Regaining your physical self.

I think the most accessible way for people to awaken their bodily senses is to get naked. It’s the quickest way to recognize oneself as a physical being.

There are often people who like to strip off their shirts wherever they are, and I suspect it’s because they enjoy feeling with their bodies. Of course, some of them might just want to show off their machismo.

Sometimes, when I hike in mountains, I take advantage of secluded spots to strip down and start climbing. Doing so instantly makes me feel a sense of unity with the surrounding nature, and it feels like my wild side is coming back. I feel like grabbing a vine and doing the Tarzan yell.

Aah-eeh-ah-eeh-aaaaaah-eeh-ah-eeh-aaaaah!

Well, especially in Japan, anyone can imagine the difference between entering a hot spring naked and entering fully clothed; being naked in the nature is that different. I’ve even heard that driving naked makes you respond much better to dangers, so if you’re not a confident driver, you might want to give it a try 😆. (However, not strongly encouraged for safety reasons. Not you but for others looking at you may cause accidents.)

We use our brains too much with office work and such, and I feel like we forget about our physical selves. To regain our sense of being physical beings, bringing our awareness to our bodies is very effective.

When I say “awareness,” it might sound complicated, but it simply means trying to feel. Like various meditation techniques suggest, slowly moving your awareness from the top down—shoulders, arms, chest, abdomen, legs—and feeling them.

Exercises like yoga and tai chi, which involve slow movements, are great for this because they provide pleasant stimuli to different parts of the body and improve energy flow. Even outside of exercise, just focusing on your body while walking or showering can bring in lots of information you don’t usually notice.

Continuing with these practices makes you more sensitive to your bones, tendons, muscles, and organs. You start noticing minor pains and stiffness, which helps maintain health and prevent illness.

When eating, if you notice your sense of fullness, you’ll likely reduce overeating and become more sensitive to your body’s signals, such as feeling heavy or experiencing pain. You can also sense your body’s reactions when you eat highly toxic foods.

As a result, you begin to understand all the signs your body sends, reestablishing the connection between your mind and body. When you can’t find answers by thinking, you can ask your body. It might respond with feelings in your gut or a racing heart, showing that your true feelings reside there. Your body is much more honest than your mind. A healthy mind resides in a healthy body.

So, I encourage everyone to spend some time naked and feel yourself as a physical being.

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