For the next two weeks I will be traveling throughout Japan, visiting various cities including Fukuoka, Kyoto, Hokaido, Nagoya and Okayama on a Pilates workshop tour.

The first five days of the tour I will be teaching 12 certification students in Tokyo and meeting with three Technical Schools who are going to be adding my UNLV Pilates curriculum to their program. I will be introducing my Pilates certification program and course that includes training in Anatomy, Kinesiology, Body Balancing, and Mat Certification.

I am also very excited to be spending some time outside of certification workshops for the chance to visit Kesennuma Miyagi-Ken, which suffered most of the recent earthquake and tsunami damage. Located here, there is a company called the Kesennuma Ballet Society, which is made up about 60 people of all ages, from 3-year-old children to adults.

Two individuals from the society were hosting a meeting for their company’s 15-year-anniversary performance when the earthquake occurred, during which the head manager of the company lost her life, another lost her house and the company lost everything.

I am happy to have the opportunity to reach out to this group and help them after the devastation. When I arrive, I will be renting a car and driving the two hours to Kesennuma Miyagi-Ken to meet with the group.

A local Vegas performer of the show Matsuri is providing a charity performance in Japan to help the ballet company rebuild and I will be meeting with the group and, in conjunction with my studio partner in Mexico, will be donating 60 pairs of new ballet shoes.

I am very excited about the next couple of weeks and everything that is in store and look forward to sharing more details about the trip once I am back.