A little bit about myself... | What I realized after I could no longer go to hot spring facilities | The muscles that support the power to stand, and the body in the AI era

Overseas, there is a concept called "Whole Person Health" that views a person as a whole rather than in parts.

The Five Senses Analysis Lab is a place that applies that concept to everyday worries, connecting the mind, body, life, and environment to find the tools that suit you right now.

In last week's article, I reported that my mother had been discharged from the hospital.

Being able to be discharged was a major milestone for our family.

However, just because she has been discharged does not mean we can immediately return to the same life we had before the accident.

For my mother to regain her daily life, she still needs the support of her family.

I myself have also found it difficult to leave the house for long periods of time to relax at hot spring facilities as I used to. I spend my days frequently visiting my parents' home.

Therefore, the Thursday series, in which I have written about the people I met at hot spring facilities and the conversations that took place there, will be changing its form for a while.

Now, what should I do?

Since I cannot go to hot spring facilities, should I also take a break from the Thursday series?

While thinking about such things, I suddenly realized something.

Why was I going to hot spring facilities so frequently?

It wasn't because I was looking for interesting people.

It wasn't as if a strong character like Mr. Gobo was waiting for me every time.

The original purpose was much simpler and much more physical.

It wasn't so much that I was seeking hot springs, but that my muscles were seeking hot springs.

♨️ Before I did, my muscles were seeking hot springs

I still do strength training about three to four times a week.

Until a little while ago, I was training about six times a week.

Chest, abdomen, arms, back, legs, shoulders.

I was putting stress on my body almost every day, changing the areas I trained depending on the day.

I don't dislike the time spent doing strength training itself.

In fact, I like the sensation of putting strength into my body, resisting the weight, and gradually pushing my limits.

However, if you put stress on your body, fatigue will naturally remain.

The day after training my legs, my thighs feel heavy even just climbing stairs.

If I train my back, tension remains around my shoulder blades.

If I push my chest to the limit, my muscles assert their presence even just by extending my arms.

If I were younger, I might have been able to move as if nothing had happened after a little sleep.

However, as you get older, recovery becomes just as important as training.

That is where bath facilities played a major role for me.

Soaking in a warm bathtub and slowly warming up my whole body.

The tense muscles gradually loosen up.

Taking deep breaths while entrusting my body to the water pressure.

That time was not merely entertainment.

It was time to prepare the body used in strength training for the next workout.

Of course, just going to a hot spring does not make all fatigue disappear.

To build a body, not only exercise but also diet, sleep, and rest are necessary.

Even so, for me,

Using muscles.

Eating meals.

Relaxing the body in a hot spring.

Sleeping.

And then, moving the body again.

That sequence was integrated into my daily life.

It was only when I could no longer go to bathing facilities that I realized I had been using hot springs not just as a place to bathe, but as part of a cycle to restore my body.

💪 Muscles are not just for show

When you hear the word "muscle," what kind of image comes to mind?

Thick arms.

A broad chest.

Six-pack abs.

Some might imagine a well-trained body like that of a bodybuilder.

Because of this, when I talk about strength training,

"I don't want to become a bodybuilder"

"I don't think I need to build up my muscles"

are reactions I sometimes get.

That is correct.

Not everyone needs to become a bodybuilder.

The amount of muscle needed and the methods of training differ between those who compete in sports and those who exercise for health.

The kind of body one aims for changes depending on that person's goals and preferences.

However, the fact that you don't need to be a bodybuilder and the fact that you don't need muscle are two completely different things.

We do not use our muscles solely for the purpose of showing them off.

Getting out of bed in the morning.

Standing up from a chair.

Washing your face.

Changing your clothes.

Climbing stairs.

Carrying shopping bags.

Going to the restroom.

Stepping over the edge of a bathtub.

Supporting your body when you are about to fall.

All of these daily movements are supported by muscles and muscular strength.

Because we are able to do these things so naturally, we forget about that fact.

Muscles are not decorations for standing out.

