Hokusai had a long career, but he produced most of his important work after age 60. Below is a quote from Hokusai.
“From around the age of six, I had the habit of sketching from life. I became an artist, and from fifty on began producing works that won some reputation, but nothing I did before the age of seventy was worthy of attention. At seventy-three, I began to grasp the structures of birds and beasts, insects and fish, and of the way plants grow. If I go on trying, I will surely understand them still better by the time I am eighty-six, so that by ninety I will have penetrated to their essential nature. At one hundred, I may well have a positively divine understanding of them, while at one hundred and thirty, forty, or more I will have reached the stage where every dot and every stroke I paint will be alive. May Heaven, that grants long life, give me the chance to prove that this is no lie.”
Carp Leaping Up A Cascade
The Great Wave of Kanagawa
Red Fuji
The Dragon of Smoke Escaping From Mt. Fuji
The following is a poem by Roger Keyes. From what I understand Roger Keyes is a scholar of Japanese Art, focusing on Hokusai. This may be the only poem he has ever written.
Sit back, relax, take a deep breath in and out - then enjoy reading this sublime piece of poetry.
Hokusai Says.....
Hokusai says look carefully.
He says pay attention, notice.
He says keep looking, stay curious.
He says there is no end to seeing
He says look forward to getting old.
He says keep changing,
you just get more who you really are.
He says get stuck, accept it, repeat
yourself as long as it is interesting.
He says keep doing what you love.
He says pay attention, notice.
He says keep looking, stay curious.
He says there is no end to seeing
He says look forward to getting old.
He says keep changing,
you just get more who you really are.
He says get stuck, accept it, repeat
yourself as long as it is interesting.
He says keep doing what you love.
He says keep praying.
He says every one of us is a child,
every one of us is ancient
every one of us has a body.
He says every one of us is frightened.
He says every one of us has to find
a way to live with fear.
He says everything is alive --
shells, buildings, people, fish,
mountains, trees, wood is alive.
Water is alive.
Everything has its own life.
Everything lives inside us.
He says live with the world inside you.
He says it doesn't matter if you draw,
or write books. It doesn't matter
if you saw wood, or catch fish.
It doesn't matter if you sit at home
and stare at the ants on your veranda
or the shadows of the trees
and grasses in your garden.
It matters that you care.
It matters that you feel.
It matters that you notice.
It matters that life lives through you.
Contentment is life living through you.
Joy is life living through you.
Satisfaction and strength
is life living through you.
He says don't be afraid.
Don't be afraid.
Love, feel, let life take you by the hand.
Let life live through you.
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Today begins Day 1 of our 28 day fitness program.
I'm going to keep it simple and pick exercises that are effective. If anything hurts, don't do it. If your doc or physical therapist or any fitness guru has limited your movement don't do that movement. You can make a modification that is good for your body if you wish. Rest as needed. Let me know if you have questions - donnaraesmith@yahoo.com
If you already exercise, these would be nice to do as a little power break at work.
3 minutes - Walk or run in place or go up and down stairs (holding rail) or step up and down on a step at the bottom of your stairs, dance crazy, do jumping jacks, jump rope -- anything that will warm up your body and get your blood moving through your muscles and up to your brain.
2 minutes -Squat (holding dumbbells or not)
With feet hip width apart -
Squat and stick butt out behind you like you're trying not to sit on a dirty toilet seat at the mall. Thighs are nearly parallel to the floor.
Exhale and press down into your heels, straighten your legs and feel the strong contraction in your thighs as you come up. This is controlled movement. Keep your chest lifted, back straight and strong. When you come up, come all the way up so that you're standing tall.
Squat with Kathy Smith
2 minutes - Hip Lift with Legs on Chair
See how her knees are slightly bent for start up position - do that
Exhale, press your heels into the chair, contract your butt and lift your body up. Keep your belly contracted like you're trying to put on a pair of tight jeans. Relax your neck muscles.
Pause, inhale and slowly lower back down.
Hip Lift with Kathy Smith
3 minutes - Crunch with Legs on chair
Before you begin (yes, yes before!) pull your belly in, inhale and then exhale as you pull your belly deep in toward your spine as you lift your body upward using your abs. Don't pull with your arms.
Come up with the intent of bringing your shoulders completely off the ground.
FEEL THE CONTRACTION IN YOUR ABDOMINAL AREA. CAN YOU FEELS IT?
Crunch with Joyce Vedral
As long as you want - Hamstring/Back stretch
Stretch with Kathy Smith
I love this stretch. It relieves tension and is centering.
With feet together, bend from the groin (not the waist). Your back should be straight. If your arms or legs feel tight, bend your elbows and knees a little.
Shut your eyes and breath.
I hope you enjoy these exercises - Listen to your breath, feel the strength of your muscles contracting and.........
Let life live through you,
Donna Rae
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