Turning Japanese
Japan is one of five blue zone areas, these are places in the world where people live the longest and are deemed to be the healthiest. In 2018 the number of Japanese people aged 90 reached over 2.3 million including more than 71,000 centenarians. So what is the secret of a long life?
Is it all about the genes we are born with or the lifestyle we live? Studies have shown that Japanese people are more likely to have two specific genes which can help build resistance to health issues such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes. However, lifestyle factors including diet and exercise, have been found to play a considerable part in longevity. Good habits formed early can lay strong foundations for wellbeing throughout life.
A blossoming wellness industry, over the past decade or so, has meant that the “mind-body” concept has become more widespread. State of mind and mental attitude counts for a lot when it comes to aging well. This is why Japanese philosophy to life is so intriguing. The story that speaks of the Japanese nation’s values is after the 2018 World Cup Game where Japan lost to Belgium, rather than going on the rampage, football fans decided to collect rubbish in the arena to cope with their disappointment. It was not the first time that fans have cleared up stadiums after games in order to lift their spirits and feel good.
In an attempt to better understand Japanese mindset lets take a look at some of their popular concepts:
Shinrin-Yoki
As a tree lover the concept of Shinrin-Yoki has really appealed to me over the past few years. Shinrin-Yoko is the art of forest bathing, this has nothing to do with taking a bath but all about soaking up nature’s relaxation by taking a slow, sensory walk in ancient woodlands. It is more than just going for a nice walk in the woods but immersing yourself in the sights, sounds and smells of the trees. Doctors in Japan actually prescribe forest bathing, after research showed the many benefits including reducing cortisol levels and increasing immunity to disease. The facilitators of a forest bathing session that I attended at Kew Gardens said that the 3 hour session would boost my immune system, protecting me for up to 2 to 3 weeks afterwards!
Ikigai
In Western society, success is often defined in a binary way: winning or losing, having and not having. The concept of Ikigai is about shifting our mindset and accepting that as human beings, we’re never always going to be on top. Ikigai is thinking about the small stuff and stepping away from the competitive rat race life can often turn into. This is all about finding your purpose or direction in life - the reason you get up in the morning. A key idea is finding happiness and joy from the small pleasures in life. There are five pillars that underpin the foundations of Ikigai, and they are: starting small, releasing yourself, harmony and sustainability, the joy of little things, and being in the here and now. Master those and you’re well on your way to nailing Ikigai.
Kintsugi
The ancient art of repairing what has been broken, built on the idea that embracing flaws and imperfections, you can create an even stronger and more beautiful piece of art. Every break is unique and actually enhances the design. Kintsugi teaches you that broken places make you strong and better than ever before. I often say to clients that in order to grow you have to nudge yourself out of your comfort zone and this may mean taking risks and even failing. You won’t know your full potential until you go through tough times and are tested.
Onsen
Did you know that Japan is the hot spring capital of the world, with over 27,000 hot spring locations across Japan. Onsen is the practice of soaking in mineral hot springs to relieve stress and improve circulation. Onsen is centred around the health benefits attained from thermal effects, by warming the body in onsen, blood circulation is improved and metabolism increases. When you get into water there is a feeling of buoyancy, this releases from gravity, muscles loosen, and it leads to relaxation of body and mind. As you leave onsen, your body quickly cools which encourages your body to relax and put you into a deeper sleep.
Hara Hachi Bu
This roughly translates to “Eat until you are 80 percent full.” A form of mindful eating which means you eat until you have had enough to satisfy your body’s needs without overdoing it. Ancient Japanese eating tradition proposes never to fill one’s stomach 100 percent and always to stop when it is 80 percent full. They consider more than 80 percent as overeating which results in the digestive system taking a longer time to process the food. Eventually, this leads to cellular oxidation which apparently makes one age faster.
Wa
The Japanese concept of Wa is a Shinto concept that literally means harmony between humans, nature and all things in nature. Wa refers to seeking harmony everywhere from interpersonal communication to the arrangement of items. In short, it means not doing anything that causes friction or upset. Japanese people try to avoid conflict, it is rate to see Japanese people acting aggressively towards one another. The Japanese believe that harmony in objects and space brings harmony to a person’s mind and soul.
Kaizen
The principle of Kaizen tells us that any task, no matter how tough and complicated can be accomplished in small steps. The idea is that you spend one minute every day doing the thing you want to master, you will achieve success. If you want to improve your language skills, devote one minute or more to learning every day. I have been trying to learn how to do a headstand – it feels a long way off but a minute a day gets me that bit closer
Wabi-Sabi
Wabi Sabi is about celebrating imperfections and living simply. Wabi Sabi teaches us to see the beauty in everything, not just value the perfect. Embracing the imperfect means we celebrate our strengths. In a world that is always striving for an unattainable perfection, this is a great lesson. An example of this is the art of Kintsugi which is where you repaired broken ceramics in a certain way with gold, silver or platinum powered in order to bring out the cracks instead of hiding them.
Hopefully some of these Japanese methods of wellness and wellbeing have spoken to you. You might even consider implementing one or two in your daily life. These concepts are intended to help change your mindset, helping you to be calmer, more present and attuned to the little things in life. Small moments can have a big positive impact on your life. How can a nation of tea lovers be wrong?
Other wellness concepts from around the world (well mainly Scandinavian countries!)
o Hygge from Denmark, often translated as cosiness
o Niksen from Netherlands, the art of doing nothing
o Lagom from Sweden, everything in moderation
o Umage from Denmark, meaning putting a bit more oomph into everything you do
o Gokotta from Sweden, spending more time in nature
o Fika from Sweden is about having a coffee and cake break regularly!
o Ubuntu from South Africa is about community and positive virtues