Message from the Director of Balance Ball Yoga

Message From Hironori Ikeda, Director of Balance Ball Yoga

When I first began thinking about developing the practice of Balance Ball Yoga, I knew the primary goal would be to help students find and understand the importance of their own Body Axis and Core. Helping students improve their own posture and coordination, as well as enhancing their efficiency of movement, are also fundamental goals.

Since these courses began in January of 2007, it has been very satisfying to see how quickly so many students have come to realize the incredible benefits that can result from focusing so exclusively on Body Axis and Core. Already more than 250 students have completed our Balance Ball Yoga Course, and each and every one of these students has been able to balance independently on the balance ball due to their fostered awareness of Body Axis and Core.

All of the the Balance Ball Yoga courses are meant to be highly enjoyable, and also highly effective. The sequence of exercises to develop your familiarity with your Body Axis and Core do not require difficult or advanced movements. By practicing many simple and enjoyable yogic positions you will be able to discover more about your Body Axis and Core, your place in nature, and how to perform even everyday activities with increased strength and ease.

We invite you to embark on a journey to discover your Body Axis and Core, experience your natural and comfortable posture, and foster your spiritual connection with nature through Balance Ball Yoga.

Sincerely,
Hironori Ikeda, May 2008
The Director of Balance Ball Yoga

Balance Ball Yoga - History and Future

I have been practicing Balance Ball Yoga for nearly 15 years. I was born in Niigata, Japan, where the majority of people love to ski. Originally, I practiced Balance Ball Yoga as a way to improve my skiing technique, as well as to develop my skills for other types of sports activities.

After leaving my hometown, I studied Sports Science and Health Education at the University of Tsukuba, eventually earning a Master's Degree. While studying, I had the privilege of meeting many Olympic athletes and coaches. I maintained my passion for skiing, and also worked for six years at a major shoe company, developing posture-improving walking shoes and spending a lot of time thinking about how to improve people's movement. All along I continued to practice Balance Ball Yoga independently, never thinking that I would one day be able to share it with others.

When I established the Thai Healing Art School International,Chiang Mai, Thailand, I immediately understood Balance Ball Yoga had the potential to improve the technique of massage practitioners. For the first time, I started practicing Balance Ball Yoga with others. From my experience as the Director of Thai Healing Art School Internatioanl, I have seen how effective and beneficial the use of the balance ball is, not only for Thai Yoga Massage practitioners, but for all types of people.

Advanced knowledge of the importance of Body Axis and Core has in the past typically only been understood by athletes after years of professional training. Our program is unique because from day one it focuses directly on helping you to identify, become familiar with, and operate from your Body Axis and Core. I hope that you will learn more about the concept of Body Axis and Core and how it can improve nearly all aspects of your life with the Balance Ball Yoga Course.

I am very pleased that more than 250 students have already completed our Balance Ball Yoga Training Course, and that each and every one has succeeded. As the number of Balance Ball Yoga practitioners increases along with the number of international Accredited Balance Ball Yoga instructors and the locations where Balance Ball Yoga is taught, our knowledge and understanding is continuing to improve and evolve. Indeed, the benefits of Balance Ball Yoga are infinite, so the opportunity to develop new understanding and share new techniques is exciting.