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    • Spring
      • video

        Finding the Flow from Kansai to Kochi

        Shikoku’s many mountains, valleys and proximity to the ocean has made it a hidden gem for rafting, kayaking and canyoning enthusiasts willing to take a step or two further from the Golden Route of Kyoto and Osaka.

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        The Oni Trail: Hiking Coastal Kyoto

        The mystical oni is prevalent in Japanese children’s stories, usually as a way to scare kids straight. Adventure Travel Kyoto is shedding a new light on this folklore and developing a new hiking route in the countryside of Kyoto.
    • Summer
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        The World is Our Playground

        The Pasche family has been cycling and living out of a tent in remote corners of the planet for the past 13 years on four continents spanning 50 countries.
        adventure travel world summit in hokkaido

        Adventure Travel World Summit in Hokkaido

        The ATTA will host their first Adventure Travel World Summit in Asia in Hokkaido, Japan. We caught up with ATTA Director Shannon Stowell to find out more about the adventure travel industry and how it continues to grow and evolve.
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        The Sweet Secrets of Brewing Mead

        Wander into the world of mead brewing and find yourself immersed in a fascinating journey spanning centuries and continents.
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        The Knights in White Lycra

        Each year a group of cyclists head to the deep north towards Tohoku’s vast rice fields and coastal trails to help transform the lives of neglected children.
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        Sea to Table in Yamagata

        An unforgettable way to intimately explore the Shonai Region in Yamagata is a culinary experience bringing bounty of the sea straight to your table.
    • Autumn
    • Winter
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        Getting Dirty in Japan

        “Getting Dirty in Japan” is about getting out of your comfort zone and into some exciting outdoor adventures and destinations in Japan.
    • Near Kyoto
    • All Regions
    • Article Map
    • Ocean and Beach
      • getting dirty in japan

        Getting Dirty in Japan

        “Getting Dirty in Japan” is about getting out of your comfort zone and into some exciting outdoor adventures and destinations in Japan.
    • River and Lake
      • getting dirty in japan

        Getting Dirty in Japan

        “Getting Dirty in Japan” is about getting out of your comfort zone and into some exciting outdoor adventures and destinations in Japan.
    • Mountain and Land
    • Sky
      • getting dirty in japan

        Getting Dirty in Japan

        “Getting Dirty in Japan” is about getting out of your comfort zone and into some exciting outdoor adventures and destinations in Japan.
    • Snow and Ice
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        Fuji-san is the most climbed mountain in the world. If you are in good shape, there is a way to avoid the traffic for a more peaceful Mt. Fuji experience during the off-season.
    • Travel
      • the nomad pasche family

        The World is Our Playground

        The Pasche family has been cycling and living out of a tent in remote corners of the planet for the past 13 years on four continents spanning 50 countries.
    • Food and Drinks
      • the nomad pasche family

        The World is Our Playground

        The Pasche family has been cycling and living out of a tent in remote corners of the planet for the past 13 years on four continents spanning 50 countries.
    • Races and Events
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        In nearly e...
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        2023 Summer Music Festivals

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        2023 Fireworks Festivals in Japan

        Enjoy these fireworks festivals held throughout Japan this summer and autumn.

Spring Forward

health fitness

Health and beauty have been topics of conversation since people were wandering through the proverbial Garden of Eden. Women’s magazines and spas in Japan have been recently preaching Ayurveda, the 5,000 year-old traditional medicine from India, and yoga, the other popular Indian export. Both have evolved over the centuries.

Today, people in search of wisdom or training can easily travel the world to study and experience things for themselves, and the Internet has brought vast amounts of knowledge to our fingertips.

Pilates started attracting some attention in Japan about 10 years ago and over the past decade has become viewed as an effective exercise, although some have a difficult time defining it. “Pilates. Yes, that’s a form of yoga,” or “Pilates is a great core strengthening exercise,” some might say.

Both statements aren’t all together untrue. The founder of Pilates, Joseph Pilates from Germany, studied yoga and incorporated some yoga-like poses into his exercise routine. Having dealt with sickness during his younger years, Pilates created his own method based on his knowledge of how to remain healthy.

For me, the greatest part of this method is the interesting equipment he devised. Rather than applying weight, he used strong springs. His “Cadillac” machine was based on the equipment used in hospitals to assist bed-ridden patients’ exercising and aid their rehabilitation. The “Reformer” is another device used to correct alignment.

health fitness

A routine using the equipment allows pushing your body toward its correct movement. Why are the springs effective? Pilates is really a workout for your spine. The resistance provided by the springs forces muscles to expand and stretch more freely.

It allows the spine to have greater freedom from the tailbone to the neck, so your movements become stronger and smoother. The spine also houses the nerves running to your brain, so Pilates training positively affects the nervous system.

Pilates training, developed by a man born in the 1800s with his knowledge of healthy living, is now oftentimes relegated to group lessons at the local sports club. The classes often have students exercising on a yoga mat which is actually the more difficult portion of Pilates.

For those who want the “real deal,” I recommend taking a private lesson with someone who knows the machines. It will no doubt put a “spring” in your step.

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