2013.05.31
Wake up early and improve yourself!
The popular Tokyo "morning activity" style.
"Morning activities" have become established among busy residents of Tokyo. We snuck in to cover morning activity events that even travelers can feel free to take part in. If you wake up early in Tokyo, you can have experiences like these! (Top image: adidas RUNBASE)
"Reading meetings," where people bring books that have impressed them and introduce them to other participants, are also popular.
The term "morning activities" refers to waking up early and using time in the morning meaningfully to do things like study or exercise. Recently, the style of doing morning activities in large groups has become more popular.
Some examples of this include morning yoga or English conversation lessons, as well as organizing reading meetings through social network sites. This does not just include learning or health maintenance; there are also many people who aim to broaden their network of friends.
Through this feature, from the wide variety of morning activities that have appeared, we will introduce some regularly held morning activity events that are easy for travelers to take part in. Try including them into your morning plans during your stay in Tokyo!
Get your body and mind into top shape with a morning run!
adidas RUNBASE
You may be unsure of a course for your first time, but with the guidance of a coach, there's no need to worry!
The sales booth has a wealth of items, such as the newest apparel, shoes, and running gear.
"Adidas RUNBASE" is located in the Imperial Palace area, one of Tokyo's most prominent running spots. It is a specialized facility for runners, featuring a sales booth for the latest running goods and spacious locker rooms.
"Running clinic," a running event that is free of cost and is held for different levels, is especially well-received among customers. The lineup contains a wide range of elements, from easy content taught by adidas employees working as coaches to full-on training by contracted advisers. Since shoes and apparel are available for rental, another charm is that it's easy to participate without bringing special equipment.
Group participation occurs often with nighttime events, but for morning events such as morning runs, usually only one person has participated. For that reason, exchange between participants has taken place, and there are many days when you can run in a harmonious atmosphere. Participation reservations can be made over the phone or at stores, so why not ask about an event for your level?
Have fun without bringing special equipment!
Morning run experience report
A beginner at running from our staff took part in a running clinic called "Let's Start! Friday Morning Run - Nishiwaki's Boost Your Morning Run." Look how easy this member's first morning run was!
1) First was rental of running goods from the reception desk. The rental fee is 500 yen for the running gear, 100 yen for the shoes, 100 yen for a small towel, and 200 yen for a big towel. Remember to bring your own socks!
2) The rental shoes were the newest model, "energy boost," featuring both shock-absorbency and impact resistance. Our excitement levels went up with the comfort of these shoes!
3) After changing clothes, everyone met at the front of the store. After the participants introduced themselves, there were stretching exercises and then it was finally time to start running!
4) Today's course was one lap around the Imperial Palace, about 35 minutes long. The participants spoke with each other about meets and cheered each other on, making for a pleasant mood from the beginning to the end of the run.
5) After running, it was back to the facilities. Washing off the sweat from the run in the shower booth is so refreshing!
We asked Mr. Kenji Yagi, the general manager, "What are the best points about morning runs?"
adidas RUNBASE
General Manager, Mr. Kenji Yagi
If you run in the morning, your mind and body both do a full turn-around from when you begin, giving you a good start to your workday. Making this a habit will get you into a good lifestyle rhythm. Also, the morning air has a low level of humidity, so running feels good.
adidas RUNBASE
Hirakawa-cho Mori Tower 1F, 2-16-1 Hirakawa-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Phone: 03-3261-9980 Shop Hours: Weekdays 7:00AM-10:30PM; Weekdays &Holidays: 7:00AM-8:00PM Closed: No set days
Facility Usage Fee：700 yen *Appointments required for running clinic
adidas.jp/running/runbase/
Increase your positivity with morning laughs!
“Laughter Yoga,” a morning activity to cheer you up
"Laughter yoga" has slowly gained recognition since coming to Japan in 2006. It may be called yoga, but it does not involve difficult poses; it is a laughing exercise that includes yoga breathing techniques. It is not done in the order of saying something funny and then laughing; the act of laughing comes first, which incites the feeling of fun. You'll be surprised by this reverse way of thinking!
Laughing in a loud voice is liberating and refreshing! You'll feel so hot you sweat.
“The act of laughing together allows for the release of stress and an increase in communication ability. By breathing from the diaphragm, you promote the travel of oxygen to the brain and the whole body, which is effective in raising the efficiency of your work. I often hear participants saying, 'By laughing so much in the morning, my whole body awakens and I'm able to go to work with a smile,'" says Instructor Sugimoto of "Shienjuku." We hear that by doing this for half a year, you'll get into a positive frame of mind and effects will start to show.
1) The first 15 minutes consists of an explanation about laughter yoga. It is an exercise that began in India in 1995, so it still has a short history.
2) Everyone gets into a circle. They start with stretches, and then move onto the laughter exercises. Since these are exercises that emphasize gestures, it's no problem if you don't speak Japanese!
3) Exercises such as "milkshake laughter" and "greeting laughter" are about one minute long apiece, and about nine of them are combined in a session.
4) Last is relaxation time, which is done in order to cool down. On this day, one of the participants played the singing bowls.
Shienjuku
Pine Central Building 2F, 2-11-5 Kyobashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Phone: 03-5159-0711
*"Cheer Up 'Laughter Yoga'" is held every Thursday, from 7:15AM-8:10AM (participation fee is 500 yen). Prior registration from the homepage is necessary.
http://www.shienjuku.com/event/
Reset yourself with morning zazen
“Let's sit for a bit meeting” (morning zen)
Before doing zazen, participants are taught how to sit and breathe, as well as how to prepare their minds. "Even if your body leans one way, it is not a problem as long as that state is acceptable to you," says the vice priest.
At 'Enyuji,' a Tendai sect temple in Meguro, a zen meeting (“let's sit for a bit meeting”) is held on the last Wednesday of every month. There is morning zen and nighttime zen, and each time, 30-60 people gather.
“Zen is about removing the walls you have constructed in your heart and returning to your empty self. Accept yourself as you are, without straining or resisting," says the temple's Vice Priest Oka. One feels calmer just by visiting the temple and hearing about the zen mind.
"In this age, many people focus on worries about the future, and the current moment becomes empty. By affirming first thing in the morning that the current you is the real you, your spirit will hold still and you will be able to delve into each job you have."
The venue is "Shakado," one of the country's important cultural assets that was built during the Muromachi Period. Participants are able to take in the sounds of the wind and the singing of the birds, feeling as though they are one with them as they sit zazen.
When zazen finishes, participants stretch their necks, shoulders, and feet. Then they chant the Heart Sutra together with the vice priest, and the session ends. After that, there is a tea party in a rest area where you can see the garden (participation is optional).
Enyuji is an ancient temple built around 1160 years ago. Many events are held here, including live shows.
Enyuji
1-22-22 Himonya, Meguro-ku, Tokyo
Phone: 03-3712-2098 Entrance possible 24 hours/day
* The "Let's sit for a bit meeting" is held on the last Wednesday of every month (participation is free). Morning zen is from 8AM to about 9AM; nighttime zen is from 8PM to about 9 PM. Prior registration is necessary.
http://www.enyuu-ji.com/event/
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