After walking almost everywhere for 2 weeks, I have been feeling better than ever. No stiff shoulders, no stress. In order to keep myself in this condition, I signed up to a yoga class.
I realised that this is what I had wanted to do for years. After focusing on yoga poses for a hour, I was able to lose myself in meditation. It gave me inner peace.
One day, I found a Pilates class at a temple. The venue, Toyokawa Inari Tokyo Betsuin, is a famous temple located in the very centre of Tokyo. It’s just five minutes walk from Tokyo Metro Akasaka-mitsuke Station or Nagatacho Station.
I went there to participate in Saturday’s 3.30 pm class. The temple is outstanding. I was wondering during prayers if I could do Pilates here. The people at reception took me to a small Japanese-style changing room with tatami (straw mats). I changed my clothes, and prepared for the class.
The exercise room is spacious, and also fitted with tatami. It was a strange feeling to exercise in the hall of the temple. Some people made a money offering before the class.
The class program was designed for beginners. The Pilates poses looked easy, however, they were really effective at working certain muscles. I think I discovered why many people like Pilates.
After the class, I paid the lesson fee of two thousand yen, and went for a drink to the popular Azabu-juban district. It took twenty minutes by train. There are a number of cool restaurant bars there. I recommend this as a day to enjoy in central Tokyo.
- Pilates at the temple
- http://toyokawabetuin.wixsite.com/pilates
- Toyokawa Inari Tokyo Betsuin Temple
- Toyokawa Inari Akasaka Temple, 1-4-7, Motoakasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo
- Map