Catch the rhythm in the repetition of tension and relaxation to stabilize the mind and body
Ryukyu Holistic Wellness Stay is an all-year program at HOSHINOYA Okinawa. This stay program is a wellness program that incorporates essences of Okinawa culture and nature. Participants can balance their mind and body through the repetition of tension and relaxation and restore energy through the power of Okinawan culture and nature. After 3 nights and 4 days, the mind and body will be stabilized and aim for a state of mind and body that can enjoy balancing tension and relaxation within daily life.
Background
In today's world where stress tends to become chronic, releasing the mind and body and deep relaxation are important themes. By creating a program with the theme of tension and relaxation, guests will not only feel the release of their mind and body but can also incorporate the ways of balancing tension and relaxation into their everyday lives. HOSHINOYA Okinawa offers a stay in connection with Okinawan culture and nature. This program takes advantage of the location and the facilities of the property, including the Activity Studio, the heated infinity pool, and the pristine beach, to create a comfortable stay while focusing on wellness goals.
Characteristic 1) Catching the rhythm in the repetition of tension and relaxation
When people are under stress, from anxiety or fear, people unconsciously tense up, which can lead to physical and mental symptoms such as pain in the body and insomnia. One way that has been shown to help ease this tension is to repeat tension and relaxation. By consciously tightening and relaxing the muscles and repeating it, extra strength can be let go for the mind and body to feel relaxed. Also, by catching the rhythm in the repetition of tightening and relaxing and becoming more aware of this rhythm, guests will be able to regain their balance even during a nervous state so that it is easier to stabilize the mind and body. This program incorporates moments of both tension and relaxation for guests to restore energy through the power of Okinawan culture and nature.
<Program details>
Day 0: Pre-consultation to be aware of your current condition
Before arrival, a questionnaire to assess physical conditions will be asked to be filled out. In Eastern medicine, the human body is thought to consist of the three elements of "qi, blood and water," and it is said that maintaining a balance among the three is important for health management. This program uses a questionnaire to get detailed information on conditions, such as fatigue and loss of appetite, to understand the level of stress related to the function of qi in advance. On arrival, guests will be provided with a teapot that can be boiled in the guest room and a tumbler that is suitable for carrying, along with grassroot and bark tea leaves selected by the practitioner based on the interview sheet. For hydration and relaxation, the personalized tea can be enjoyed throughout the stay.
Day 1: Familiarizing with the rhythm
On the day of arrival, guests will be able to take a moment to appreciate the natural beauty of Okinawa whilst practicing catching the rhythm in repeating tension and relaxation. Through repetition, guests are guided to a relaxed state of mind and body.
■Aquatic exercise and floating experience at the infinity pool
Aquatic exercises and floating experiences are hosted at the infinity pool that overlooks the ocean. By actively moving inside the water and then loosening the muscles to float on top of the water whilst taking deep breaths, the mind and body can be calmed. The pool can be heated so it can be used during any season. Guests will be able to recover from any tiredness of traveling and be able to participate in the program with ease.
■Walking along the pristine beach as the sun sets
Walking on sandy beaches puts more pressure than usual so that a moderate amount of stress can be felt on the body. While watching the beautiful sunset of the west coast, guests can enjoy a walk for about 30 minutes.
■Oil-based spa treatment
After the beach walk and dinner, an oil-based spa treatment will be held at the spa building. Deep relaxation can be achieved by synchronizing the strokes of the spa treatment and the breathing of the guest.
Day 2: Releasing the mind and body
The day starts with a practice of Ryukyu karate, followed by a session of acupuncture and moxibustion to relax the trained mind and body.
■Practicing Ryukyu karate to heighten tension
Ryukyu karate is a self-defense technique and martial art that originates from Okinawa. The practice will be hosted at the Activity Studio on the premises of HOSHINOYA Okinawa. Guests will focus on their breathing, posture, and awareness of others through repetition of movements to aim for self-discipline, which is the core of karate.
■Acupuncture & moxibustion and a glass of awamori, rice wine, in the room
After Ryukyu karate practice, the tension in the muscles will be released by professional acupuncture, moxibustion, and shiatsu practitioners. Depending on the conditions of each individual, the practitioner will release tension from the practice as well as from daily life. In addition, each guest room is equipped with awamori, the rice alcohol of Okinawa, and can be enjoyed using a ceramic sake cup and flask, unique to Okinawa. Since ancient times, Ryukyu karate and awamori have been related to each other because karate practitioners and masters have enjoyed it.
Day 3: Catching the rhythm in the repetition of tension and relaxation
On the third day, the program prepares guests to return to daily life. Through experiencing both tension and relaxation, it is now time to catch the rhythm in the repetition of tension and relaxation.
■Practicing Ryukyu dance with awareness of flexible movements and physical stability
Ryukyu dance, a traditional culture unique to Okinawa, is a form of hospitality developed through trade with foreign countries such as China. Flexible movements are taught through the teachings of the underlying emotions of movement and the story behind the songs. Ryukyu dance, which was popular among those who practiced karate during the Ryukyu dynasty, is said to have similar movements as karate so one can reminisce about the karate practice on the previous day.
