|
Dear Reader, I just came back from a meal at a restaurant (which was very delicious). But instead of walking back home, which I normally do, I got in a car, sat, and drove. Not my first choice you see, but I’m spending the weekend at a house in an American suburb, and there was no option to walk back. Why I walk after eating Growing up in a city, if I went out to eat I would always walk home from the restaurant. Maybe take the train or bus in-between, but in general there is at least a good 15 minutes of walking involved. It seems like such a small difference in lifestyle, but those 15 minutes after eating can make a big difference to our health – they can help reduce gas and bloating symptoms (and even be more effective than digestive medications), help regulate our blood sugar, and can even lower high blood pressure. But even without knowing all of that, I just feel so much better doing a short walk after eating. My 'secret' ritual for better physical, mental, and social health After I got back from dinner, I dropped off my stuff and went on a walk in the neighborhood with my friend. It was pretty hot where I was (32°C/90°F), so it was a pretty slow and leisurely walk. We talked about a movie we had recently watched, plans we were excited about, and our predictions for the World Cup. A quick lap around the neighborhood, and after 20 or so minutes we headed back inside. In our minds, our walk was not exercise nor a workout, it was just an invitation to spend more quality time with each other. The fact that it was outside, kept us off our phones, and made the food sitting in our stomachs feel a bit better was all a bonus. Physically, mentally, and socially, I felt all aspects of my health being tended to. Was walking always such a superpower? The kindest thing I've done for my wellbeing Moving our bodies doesn’t need to be as daunting as a daily trip to the gym for a sweaty workout. A small adjustment to the routine we already exist in, like a short walk after a meal, can do wonders for our wellbeing. For myself, it has been one of the kindest things I’ve done for my wellbeing. Warmly, Kaki Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this, please forward this email to your friends and family (or share the article) 🌱 If this email was forwarded to you, it's nice to meet you 😊
Follow on Instagram for more health tips, tricks, and inspiration: |
I teach about health inspired by simple Japanese philosophies and lifestyle practices, so you can learn to find peace, fulfillment, strength, and health in your own body. Sign up for my newsletter to receive all my writing and exclusive resources!
Dear Reader, Scroll through social media for five minutes and you'll find someone who seems to have their health figured out. The coworker who's training for a marathon. The friend who doesn’t eat sugar anymore. The influencer whose gym workouts show up in your feed every single day, without fail. And almost without realizing it, you start comparing what you’re doing to what they’re doing. Should I be running more? Should I cut out sugar too? Am I doing enough? I used to think that comparing...
Dear Reader, Taking care of your health doesn’t always feel fun or exciting. It’s often seen as something we have to force ourselves to do — at worst a daily drudgery, and at best, a routine monotony. In fact, the responsibility of maintenance in general is rarely seen as pleasurable. That was how I felt about taking care of my health, until I came across the idea of te-ire. What is te-ire? Te-ire (手入れ) is the Japanese practice of caring for something through small, regular acts of attention....
Dear Reader, In the United States, I’m often bombarded with images and ads of fitness culture. It’s the land of Alo Yoga and the birthplace of Crossfit, and it seems that the majority of people are members of gyms like Anytime Fitness or Equinox. Any decent hotel or typical college campus has free access to a gym, and it’s not uncommon to see someone share their workout on social media as they would their food. But in contrast to that, for a country that is a leader in life expectancy at 85...