Indulge in Wellness Through Japanese Wellness Traditions

With one of the longest life expectancies of any country on the planet, Japan garnered a lot of attention for its traditional wellness practices.

Scientists say that even something as simple as drinking lots of green tea helps Japanese people stay healthy, and you will see it everywhere you go. Fermented foods are another health boon, say experts, and the generally light diet also plays a part in keeping people healthy.

Hara hachi bu is a tradition that governs Japan’s attitude toward food, and it means eating enough to be satisfied but not full. Rather than gorging yourself on endless conveyor belt sushi, eat until you are around 80 percent full and then wait for your stomach to realize you don’t need to eat more.

Another key tradition is ikigai, which refers to the idea of finding purpose in your daily life. Instead of rushing through every task, it is thought to be beneficial to dedicate yourself to it entirely and allow it to become a kind of meditation. This could be something as simple as following a rigorous process of making tea.

Forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku, is a practice developed to beat stress. To take part, all you need to do is find a forest and walk slowly through it, appreciating nature.