They are the quiet foundation for moving your own body and continuing your own life on your own.

🧍 Standing on two legs is by no means simple

Humans stand on two legs.

We usually stand and walk without giving it a second thought.

However, when you think about it, supporting a long, thin body with just two legs is by no means an easy task.

The soles of the feet grip the floor.

The ankles adjust the tilt.

The calves and thighs support the knees and hip joints.

The muscles in the buttocks, abdomen, and back keep the upper body upright.

While using information from the eyes and the sense of body tilt, we continuously return our center of gravity to a position where we won't fall.

While we are standing, we are not just standing still like a stick.

Various parts of the body are repeating small adjustments.

When standing up from a seated position, even greater force is required.

Lean the body forward, shift weight to the soles of the feet, and use the muscles of the thighs and buttocks to lift the body.

Only when that series of movements is connected can we finally stand up.

When we are able to do it, we don't think about it at all.

However, when muscle mass and strength drop significantly, what once looked like a single movement breaks down into several difficult tasks.

Cannot raise the body.

Cannot put strength into the legs.

Even if I stand up, I cannot support my body.

I am afraid to take a step.

Before walking, standing itself becomes a major challenge.

A decrease in muscle mass and strength makes daily activities such as standing from a chair, walking, and carrying luggage difficult, and also affects independent living.

Standing on two legs.

Even a posture that looks like nothing more than that is actually a magnificent collaborative effort performed by the body.

🌿 I learned about the connection between daily life and muscle strength from my mother's situation.

Right now, a major challenge for my mother is the muscle and strength lost during her recuperation.

While hospitalized, there was a period when my mother's body did not agree with the food, and she could not eat enough.

She also lost a significant amount of weight.

It is hard to convey just by saying her body became thin, but it was not just weight that was lost.

The power to sit up.

The power to stand up.

The power to support one's own weight with one's legs.

The power to take a step forward to walk.

Various powers necessary for living daily life have weakened.

I have been doing strength training for many years.

I have experienced the process of gradually increasing strength by putting stress on muscles, eating, and resting the body.

That is precisely why I know that building muscle is not easy.

Muscles do not grow overnight.

However, when illness, injury, reduced food intake, and a life where one cannot move the body for a long time overlap, muscle and physical function can drop rapidly, especially in the elderly. When lying in a hospital bed, muscles can waste away surprisingly quickly.

It takes time to build them, but they are lost quickly.

This is the harsh reality of muscles.

For my mother to regain the same daily life she had before, we must think not only about the issue of pain but also about how to regain the lost strength.

Of course, this does not mean that she should just be forced to move.

It is necessary to proceed little by little while consulting with medical and rehabilitation professionals, taking into account age, the state of injuries, diet, pain, and the physical condition of the day.

Even so, ultimately, it is the body that supports one's life.

Someone can lend a hand.

They can also help you get up.

They can also support you when you walk.

However, the fact that my mother's own legs can once again support her body holds great significance when thinking about her life from here on out.

Through my mother's experience, I realized it all over again.

Muscular strength is not just the ability to lift heavy objects.
Muscles are for operating one's own body with one's own will. They are the power to continue one's life with one's own body.

🏠 Daily life is made up of the accumulation of small amounts of muscular strength

When we use the word health, we tend to think in terms of whether or not there is an illness.

Healthy if there are no problems with test results.

Healthy if you are not taking medication.

Healthy if there is no pain.

Of course, those are important too.

However, when thinking from the perspective of daily life, health has another aspect.

Being able to get up on your own.

Being able to sit on your own.

Being able to stand on your own.

Being able to eat on your own.

Being able to go to the restroom on your own.

Being able to travel to places you want to go on your own.

To what extent can you perform these actions by yourself?

Muscles and physical strength are deeply involved in this.

You don't need to be a bodybuilder.

It doesn't have to be muscles meant for showing off to others.

However, you do need enough muscle to support your own body and daily life.

This is the same for young people as well.

