Connecting to the natural world

28 Nov

I’ve just returned from Seoul, Tokyo and Kyoto. Three very different cities. We also travelled to Izu to visit a Wasabi farm and learn about the origins of wasabi (more on that next time). What impressed me whilst travelling is both countries have such a connection to the natural world. We were lucky enough to visit and see beautiful Autumn foliage on this particular trip.

When visiting Changdeokgung Palace in Seoul there are decorations that are just natural rock. Suseok is a Korean art form that features shaped stones used for ornamental gates.

We learned that the Japanese have a long history of revering nature, and their relationship with it is reflected in their art, religion, and poetry. Japan's indigenous religion, Shinto views nature as divine and emphasizes the importance of living in harmony with the environment.

A wasabi field, Izu Japan. Notice the natural shade from the trees for the Wasabi plants.

Joseph Pilates and Nature

Joe was inspired by nature in his development of Contrology (the original name for Pilates). He observed animals and children in their movement patterns. Even when he was interned in the Isle of Man, during WWII he observed animals such as cats and how they maintained their natural and normal movement day to day. Later in New York he was saddened to see how animals’ movement changed when in cages.

Joe was invited to teach at Jacob's Pillow in Becket, Massachusetts. There are videos and news articles documenting his time there. I really feel it’s a way that he and his wife Clara coped with the ‘concrete jungle’ of New York by often being in the countryside away from the big city.