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 tons of 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 obtained a captivating take a look at Miyazaki’s inventive type 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 way of 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, continues to be out chopping wooden, going for walks within the woods, climbing over fallen timber, doing his workplace workouts, and arduous 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 carry this up as a result of I feel it reveals a special aspect of train than we would usually contemplate.
Practice to your Outdated Individual Physique
Watching this doc of Hayao Miyazaki staying energetic and protecting his mind sharp into his 80s…
I used to be reminded of this superb submit from Elizabeth (@ThisGirlLifts on Instagram):
As we grow old, it’s simpler for us to maneuver much less, which supplies us much less vitality, and makes it harder to search out the momentum and mobility to maintain shifting. This would possibly preserve us from spending time with our household or our associates as a result of we’re unable to muster up the vitality.
Teddy Roosevelt as soon as mentioned “allow us to fairly 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 means to be a “unending man” is just not solely as a result of good genetics (and luck), but additionally as a result of he has actively chosen to wear down fairly than rust out.
Reflecting on why he selected to push himself to finish 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 fairly die doing this than die doing nothing.”
Health is greater than weight reduction
At Nerd Health, we encourage all Rebels to consider their “Large Why:”
Why hassle 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 take care of discomfort when retreating to consolation is less complicated and so rattling alluring?
A extremely robust “Large Why” may help us keep on the right track 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 by way of creating issues fairly than consuming them, which suggests he must care for his physique sufficient to remain alive lengthy sufficient to get this stuff accomplished!
For my gramma (who I visited within the hospital final month), her objective is to help her neighborhood and assist these round her. Staying energetic allowed her to do that effectively into her 90s!
In the event you’re struggling to provide you with a motive for why to do one thing…
You are able to do worse than “Coaching for my outdated 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 begin treating your physique with a bit extra respect.
It doesn’t should be dramatic both. We are able to begin easy:
- We are able to go for a brief every day stroll.
- We are able to arise all through the day and do mobility work like squats and arm swings.
- We are able to begin power coaching to construct robust bones and stave off needing help for so long as doable.
It’s on us to maintain our our bodies energetic, and carrying out is healthier than rusting out by way of lack of use.
As a chaotic creator who spends loads of time in my very own head, Hayao Miyazaki has given me loads 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 exterior of my management, however I’m going to do my finest to present myself the very best likelihood to maintain creating and put on out fairly 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 shifting.”
Now for those who’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 much more fascinating (and apt) title for the movie; it’s actually the encapsulation of his life’s work, people 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.
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