More and more people are seeking healing. This trend seems particularly strong among young people at the forefront of the digital society. When there are many people seeking healing, business opportunities arise. One Ginza store that promises ultimate relaxation continues to thrive, despite offering a 60-minute session for 8,200 yen. Mindfulness has also become popular in Europe and the United States, and now appears to be integrated into work and daily life. Mindfulness is a fusion of Eastern philosophies such as yoga and Zen with American medicine and science. As an aside, the purpose of yoga can be summarized as four stages: achieving stability in life, feeling the joy of living, maintaining social order, and achieving ultimate freedom (enlightenment). The foundation of yoga is practiced for self-affirmation, and it appears to enhance one’s natural healing abilities and potential. The healing stores currently flourishing in Japan appear to be ultimately contributing to enhancing natural healing abilities and potential.
Relaxation and healing facilities are becoming popular as a way to combat the stresses of a digital society. In addition to food, clothing, and shelter, relaxation is essential for humans. Prolonged use of smartphones and computers can lead to symptoms such as stiff shoulders and stress. More and more people are seeking recovery and healing. In the past, people often used alcohol to relieve stress. However, health-conscious trends and a shift away from alcohol seem to be attracting young people to this type of relaxation. Among the masseuses who provide this relaxation, there are those who are popular and those who aren’t. Popular therapists seem to be increasing their income, while less popular ones seem to be securing income through side jobs. Massages and acupuncture treatments have been recognized to enhance the body’s natural healing ability.
Intensifying competition forces masseuses to become more creative. One example is the development of unique perfumes to induce sleep during massages. In the United States, “forest bathing” is gaining attention alongside yoga and mindfulness. In forest bathing, phytoncides, volatile substances emitted by trees, are gaining attention. The forest scent appears to induce a comfortable state in people. This scent comes from the unique volatile substances emitted by plant leaves and other plants. We humans generally perceive the scent of the forest as pleasant. There are also new ideas for incorporating this knowledge into massage and other settings. Modern healing seems to be evolving every day, combining Indian yoga, Chinese tai chi, Japanese shiatsu, mindfulness, massage, and fragrance.
