Hi! My name is Aiko. I was born and raised in Japan and have always loved moving my body—especially through sports like basketball. In high school, I experienced some postural issues from a growth spurt and years of playing basketball. That’s when my mom discovered Pilates—back when it was still mostly known among dancers—and introduced me to mat classes. I didn’t know it then, but that was the beginning of my Pilates journey.

After practicing for a while, I began noticing real improvements: my muscle imbalances and posture were getting better. I continued doing mat Pilates even after moving to the U.S. to pursue my degrees in Kinesiology and Sport & Exercise Psychology. It helped me stay mentally focused and grounded while adjusting to a new country and language.

After returning to Japan, I got back into Pilates more seriously—especially while working long hours at a desk. In 2023, I had the opportunity to return to the U.S. with my husband’s job. At that time, I was dealing with chronic discomfort in my lower back, hips, SI joint, shoulders, neck, and even headaches—all made worse by desk work. I knew Pilates helped me feel better, but I wanted to go deeper: to understand the body more fully and help others feel the same relief and strength.

That led me to begin STOTT Pilates instructor training in 2023. I completed my full certification in 2024 (Mat, Reformer, Cadillac, Chair, and Barrel). Since then, I’ve been teaching group classes, private and semi-private sessions, and occasionally online mat Pilates to clients around the world.

My goal is to help people of all backgrounds move better, feel better, and enjoy discovering what their bodies can do.