Lesson 16Explaining - Injuries and Illness -
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Staying Healthy
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Explanation through photos
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Jogging
Many people do different exercises for their health. Jogging is one of the most popular exercises.
Stretching
Some people do a stretching exercise. It prevents injury because their bodies become more flexible.
Radio Exercises
We have "Rajio Taiso [Radio Exercises]" in Japan. People do calisthenics to the music or an exhorting voice on the radio. During summer holidays, children gather and do Radio Exercises together in particular parks every morning.
Kanpu-masatsu and aodake-fumi
Let's look at Japanese ways to improve health. Everyone can try these easily. They are kanpu-masatsu [dry skin rubdown] and aodake-fumi [stepping on bamboo].
Towel and aodake
A dry towel and green bamboo cut lengthwise are needed for these exercises.
Kindergarten 1
This is a kindergarten. Japanese children enter kindergarten before going to elementary school.
Kindergarten 2
This kindergarten uses this age-old method to improve health.
Going out
The children are going out with exercise pants on, naked from the waist up and carrying towels in their hands.
Lining up in the yard
This is the kindergarten's yard. The children are lining up according to class and yelling.
Rubbing their backs 1
They are doing kanpu-masatsu. They are rubbing down their bodies with a dry towel or cloth.
Rubbing their backs 2
They are following the teacher and doing kanpu-masatsu cheerfully.
Rubbing their hands
After rubbing their backs, they rub their shoulders and hands, too. The temperature is about 10 degrees Celsius but all the children are fine.
The teacher
This is Ms. Mayu Satake, one of the teachers in the kindergarten. She is saying, Rubbing their backs helps them keep warm and their skin will become strong. As a result, it will prevent them from catching a cold.
Tamako Ikeyama 1
This is Tamako Ikeyama. She explains her method of improving health.
Aodake 1
She uses green bamboo in her method.
Aodake 2
Aodake are made of green bamboo. Besides real green bamboo aodake, some are made of plastics and other artificial materials.
Aodake-fumi 1
The method is very simple. Just tread on the bamboo. It stimulates the sole of the foot and improves blood circulation. Tamako first began treading on aodake when she was a junior high school student.
Tamako Ikeyama 2
When she was 15 years old or so, she often had to sit at a desk for long periods to study for the senior high school entrance exam. She wanted to do something about it. She says with aodake-fumi she can get over physical fatigue and can relax. These are the benefits.
Tamako Ikeyama 3
Every day she finds the time to tread on aodake for about 15 minutes.
Many ways to tread
There are many ways to tread on aodake. Step on the edge with the arch of the foot or push the arch back and forth over the aodake.
With one foot 1
Stand on one foot and put your weight on it.
With one foot 2
If you hold on to something, you can put your weight forward and stimulate many parts of your sole. She says," A bit of pain makes me feel better. ‘Pleasant pain,' so to speak."
Kanpu-masatsu
The teachers as well as the children are enjoying kanpu-masatsu. Anyone can try this Japanese way of improving health.
Aodake-fumi 2
Aodake-fumi is another Japanese method of improving health that anyone can try.
