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 at all times 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 superbly hand-drawn animated movies, and Miyazaki has reached legendary standing for making these movies over the previous 40+ years.
Fortunately, the superb neighborhood over on Threads gave me a whole lot of feedback of help and helped me resolve 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 received a captivating have a look at Miyazaki’s artistic model and experiences in making these movies alongside his coworkers.
The working joke has been that Miyazaki is the “Endless man” and might’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 by a sequence of mobility drills and calisthenics, together with Miyazaki.
Later within the doc, I noticed Miyazaki demonstrating a really deep squat with good 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 occasions 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 bushes, doing his workplace workout routines, and onerous at work on the movie that will 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 special facet of train than we’d usually contemplate.
Practice in your Previous Particular person Physique
Watching this doc of Hayao Miyazaki staying lively and retaining his mind sharp into his 80s…
I used to be reminded of this superb put up from Elizabeth (@ThisGirlLifts on Instagram):
As we become older, it’s simpler for us to maneuver much less, which provides us much less vitality, and makes it tougher to search out the momentum and mobility to maintain transferring. This may maintain us from spending time with our household or our buddies as a result of we’re unable to muster up the vitality.
Teddy Roosevelt as soon as stated “allow us to slightly run the danger of carrying 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 capability to be a “unending man” is just not solely attributable to good genetics (and luck), but in addition as a result of he has actively chosen to wear down slightly 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 how one can do: “I’d slightly die doing this than die doing nothing.”
Health is greater than weight reduction
At Nerd Health, we encourage all Rebels to consider their “Huge Why:”
Why hassle exercising and constructing new habits and pushing your self to degree 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 simpler and so rattling alluring?
A extremely sturdy “Huge Why” might help us keep on course particularly when life turns right into a dumpster hearth or we wish 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 by creating issues slightly than consuming them, which suggests he must care for his physique sufficient to remain alive lengthy sufficient to get these items achieved!
For my gramma (who I visited within the hospital final month), her objective is to help her neighborhood and assist these round her. Staying lively allowed her to do that nicely into her 90s!
If you happen to’re struggling to provide you with a cause for why to do one thing…
You are able to do worse than “Coaching for my previous particular person physique.” That is the one physique you get, and the one life you get, so at the moment is nearly as good a day as any to start out treating your physique with a bit extra respect.
It doesn’t have to be dramatic both. We will begin easy:
- We will go for a brief each day stroll.
- We will rise up all through the day and do mobility work like squats and arm swings.
- We will begin energy coaching to construct sturdy bones and stave off needing help for so long as potential.
It’s on us to maintain our our bodies lively, and carrying out is healthier than rusting out by lack of use.
As a chaotic creator who spends plenty of time in my very own head, Hayao Miyazaki has given me lots to consider:
I hope once I’m in my 80s, I’m nonetheless writing this text and serving to folks, 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 greatest to offer myself the very best probability to maintain creating and put on out slightly than rust out!
I’ll go away you with the ultimate curmudgeonly quote from Miyazaki that closes out the documentary Hayao Miyazaki and the Heron:
“Cease whining and get transferring.”
Now in case you’ll excuse me, it’s time for me to coach for my previous man physique!
-Steve
PS: The unique Japanese title for The Boy and the Heron is How Do You Reside?. It is a much more attention-grabbing (and apt) title for the movie; it’s really the encapsulation of his life’s work, those who have influenced him, and his deepest ideas on the that means of life.
PPS: Want steerage and accountability to achieve your health objectives? Nerd Health has helped 10,000+ people over the past 8 years with 1-on-1 on-line health teaching. Click on right here for extra particulars.
