FEATURE

Translated By DeepL

Maintenance of "movement" and "stillness" to regulate the mind and body - Part 2
MONTHLY JOURNAL Jan 2024 vol.2

Maintenance of "movement" and "stillness" to regulate the mind and body - Part 2

This year is the year to get healthy! But, as is often the case in January every year, it is difficult to take action. But in 2024, why don't you make this "this year" a reality? The secret to a healthy work life and a fulfilling personal life lies in daily workout and conditioning. We interviewed eight people who are practicing these skills! We will introduce the art of physical and mental maintenance from two perspectives: "movement," which involves physical exertion and sweat, and "stillness," which involves resetting the mind without putting a burden on the body. In the second part, we interviewed five people who incorporate "stillness" into their conditioning routines.

CONDITIONING 01. Sleep A good night's sleep will give your body and mind a fresh start.

PROFILE

Takehito Ohtsubo
NEUTRALWORKS. director

Born in Ishikawa Prefecture in 1979, he joined GOLDWIN in 2004. <After 17 years in planning and development for The North Face, in 2021 he became the business manager for the wellness brand Neutral Works, which aims to "support the body and mind in a neutral state of readiness. >He has been in charge of the wellness brand "Neutral Works, Inc. He is a daily walker between the boundaries of work and play, from summer to winter in the outdoors, and from sauna to bar hopping in urban life.
Instagram: @gakuto_o

- How did you become aware of the quality of your sleep?

Although it was hard work, I liked it because I felt a sense of fulfillment in my daily work and I wanted to "just fill in the gaps," including for fun, so I kept a packed schedule. My job required me to travel a lot, both domestically and internationally, and as long as I could get some sleep on the road, I would watch movies, read books, and surf the Internet until I fell asleep at night. I am a little embarrassed to say it, but I used to call myself a short sleeper and thought it was somewhat cool. Then I was put in charge of a brand of conditioning for the body and mind, and the more I looked into it, the more I was surprised to find that it was the exact opposite of what I thought it was. I will never forget the day I tried all the things that were said to be good for sleep, and woke up the next day to find that I was a completely different person than I had been yesterday. After that morning, when my body and mind were renewed, I began to pay more attention to sleep.

- What are the benefits of sleep?

For one thing, my body feels better. In my case, I thought my head was heavy because of my big head (laughs), but the cause was lack of sleep. . The second is that my mind is light. I believe that "quality sleep" means three things: smooth onset of sleep, not waking up in the middle of sleep, and good awakening. In other words, I naturally wake up early, especially in the morning when my thoughts are clear. So I have started to do my work related to manufacturing and creativity in the morning. In the afternoon, I spend time meeting with people rather than thinking, and in the evening, I spend time organizing. I feel that I have developed a comfortable rhythm in my life through "good sleep.

- NeutralWorks. is also developing bedding, what did you focus on when developing the mattresses?

When we are asleep, we are naturally unconscious, so we cannot think and do this or that on our own. . Even if the room temperature is controlled by setting the room temperature with an air conditioner, body temperature changes every day due to various factors. Therefore, we developed this product with the idea that, just as you adjust the room temperature with an air conditioner, you should first try to keep your body temperature at a normal level with a mattress or other bedding.

- Mr. Ohtsubo, what do you consider to be the best amount of sleep per day?

On weekdays I sleep about 5 hours because I have early mornings, but it would be best if I could sleep about 6 hours. My children sleep for about 8 hours if I don't wake them up, so I think that must be the best amount of sleep they get. . My personal opinion is that an all-nighter produces nothing but fatigue and a sense of accomplishment. . I finally realized after I turned 40 that a few hours after going to bed early and waking up early is far more efficient than a few hours of all-nighters.

Here are some of Mr. Ohtsubo's favorite products.

NEUTRALWORKS.
Drausi WHOLEGARMENT Crew

I used to think that spending money on pajamas was a waste of money, but now they are more important than outerwear. I feel more comfortable all year round wearing merino wool to keep my body warm than using air conditioning to maintain the room temperature. I snagged a sleeve and it has a hole in it , but I've been wearing it as it is.

ENDOCA
Hemp Oil Drops

I have tried quite a few different types of CBD since I stock and sell it in my NeutralWorks. I have tried many different types of CBD, but I find that the drop type helps me maintain a good rhythm from falling asleep to waking up. I also take it with me on business trips, where my daily rhythm can easily be disrupted."