You can be happy "physically" and "mentally"! What's Balance Ball Exercise?

When the hot weather days continue, it is hard to resist going outside. This is especially true for those who have lost physical strength after childbirth. If you don't go outside, you will lose energy, but you already don't have the energy to go outside.... in the case, why don't you start using a balance ball, which is a popular indoor exercise tool that allows you to move your body and can help you with stretching and muscle training?

 Today, we would like to tell you what "balance ball" exercises are and the procedure to become its instructor. Let's build up our physical strength and relieve stress!

What is a Balance Ball Exercise? 

The "Balance Ball Exercise" we introduce today is a lesson that allows moderate aerobic exercise, stretching, and even muscle training with a balance ball. If you have a small space and a balance ball, you can improve your strength, energy, autonomic nervous system adjustment, and even put your baby to bed just by bouncing like playing. It has been getting popular in recent years as postpartum exercise, but it is also attracting attention as an exercise that is safely and effortlessly not only by those who are raising children but also by people of all ages, from toddlers to the elderly.

Where in Inzai can we have a lesson?

Balance ball exercises are available in Inzai City. Several organizations are already active.

Vege Girls, who are very popular with children and mothers on Inzai's cable TV "Raban Net" [click here for Instagram], also offer balance ball exercises. In recent years, they have been offering free lessons to older kindergarteners who couldn’t let their energies out due to Covid19, called "Memory Project" to improve their basic physical skills. 

Check out Instagram to find out when and where our lessons are!

 Who are the instructors?

Today, we would like to introduce Mrs. Yuka Fujimura, Representative of Prenatal and Postpartum Care Japan.

【Fujimura Yuka】

 Instructor:　YUCCA 

Certified Instructor, Japan Tairyoku (Physical Fitness) Maintenance Associates 

After 10 years of working as an animator and 5 years of childbirth and childcare, she was shocked to encounter the balance ball, which is enjoyable for all ages in the same space. She lost 5kg in 2months and 8kg in 3months after she started balance ball exercise, even though she had not regained her weight even after 1 year after the birth of her youngest child.

 I became a balance ball exercise instructor because I wanted mothers who are busy raising children at home and people who work, sitting all day to know that balance ball exercise can be done easily in no time.

Currently, she holds physical fitness lessons with balance ball and postpartum care class for postpartum mothers, in the areas of Inzai and Shiroi Cities. She also focuses on instructor training. 

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/studio.salon.de.yucca/ 

 LINE Official Account「YUCCAtoBALABO」 

Mrs. Fujimura herself suffered from "postpartum depression" after childbirth.

 She did her best to change her situation, but she had struggled with no signs of improvement. Then she happened to come across "balance ball exercise".

At first, she thought, "I must build up my basic physical skills!" and tried balance ball exercises. Day by day, her mental health became more positive and energetic, and she regained her physical and mental strength. She then has desired to help others who are going through the same difficult days as she did.

  Currently, she does not only hold lessons and participate in events as an instructor, but she also has committed to training its instructors. 

 She told us that she wants as many people as possible to be happy through balance ball exercises. She would also like to help mothers who are suffering from physical and mental imbalance after childbirth to regain their confidence.

How to Become a Balance Ball Exercise Instructor? 

Many people have participated in balance ball exercise lessons and get hooked on its fun.

If you want to become an instructor and convey its appeal to many people, then why don't you take one of Mrs. Fujimura's instructor training lessons? There are many advantages.

•  Minimum commute time and transportation expenses because lessons are in Inzai City
• You can take lessons with your children
•  Remote lessons are available even when you cannot leave the house for child's fever and/or any urgent reasons
  
• You can learn the basics with textbooks as well as physical lessons
  
• Then, once you can hold lessons, you can work as an instructor
  

On the day we interviewed, there were three students taking the training lesson. Some students took it remotely and others went home for their children. But the lesson just went smoothly.

Students who have to leave the lesson early can have a video of the whole lesson at a later day, so they don't have to worry about being behind the programs.

The lesson was held nearby Chiba Newtown Chuo Station on that day.

Impressions from Students

• Since I started taking lessons, my body has more energy and I feel less tired. I can learn it, controlling whether it is too much to myself or not, so that I can even feel refreshed every time and have fun playing. I feel that my body and mind are more positive than ever. I am a certified physiotherapist, so in the future I would like to become an instructor who can also provide care for both the body and the mind. 
• I took lessons at a nursery school in the city at first, then decided to join the training lessons after all. After childbirth, I had "ups and downs" every day. But now I keep my physical and mental condition better, bouncing on the balance ball at home and lessons. If I become an instructor, it would be fun to host lessons at my condo and/or to my good mama friends to offer a refreshing break. 
  

Summary

People tend to focus on reducing the weight after childbirth, exercising hard.But there are many benefits for "Body" and "Mind" through exercise. The physically and mentally sensitive postpartum mothers should take it easy, so balance ball exercise, which is easy on the body, is probably the best choice for them.

 There are several places that offer balance ball lessons in Inzai City, so why not participate for your "health"?

Once you qualify as an instructor, you can even do balance ball exercises as your job. More companies nowadays allow side jobs, so you can make a choice to do balance ball exercise as a side job and to keep your body healthy at the same time!

 writer：Scarlet 

translater: Umi