Even if you can stand up easily now, if a life without using your body continues for a long time, your strength will gradually decline.

There are convenient modes of transportation.

Groceries can be delivered to your home.

You can even work while sitting in a chair.

Appliances and services create an environment where you can live without using your body.

Becoming more convenient is not a bad thing in itself.

However, a life where you don't have to use your body and a life where your body doesn't deteriorate without use are not the same thing.

Muscles that are no longer used are judged by the body as unnecessary. And then, they disappear immediately.

That is precisely why, the more convenient life becomes, the more we may need to consciously set aside time to use our bodies.

🤖 Things to think about in an era where AGI and ASI are discussed

Recently, when looking at articles about AI, I have had more opportunities to see the terms AGI and ASI.

Even when I look at the news section on my smartphone, articles about how far AI will replace human jobs, when it will reach intelligence equivalent to humans, and what will happen after that, keep flowing by one after another.

AGI is a term that refers to Artificial General Intelligence, which is broader than the current AI that excels only at specific tasks and can handle various intellectual challenges like a human.

The ASI discussed beyond that is considered a superintelligence that not only exceeds the intelligence of a single human but also surpasses the intellectual capabilities of many experts and large organizations.

Opinions are divided on when it will be realized and what state should be called AGI.

However, it is no longer a distant fantasy discussed only by a few researchers.

Global AI companies and research institutions are publicly discussing the path toward AGI and the superintelligence that lies beyond it.

AI will exceed human intelligence.

Eventually, it will even exceed the sum of all human brains.

We have entered an era where such a future is discussed seriously.

So, if AI evolves that far, will humans no longer need to use their bodies?

I don't think that will happen.

This is because no matter how much intelligence evolves, our muscles are a different matter.

🏋️ Even if I ask AI to do push-ups, my muscles won't grow.

As I wrote last week, AI can think of ways to do strength training.

It could also suggest combinations of exercises tailored to age, physical strength, and goals.

It can also analyze diet records and inform you of missing nutrients.

Using cameras and sensors, it should also become possible to detect poor posture or changes in walking patterns.

In the future, AI might detect small signs that muscle strength is beginning to decline and notify the individual or their family.

It is also conceivable that it could predict the risk of falls, record the progress of rehabilitation, or adjust the amount of exercise according to the day's physical condition.

AI can become an excellent advisor for protecting the body.

However, a staff officer is still a staff officer.

Suppose I ask the AI,

"Please do 100 push-ups for me today."

and I ask it.

Even if the AI cheerfully replies,

"Osu, 100 push-ups completed,"

my chest muscles will not grow by even a millimeter.

The only thing trained by the AI's push-ups is the AI's ability to report completion.

To grow my muscles, I must move my own body.

Take on the weight.

Stimulate the muscles.

Eat meals.

Rest.

And wait for the body to adapt to that stimulus.

You cannot skip this biological process with information alone.

Robots may carry luggage for us.

Devices that support walking and technologies that assist body movement will also continue to develop.

These are very important technologies.

However, tools assisting the body is not the same as maintaining one's own muscle strength.

No matter how smart AI becomes, the muscles within our bodies live while being influenced by our lives, meals, activities, and rest.

Even if intelligence can be outsourced, the body itself cannot be completely outsourced.

🧠 Perhaps the more AI evolves, the greater the value of the human body becomes.

As AI takes on more intellectual tasks, our lives will become even more convenient.

Writing text.

Looking up information.

Scheduling appointments.

Calculating numbers.

Assisting with work decisions.

When connected to machines and robots, it will also be able to support some aspects of housework, transportation, and nursing care.

However, as convenience increases, the opportunities for humans to use their bodies may decrease.

More than not needing to use our brains, we may not need to walk.

We may not need to carry things.

We may not need to stand.

We may not need to go outside.

Such a lifestyle might spread.

While AI expands human intelligence, the human body may fall into disuse.

This is a somewhat strange future.

If we gain intelligence that surpasses the human brain, but lose the muscle strength to lift our own bodies from a chair, can we really call that evolution?

