Whether you are young or old, male or female we all need to be more aware of how to take care of our body. Over the years, body and health awareness has turned into a multi-billion dollar industry. With so many choices and a saturation of the market, it can be very confusing to know which method is right for you. Japan is ranked number one in the world for longevity. With Japanese women living the longest in the world, this has to be an indicator that what is done in Japan promotes long life.

Here you see a yearly ceremony to celebrate the long walk to Edo. These men are around seventy to eighty years old, but you can see they are quite active.

It has been reported by health experts that some of the key factors that have played into Japans longevity are genes, universal healthcare, diet, lifestyle, health consciousness, social equality and cohesion; and these are what set Japan aside from other countries.

Diet – certain foods made from soya beans, azuki beans, high consumption of fish and seaweed, and introduction of western foods has reduced salt intake and this combination has resulted in Japans longevity. At Enoshima Island Spa, the head chef takes into consideration while planning the menu dietary factors (calorie intake), the source of ingredients from local growers, color and flavor. Below you can see the result of his creativity. It not only looks amazing, but tastes incredible.

Organic rice with fresh salad and avocado, small tomatoes and herbs, light soup, herbal tea and handmade fruit jelly.

Lifestyle – it has been cited that Japanese people tend to be more active in comparison to other nations. They walk or cycle more frequently at all ages. They join organized sports or community activities (e.g. trekking, walking around local neighborhoods and morning exercise…) Take a look at this youtube video of Japanese seniors involved in a typical neighborhood exercise group:

If you visit Enoshima you can enjoy walking around the island, learning about its history and doing light cardio-exercise prior to entering the spa. Enospa has an ‘Island Plan’ with personal trainers and guides if you want a more organized program.

The view from the top of Enoshima island. There are numerous walks to take depending on your mood and your sense of adventure.

Health Consciousness – Japanese people are said to pay special attention to hygiene by taking the act of showering and bathing and making it ritualistic. Look at this link that explains the bathing etiquette;

http://www.onsenjapan.net/onsenbasics.php

This culmination of factors; Japanese temperatures, humidity, religious tones of purifying from Shinto tradition, access to a lot of natural mineral water and the concept of groupism (working and living in small spaces) makes for a society aware of their bodies and the space they move within. Caring for your body will always be an on-going battle to find that balance between diet, lifestyle and health awareness in our increasingly busy schedules. But it is nevertheless possible to achieve.

Next week we will talk about the third and probably most important factor in the success to surviving a Japanese summer and being healthy. That is spirituality and wellness of our minds.

The chimes used when taking a massage at Enospa.

The post Summer in Japan , 2 appeared first on Jarman International KK.

Beach view looking towards Mt. Fuji just across from Enoshima Island.

In July we will be writing a weekly post on how to manage your beauty, body and wellness to suit the conditions and climate of Japan.

Summer offers a lot of unique challenges for your health and well-being. This can be especially true for your life in Japan whether you live here or you are just visiting. Summer in Japan not only has high temperatures, but 80-100% humidity on most days as well. The busy life of work, travel or family will often take that valuable time away from making sure that you are caring for yourself.

Skin Care

What is a way to care for your skin in this climate that doesn’t take a lot of time, and is also both natural and healthy? Using natural ingredients like olive oil, lemon or lime juice, fruits and vegetables are easy to find in most supermarkets and are affordable. There are a number of sites that can tell you how to use these ingredients. This is one of them I recommend:     http://rawforbeauty.com/blog/category/natural-remedies

Clearing your skin:

You may find that your face feels oily during summer, and the frequency and quantity of sweat has also increased. This build-up of oil and sweat layers itself on your face and body. Of course sweating is our natural mechanism for maintaining body temperature, but making sure to clean and clear our pores is important. Splashing your face with cool water seems to give you a little relief from the heat but it doesn’t seem to remove that thick layer of oil and sweat.

One solution to combat the summer sweat is to attack it with the natural heat and minerals of onsen bathing.

It is as simple as visiting an onsen once a week where you will quickly notice your body and skin begin to look and feel different. The natural minerals in onsens help to open up the pores in your skin and the different temperatures which range from 25 -42 degrees, to ice cold help to massage your skin. The natural minerals that can be found in the onsen hot spring will depend on the water source, but generally you can find sulfur, hydrogen sulfur, bicarbonate, acidic and iron for example. This is not the complete list but you can read how each mineral can benefit your body here:   www.yadyad.com/en/onsen/effect

Here you see Enoshima Island Spa. The water source that is used in the onsens and various pools is from 150 meters below the ocean level and comes from nearby Mt. Fuji.

If you are new to Japanese onsen bathing look at this site which outlines the basic rules;

www.onsenjapan.net/onsenbasics.php

So now that you have a basic understanding of the process, let’s look at how you can bathe to help your skin.

Please remember that this is not a race to take a dip in each bath but rather to savor the experience and let your body tell you which baths it likes, how long you should sit in the same bath, and when it’s time to sit outside and let the breeze refresh you.

When I went to my first onsen over two decades ago, I was very conscious of my nakedness and this awkwardness made me rush through the experience. I thought everyone was looking at me and examining my every move to make sure I didn’t make a mistake. Of course at the beginning you might make a few minor infractions (like spraying close neighbors when you are using the hand-held shower) but if you just sit calmly and watch what other people are doing you will see the grace and beauty in the actions of Japanese bathing.

As you experience and visit more onsens around Japan you will know that staying for as long as you can is the best therapy for your skin. Change the temperatures from warm, to hot, to cold, to hot and rotate around the baths that have massaging bubbles or different minerals (which you will be able to know from the color or the smell). By the end of your onsen you will feel lighter, fresher, your skin will be shining and softer to the touch.

The onsen and view from within Enoshima Island Spa.

A great way to experience an onsen is to visit with friends. This summer Enoshima Island Spa is offering a variety of options to incorporate the spa, time with friends and great food. For more details;

http://www.jarman-international.com/partners/enoshima-island-spa/#.UduiDPm-18E

The post Summer in Japan appeared first on Jarman International KK.