It’s Never Too Late
Motherhood and a chance meeting put Member Maiko Mori on a healthy, happy path.
I was never really one to exercise. But when I passed 30, I started thinking about my health.
When I became a mother, I especially felt the drive to keep my body and mind in shape. My two boys, now 3 and 4, bring us so much happiness. I want to be a positive and energetic mother to them.
Even before they were born, I had started yoga and group training. This was at another place, not the Club, but it got me into a fitness routine. I had to pause when I became pregnant with my first son in June 2018. During the pregnancies, and while they were babies, I couldn’t go to the gym. So I didn’t exercise at all for about four years.
When the childcare situation began to settle down last fall, my husband encouraged me to join him at the Fitness Center, where he runs every day. He trains for triathlon. Because of his influence, I started running there once a week.
That’s how I met Goichi Sano. I asked him where the restroom was, and he asked if I would be interested in personal training. It’s something I had been wanting to do but hadn’t had an opportunity. This is how I got started.
I really enjoy training with Goichi because he makes me feel at ease even if the training is hard. He has a knack for creating different workouts using the same tool, and seeing that creativity applied to fitness really inspires me. I share my goals with him and he gives me lots of advice on how to achieve them.
Training is more than just physical, however. There’s a lot of synergy between heart and mind in exercise, and Goichi and I talk about thoughts and feelings. He has his own way of thinking, and he gives me advice about the mental aspects of training as well as the physical. And through it all, he is very positive. That keeps me positive.
After eight months of training, I’m happier than ever with my body. It’s not perfect, but I’m getting closer to the ideal body that I want. Changing my body has made me feel better inside and out. When I started seeing that change, I felt motivated to improve myself more and more.
If my husband hadn’t encouraged me to join him at the Fitness Center, I might not have gotten started with personal training. Women have lots of stages in life—marriage, giving birth, busy careers—but he always encourages me to be myself. Training has become a very important part of that for me, and it has been great for our family. I really appreciate his support.
If someone is thinking of starting personal training, I say they should go for it. It’s never too late to start. I began training because I asked Goichi where to find the restroom. Chance is everywhere; it’s not a special thing. You don’t need to wait. You can do it any time, and definitely something will change. Training makes a big difference for me. It leaves me feeling positive.
As told to INTOUCH’s C Bryan Jones.
Image of Maiko Mori and Goichi Sano: Kayo Yamawaki
September 2022
