Final December, I sheepishly admitted there was an enormous gap in my Nerd cred.
I grew up drawing cartoons, took AP artwork in highschool, and was all the time fascinated by hand-drawn animation…
However I had by no means seen a single second of any Studio Ghibli cartoon!
Studio Ghibli is the Japanese equal of Disney, with Hayao Miyazaki because the Japanese Walt: the studio has received a number of Academy Awards for his or her fantastically hand-drawn animated movies, and Miyazaki has reached legendary standing for making these movies over the previous 40+ years.
Fortunately, the wonderful group over on Threads gave me tons of of feedback of assist and helped me determine which film I ought to begin with!
Since making that announcement, I’ve watched all 20+ Studio Ghibli movies, fell in love with Japan, and have become endlessly fascinated with Hayao Miyazaki.
(My favorites are Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Supply Service, Whisper of the Coronary heart, and The Wind Rises.).
After watching each movie, I moved on to watching documentaries about Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli as a result of I wanted to know extra.
Thanks to those documentaries, I bought a captivating take a look at Miyazaki’s inventive fashion and experiences in making these movies alongside his coworkers.
The working joke has been that Miyazaki is the “Endless man” and may’t appear to retire.
There was one thing that stood out to me in every documentary:
In The Kingdom of Desires and Insanity, at one level all staff at Studio Ghibli stood up and moved via a sequence of mobility drills and calisthenics, together with Miyazaki.
Later within the doc, I noticed Miyazaki demonstrating a really deep squat with excellent kind and no help. How many individuals are you aware of their mid-late 70s who can carry out an unassisted deep squat!?
In Endless Man: Hayao Miyazaki, Miyazaki is filmed a number of instances chopping wooden with an ax within the yard of his studio.
And in Hayao Miyazaki and The Heron, Miya-san (his nickname), now in his 80s, remains to be out chopping wooden, going for walks within the woods, climbing over fallen timber, doing his workplace workout routines, and laborious at work on the movie that may culminate his life’s work.
(Sure, I do know. Miyazaki additionally has a cigarette in his mouth for practically each minute of each documentary! He’s fortunate that he hasn’t developed lung most cancers but, and I’m reminded he’s not the right image of well being!).
I convey this up as a result of I believe it reveals a distinct facet of train than we’d usually think about.
Practice on your Outdated Individual Physique
Watching this doc of Hayao Miyazaki staying lively and holding his mind sharp into his 80s…
I used to be reminded of this wonderful publish from Elizabeth (@ThisGirlLifts on Instagram):
As we become old, it’s simpler for us to maneuver much less, which supplies us much less vitality, and makes it tougher to seek out the momentum and mobility to maintain transferring. This would possibly hold us from spending time with our household or our pals as a result of we’re unable to muster up the vitality.
Teddy Roosevelt as soon as stated “allow us to relatively run the chance of sporting out than rusting out.”
In different phrases: use it or lose it, bub.
It’s not a stretch for me to think about Miyazaki’s skill to be a “endless man” is just not solely as a consequence of good genetics (and luck), but in addition as a result of he has actively chosen to wear down relatively than rust out.
Reflecting on why he selected to push himself to finish yet one more animated movie into his eighth decade on this planet, he merely replied that this was all he knew learn how to do: “I’d relatively die doing this than die doing nothing.”
Health is greater than weight reduction
At Nerd Health, we encourage all Rebels to consider their “Massive Why:”
Why trouble exercising and constructing new habits and pushing your self to stage up your life when the sofa beckons?
What’s the purpose of exerting your self and studying to cope with discomfort when retreating to consolation is less complicated and so rattling alluring?
A extremely sturdy “Massive Why” may help us keep on course particularly when life turns right into a dumpster hearth or we need to hand over.
For Miyazaki, he’s determined that “getting out what’s inside me” is a worthy use of his time. He’s discovered peace and achievement via creating issues relatively than consuming them, which suggests he must maintain his physique sufficient to remain alive lengthy sufficient to get these items completed!
For my gramma (who I visited within the hospital final month), her function is to assist her group and assist these round her. Staying lively allowed her to do that effectively into her 90s!
Should you’re struggling to give you a purpose for why to do one thing…
You are able to do worse than “Coaching for my outdated individual physique.” That is the one physique you get, and the one life you get, so right this moment is pretty much as good a day as any to start out treating your physique with a bit extra respect.
It doesn’t must be dramatic both. We are able to begin easy:
- We are able to go for a brief each day stroll.
- We are able to rise up all through the day and do mobility work like squats and arm swings.
- We are able to begin power coaching to construct sturdy bones and stave off needing help for so long as attainable.
It’s on us to maintain our our bodies lively, and sporting out is healthier than rusting out via lack of use.
As a chaotic creator who spends a variety of time in my very own head, Hayao Miyazaki has given me a lot to consider:
I hope once I’m in my 80s, I’m nonetheless writing this article and serving to individuals, chopping wooden and going for walks and spending time with family members.
I do know I can’t management what occurs and accidents occur and a lot of life is outdoors of my management, however I’m going to do my finest to present myself the most effective probability to maintain creating and put on out relatively than rust out!
I’ll depart you with the ultimate curmudgeonly quote from Miyazaki that closes out the documentary Hayao Miyazaki and the Heron:
“Cease whining and get transferring.”
Now if you happen to’ll excuse me, it’s time for me to coach for my outdated man physique!
-Steve
PS: The unique Japanese title for The Boy and the Heron is How Do You Reside?. This can be a way more attention-grabbing (and apt) title for the movie; it’s really the encapsulation of his life’s work, people who have influenced him, and his deepest ideas on the that means of life.
PPS: Want steering and accountability to achieve your health objectives? Nerd Health has helped 10,000+ people during the last 8 years with 1-on-1 on-line health teaching. Click on right here for extra particulars.
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