I don't think AI and humans need to compete.

There are things that AI is good at.

There are things that humans can experience as beings with bodies.

Feeling the temperature of the hot water.

Feeling the tension in the muscles.

Grasping the floor with the soles of the feet.

Knowing the moment when breathing becomes deeper.

Savoring the sensation of a tired body relaxing.

These are not merely information.

They are experiences gained precisely because we have bodies and live within time.

AI supports wisdom, and muscles support daily life.

I believe that what will be needed from now on is not choosing one or the other, but using both effectively.

♨️ What I was watching beyond the steam was the human power to live.

What I was watching at the bathhouse also looks a little different to me now.

A person standing up vigorously from the bathtub.

A person standing carefully while using the handrail.

A person walking with their back straight.

A person walking slowly, as if protecting their body.

A person who looks younger than their age.

A person who, despite having a fine physique, shows fatigue in their movements.

Previously, I focused on the conversations exchanged there and the words and actions of unique individuals.

However, people do not express themselves only through words.

How to stand.

How to walk.

Breathing.

Posture.

Voice.

Facial expressions.

Even in that single moment of standing up from a bathtub, how a person uses their body and how they live their life is revealed.

Bathing facilities are places to recover muscles, but they were also places to observe the human body and life.

For a while now, I have been unable to go to bathing facilities.

However, the figures of the people I saw beyond the steam still remain in my memory.

In the upcoming Thursday series, I would like to reflect on those past events while thinking about the body, muscles, age, ways of living, and the future of AI and humanity.

Things I thought were just interesting events at the time.

Conversations that made me laugh unintentionally.

Words I passed by without understanding.

Scenes whose meanings I have come to understand only now.

If I trace the steam remaining in my memory little by little, there might be various pieces of wisdom for living hidden there.

🌏 The Five Senses Analysis Lab Toolbox

Overseas, there is a concept called "Whole Person Health" that looks at the person as a whole, including their lifestyle habits, environment, and values, rather than separating the mind and body.

It is a concept that is being researched and practiced in the United States by the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and university medical institutions.

The Five Senses Analysis Lab is also a place close to this idea of "seeing a person not as parts, but as a whole."

However, the Five Senses Analysis Lab is not a medical institution and is not a place for diagnosis or treatment.

We do not separate daily worries into just the mind, just the body, or just money, but observe them through the five senses, physical reactions, lifestyle habits, psychology, and environment.

Based on that, we select tools that seem useful to you right now from among brain science, psychology, five-sense observation, the five elements, and I Ching.

The Five Senses Analysis Lab is a toolbox for finding

"which entrance and which tool suits me right now"

using physical reactions as a clue, before you start blaming yourself.

🔭 The more intelligence reaches for the sky, the more we must not forget the muscles at our feet

How much wiser will humanity become from here on?

How far will AI evolve?

Perhaps the day will come when AGI is born, and it advances further to an intelligence called ASI, solving problems that humans cannot even imagine.

Even so, when morning comes, we wake our bodies up.

We stand up from our chairs.

We place the soles of our feet on the floor and support our own weight.

And then, we take a step forward.

No matter how advanced an intelligence is born, that step requires muscles.

Standing.

Walking.

Living with your own body.

Shouldn't we cherish that power, which seems so ordinary, a little more?

Because I could no longer go to bathing facilities, I thought about the role of hot springs.

By thinking about the role of hot springs, I arrived at the role of muscles.

And through my mother's experience, I realized once again that muscles are not something to decorate the body, but something that supports the daily aspects of life.

For a while, the Thursday series will be a retrospective edition, looking back on memories left behind in the steam.

Who will be the first to rise from the bathtub of memory?

Will it be Gobo-senpai?

Or will it be someone else who has not yet appeared in the articles?

Even I do not know yet.

The only thing I know is that no matter how much AI advances in the future, for that person to stand up from the bathtub, they will still need their own legs and muscles.

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