■A night of reflection with a cup of warm herb roots & tree bark tea before sleep
A tea concoction using herbs, roots, and tree bark will be prepared in the room, carefully selected by the acupuncture and moxibustion practitioner from the previous night. Reflect on the stay on the last night while a cup of tea is enjoyed with a night view and sounds of the ocean.
Day 4: Back to daily life
On the last day, a full breakfast will be prepared for guests to restore energy before they return to their daily lives. The goal is to be able to enjoy balancing tension and relaxation on your own in daily life, as the mind and nature become stable.
Characteristic 2) Balancing through meals
From ancient times, eating has been valued as an essential element for good health. A well-balanced diet is thought to prevent diseases in advance and improve poor health. During the stay, unique meals arranged by HOSHINOYA Okinawa will be served based on the concept of "Ryukyu Yakuzen," (Chinese medicinal cuisine with a twist of Okinawa) which prepares the mind and body by combining ingredients that best suit the health condition of guests and season.
■Gain energy through the Yakuzen hot pot for breakfast
For breakfast, Yakuzen hot pot will be served to energize the body. The soup stock uses dried bonito and kelp as its basic flavors and guests can choose to enrich the flavors by adding a soup bag filled with ingredients familiar in Okinawa such as Alpinia ginger, and turmeric. The hot pot will have seasonal vegetables and duck meat, paired with seaweed onigiri. Start the day with this nutritious breakfast to savor the day.
■Yakuzen dinner meal
For dinner on the second night, a Yakuzen dinner course will be served. Each guest will make their own original Yakuzen oil by grinding a selection of different local herbs and spices to match with sesame oil. This Yakuzen oil will be used to finish the flavors of steamed seafood. This meal also includes sugar cane rice and small dishes and can be enjoyed in the rooms.
Example Stay Schedule
<Day 1>
3:00 pm Check-in & consultation
4:00 pm Aquatic exercise at the infinity pool
5:30 pm Beach walk
8:30 pm Spa treatment (90 mins)
<Day 2>
7:00 am Morning deep breathing exercise (optional)
8:00 am Breakfast – Yakuzen hot pot
10:00 am Ryukyu karate practice (90 mins)
1:00 pm Snacks Red sweet potato & grain confectionary
2:30 pm Acupuncture & moxibustion (150 mins)
<Day 3>
7:00 am Morning deep breathing exercise (optional)
8:00 am Breakfast – Yakuzen soup
9:30 am Ryukyu dance practice (120 mins)
12:00 pm Lunch
2:30 pm Spa treatment (90 mins)
Awamori rice wine before sleep to release tension in the body
<Day 4>
7:00 am Morning deep breathing exercise (optional)
8:00 am Breakfast – Ryukyu breakfast
12:00 pm Consultation & check-out
Ryukyu Holistic Wellness Stay in a glance
Period: All year
Price: 180,000 JPY per person (includes tax and service charge, excludes accommodation fee)
Price includes: consultation (2 times), spa treatment (2 times), acupuncture & moxibustion (1 time), beach walk, aquatic exercise, Ryukyu karate practice, Ryukyu dance practice, morning deep breathing exercise, moonlight harmonizing deep breathing exercise, breakfast (3 times), lunch (1 time), snack (1 time), herb roots & tree bark tea
Capacity: 1 group per day (maximum of 2 people per group)
Available to: guests staying at HOSHINOYA Okinawa
Reservation: required 2 weeks in advance
Others:
Contents of the program is subject to change depending on weather and the health conditions of participants
Ingredients of meals is subject to change depending on the availability of ingredients
Overview of HOSHINOYA Okinawa
Address: 474 Gima, Yomitan, Nakagami, Okinawa 904-0327
Price: Starts from 132,000 JPY per night per room (includes tax and service charge, excludes meals)
Number of Rooms: 100
Check-in: 3:00 pm / Check-out: 12:00 pm
Directions: Approximately an hour by car from Naha Airport
About HOSHINOYA Brand
Luxury hotel embodying the true characteristics of land, history, and culture
HOSHINOYA is an accommodation with distinct themes, conceptualized from each location's land, history, and culture. Woven into these distinct themes is our attention to detail in every aspect from the design to hospitality; contributing to the creation of a one-of-a-kind world of HOSHINOYA. Enrich the heart with the epiphanies of travel through a unique stay experience.
About Hoshino Resorts
Hoshino Resorts was first established as a Japanese inn/ryokan in 1914 in Karuizawa in Nagano Prefecture before it began the operation of other resorts in Japan. Today, it has evolved into a highly influential hotel management company and is run by 4th-generation family member Yoshiharu Hoshino. Providing a unique experience focused on the local charms of each destination and a high level of omotenashi, Japanese-style hospitality, the company has expanded rapidly out of Karuizawa since 2001 and now operates more than 60 accommodations both in and outside Japan with one of the following categories: luxury hotel brand “HOSHINOYA,” hot spring ryokan brand “KAI,” countryside resort hotel brand “RISONARE,” city tourism hotel brand “OMO,” free-spirited hotel brand “BEB,” or other unique lodgings.
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