist in Kinesiolog
Pilates Japan, 2F Hanagatakan, 1-3-14 Daimyo, Chuo-ku
Tel: 092-752-8840
http://www.pilatesjapan.com/
Originally published in Fukuoka Now magazine (fn135, Mar. 2010)
