Morning stretches are such a pleasure, if you can manage to rise early enough to do them. I'm talking about group morning stretches, of course. In my experience, group morning stretches are a universal phenomenon here in Japan. Every morning, from certain public offices and schools, music plays through speakers, transmitted, I believe, from the City Hall or Town Office. The music is always the same, a simple and leisurely classical piece on a piano that reminds me of finger exercises a child might play as a warm-up piece before practicing. And then, in a prescribed sequence, which is taught to elementary school students, and done by old folks all the same, people stretch--in time AND in sync--to the music.
"Ode to Morning Stretches"
Arms up high, Way down low!
Breathe in, Breathe out!
Run in place, Run in place!
Twist your neck, Turn your face!
Never mind your skirt or tie, Or your uniform,
Stretch your body, mind and soul,
Rejoice as you conform!
I tell of my day-to-day experiences in a funky Japanese town from my American viewpoint. This blog could also be called 'Bizarro World', 'Notes From Kyushu, a Smaller Island', or 'Teaching English in Japan: Smash Your Ego in 10 Easy Lessons."
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
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4 comments:
Hi Julie,
This is such a great little "tanka". It really captures the heart and soul of Japan. I think you may have crossed over!
We had a great seminar with Tres this weekend at Aikido West. Jun came out too. Touched off a whole discussion about ukemi, etc.
Hope your winter is going well, and not too cold.
- Neville
Hi Neville,
I'm happy you found my blog, and glad to hear you sound well.
As for 'crossing over,' the time here has definitely reshaped me, although I it's hard for me to see how. How long did you spend in Japan? Do you feel it reshaped you somehow?
The instructor here has been asking me to join his jodo classes. I remember last time I was home, Tres said he thought I should do it. I'm almost ready...
Take care in your training!
I spent several years with a Japanese family as a child and into my early teens. I learned many of there traditions and simple everyday ways as well as a good bit of martial arts wherein stretching was vital and practiced religiously.
That was then and this is now. I have lost track of many things in my life that were simple and made it joyful to walk through and now I am finally finding myself again where I was lost for so long.
Thank you for this simple reminder of how easy and wonderful something so trivial to many can be.
I will start my regimen again as of tommorrow, thanks again...
Blu
Blu,
Thanks for your nice comment.
Once you have a taste for doing those simple things and enjoying them, it feels so healthy to keep them up, right?
I recently started take baths almost every night(funny, I did it as a kid, but as an adult I rarely have), and it's a wonderful and relaxing time, but it's not particularly special. I think the stretches can be the same way--wonderful and invigorating--but they don't have to be some special thing, just taking good care of the body.
I noticed you have a blog; may I look?
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