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Maari is a yoga instructor and entertainer born in Koriyama, Fukushima Prefecture. In addition to her work in wellness, she has appeared in numerous television dramas and commercials.<\/p>\n
While training to become a yoga instructor, Maari discovered Nonviolent Communication (NVC). She says that putting what she learned into practice has helped her make her life more balanced and emotionally at ease.<\/p>\n
As the prolonged impact of the coronavirus pandemic continues to create stress and uncertainty, we spoke with Maari under the theme, \u201cBe kind to others and kind to yourself.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n In this interview, she shares practical ways to care for your mental well-being in daily life, simple yoga poses that anyone can easily incorporate, and her favorite healthy foods.<\/p>\n \n <\/p>\n A:<\/strong> In yoga, there is a core principle of non-violence. Violence does not refer only to physical harm in a fight, but also to harm expressed through words, attitudes, and behavior.<\/p>\n Through NVC workshops, you can learn practical skills to put the philosophy of \u201cBe kind to others and kind to yourself\u201d<\/strong> into everyday practice.<\/p>\n \n A:<\/strong> It\u2019s also important not to overreact to negativity from others. For example, if someone who takes things seriously is told, \u201cYou\u2019re always like that, aren\u2019t you?\u201d <\/strong>they may internalize the comment and become even more negative.<\/p>\n Instead, if you can respond with something like, \u201cWell, that\u2019s one way to see it,\u201d<\/strong> without becoming defensive or trying to deny it, you can prevent stress from building up inside you.<\/p>\n Learning to create that small space between what happens and how you respond can make everyday life much easier.<\/p>\n \n A:<\/strong> When someone you don\u2019t particularly like says or does something, instead of reacting with irritation, try asking yourself, \u201cWhy? What might be the reason behind that?\u201d <\/strong>Shifting your perspective in this way can help you stay calm.<\/p>\n The same applies when you hear a rumor or a story that may have been altered by someone else. Rather than accepting it at face value, take a moment to pause and organize your thoughts. Try to reconstruct the situation in your mind based on what you actually know.<\/p>\n By consciously practicing observation and empathy, you may find that the number of people you struggle with \u2014 or feel negatively toward \u2014 decreases surprisingly quickly.<\/p>\n \n A:<\/strong> For Cow Face Pose<\/strong>, bring both arms behind your back and press your palms together between your shoulder blades. If your hands don\u2019t reach, that\u2019s perfectly fine \u2014 you can hold a towel or strap instead. This pose opens the shoulders and chest, helping to improve rounded posture and so-called \u201csmartphone shoulders.\u201d<\/p>\n For Eagle Pose (arms variation)<\/strong>, cross your arms in front of your chest and bring your palms together in front of your face. The key point is to keep your shoulders relaxed and facing downward while lifting only your elbows. This pose helps relieve tension around the collarbone and shoulders.<\/p>\n Both poses are simple, but they can make a noticeable difference when practiced regularly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Rotate the shoulders slowly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Grabbing a towel is OK<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If it\u2019s difficult, you can just use your fingertips<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A:<\/strong> Since it\u2019s a cold drink, I used to enjoy it only from spring through autumn. But it\u2019s so delicious that now I have it even in winter \u2014 every single day.<\/p>\n I blend a\u00e7a\u00ed pur\u00e9e, apple juice, soy milk, a whole banana, and a bit of chocolate in a juicer. It\u2019s simple, nutritious, and very satisfying.<\/p>\n Eating a banana in the morning also helps support better sleep at night, as it contributes to the production of melatonin. When you combine that with yoga and moderate exercise during the day, you can sleep more soundly. Once your sleep cycle becomes steady, it\u2019s easier to maintain a healthy routine overall.<\/p>\n For me, it\u2019s a small daily habit that supports both physical and mental well-being.<\/p>\n \n <\/p>\n Maari\u2019s Instagram account<\/strong>![\"Maari\"](\"https:\/\/www.stylekoriyama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/IMG_6643-scaled-e1642996199487.jpg\")
<\/p>\nQ: What is the thinking behind NVC?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
I first learned about NVC as part of yoga philosophy while earning my yoga teaching certification. NVC stands for Nonviolent Communication.<\/p>\nQ: In this stressed-out coronavirus society, there\u2019s been a focus on mental health; do you have a good way of dealing with stress?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
When it comes to everyday emotions such as stress, anger, or grief, the key is to let yourself feel them \u2014 and then let them pass. Acknowledge the emotion when it arises, but don\u2019t hold on to it.<\/p>\nQ: Do you have any way of improving relationships with people you find difficult to get on with in the workplace or at school?<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
Empathy is essential.<\/p>\nQ: Could you tell us some yoga poses that we could use to freshen up when we have a short break at work or elsewhere?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
Two poses I recommend are Cow Face Pose and Eagle Pose. Both can be done while sitting, so they\u2019re easy to incorporate into desk work or even while stopped in your car.<\/p>\nThe cow face pose<\/strong><\/h5>\n
![\"Maari\"](\"https:\/\/www.stylekoriyama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/IMG_6615-scaled-e1642996340467.jpg\")
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<\/p>\nThe eagle pose<\/strong><\/h5>\n
![\"An](\"https:\/\/www.stylekoriyama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/IMG_6624-scaled-e1642945342389.jpg\")
<\/p>\nQ: Can you recommend any energy food that you often eat ?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
My favorite is the a\u00e7a\u00ed smoothie I make for breakfast.<\/p>\n![\"An](\"https:\/\/www.stylekoriyama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/IMG_6632-scaled-e1642996513557.jpg\")
<\/p>\nMaari lives and works mostly in Tokyo, but visits her hometown of Koriyama twice a year, in summer and winter. For any reader who would like to know more about NVC or try yoga, Maari offers studio lessons, streamed studio lessons that you can take at home, online yoga services, and workshops for the NVC course. You can check for the latest information on the bookings site or by following the official Instagram account.<\/h4>\n
\nhttps:\/\/www.instagram.com\/maari.0108\/<\/a><\/p>\n