Over One-Third of Pilates Instructors Aim for Future Studio Ownership, Mujinto Survey Finds

FITNESS SALON, operated by Mujinto Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Yokohama, Kanagawa; CEO: Seigo Nitta), conducted a survey on the "Careers of Pilates Instructors" targeting male and female instructors in their 20s to 40s. The survey shed light on their ideal career paths, values regarding work styles, and the challenges they face in sustaining their careers.

## Background
In recent years, the remarkable spread of machine Pilates and the diversification of studio equipment have provided new options for instructors when choosing a workplace. How has this change affected individual instructors' career views and criteria for workplace selection? While new work styles and career development opportunities are expanding, it is thought that new challenges in finding the ideal workplace are also emerging. In response, FITNESS SALON conducted this survey.

## Survey Summary
- Initially, the most important factor in choosing a workplace was an "environment to improve skills and utilize expertise."
- Currently, the most important factor is a "flexible working environment."
- The initial ideal career paths were "working as a freelancer with multiple studios" or "opening one's own studio."
- Over one in three instructors now aim to "independently open and expand their own studio."
- Top 3 impacts of the spread of machine Pilates: 1. "Expanded work style options," 2. "Increased job satisfaction," 3. "Increased learning costs."
- Current challenges in sustaining a career are "difficulty in customer acquisition" and "physical self-maintenance and stamina issues."

## Detailed Survey Results

**Shift in Priorities for Choosing a Workplace**
At the beginning of their careers, the most important factor was an "environment to improve skills and utilize expertise" (22.9%). However, this has shifted, with a "flexible working environment (e.g., freelance contracts, flexible shifts)" (20.1%) now topping the list, indicating a change in values.

**Evolution of Ideal Career Paths**
Initially, the ideal paths were a tie between "working as a freelancer with multiple studios" (30.7%) and "opening one's own studio" (30.7%). When asked about their future aspirations, "independently opening and expanding one's own studio" became the sole top choice at 34.6%, showing an even stronger inclination towards independence.

**Impact of Machine Pilates Proliferation**
Regarding the impact on income and work style, "expanded work style options (e.g., freelance)" (34.1%) and "increased job satisfaction due to a wider range of instruction" (33.0%) were the top responses. However, "increased learning costs due to demand for specialization" (32.4%) was also high, revealing a situation where positive effects and challenges coexist.

**Current Challenges in Career Continuation**
Finally, when asked about current challenges, "difficulty in customer acquisition and attracting clients" (33.5%) was the most common response, followed by "physical self-maintenance and stamina issues" (30.7%) and "maintaining motivation" (27.4%).

## Survey Overview
- Survey Period: May 18 - May 20, 2026
- Survey Method: Internet survey
- Survey Target: Pilates instructors (male and female, ages 20-40)
- Number of Respondents: 179
- Monitor Provider: RC Research Data