Breathing techniques are said to be good for reducing stress. It is known that breathing and emotions are closely connected. When you are relaxed, you will breathe deeply and slowly. In situations that you feel anxious or stressed, breathing slowly and deeply while being conscious of your breathing will reduce anxiety and stress. Forward-thinking companies have been quick to introduce mindfulness. This seems to have become the general name for breathing techniques. It has been found that this mindfulness calms the amygdala and the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenal system that follow it. A well-known American company has reported that after introducing mindfulness, employees’ stress levels were reduced by one-third. In addition, it seems that after the introduction, medical expenses were significantly reduced and productivity increased, creating a happy situation.
In 2024, the number of inbound tourists to Japan reached a record high of 37 million. These foreign visitors have become interested in the high quality of Japanese culture. It seems that healing is also one of their interests. Psychotherapy has traditionally been popular in the West. Westerners seek a life that provides peace of mind, even in the midst of their hustle and bustle in their lives and work. Psychotherapy has played this role. Psychotherapy, as represented by Freud and Jung, has evolved to provide peace of mind. However, it seems that some people are not satisfied with the therapies that have developed in Christian countries.
Some Westerners who have visited Japan seem to have found this peace in the tea ceremony. Tea ceremony has developed while imitating the ideas of Zen as a pillar for seeking spiritual peace. Zen monks impose ascetic lives and hardships on themselves to reach spiritual peace. Asceticism has a very stoic and strict side. However, pleasure lies deep within asceticism. Contrary to physical pain, it is also possible to obtain spiritual pleasure. Zen and tea ceremony have a mechanism for overcoming challenges not only by thinking with the head, but also by using the body. It seems that the movements of Zen meditation and the tea ceremony subtly stimulate the reward system and secrete dopamine. Zen has its origins in Indian yoga. It seems that hidden mechanisms for reducing stress lie in postures, movements, and breathing techniques. Western psychotherapy is dominated by mechanisms for resolving issues solely through the mind and dialogue. Eastern psychotherapy has a mechanism for resolving issues through the fusion of the mind and body. We hope that you will incorporate the best aspects of both the West and the East and enjoy peace of mind.
