You may already know what “wabi-sabi” is… or you may think it’s the green stuff that comes with your sushi!

So just in case, a little backstory on our name: Back in the day, (like way, way back in the 16th century) a Japanese Tea Master named Sen no Rikyu tasked his son with tending to the garden. The boy undertook the assignment with zeal, cleaning up all of the debris in the garden, polishing each stone, raking the ground until it was flawless, tidy. Perfect. Rikyu stepped back and surveyed his son’s work. Rikyu approached a cherry tree and shook it so that a few bright blossoms spilled randomly, disheveling the perfectly manicured garden. This is the spirit of wabi-sabi. Striking a balance between immaculate perfection and the authenticity and natural beauty of imperfection.

Wabi stems from the root “wa” and refers to harmony, peace, tranquility and balance. Poetically, it means simple and in tune with nature. Sabi translates to “the bloom of time.” Wabi-sabi then, is the art of seeing beauty in impermanence and imperfection – in revering authenticity above all else. Wabi-sabi is personal, unique and individual. Wabi-sabi represents a willingness to accept things as they are. It is an invitation to shift your focus from doing to being, from perfecting to embracing, from conflict to connection. It’s a clarion call to loosen your grip and reframe the way you see yourself and the world around you. The secret to a lasting, harmonious relationship with yourself.

This is how we interpret wabi-sabi, anyway. The sources of shame that we once hid become beacons of light that guide our way on. This is the seed of our becoming, and the most transformative and transcendental work of all. It is recognising that the pieces of ourselves that were once damaged goods are actually wellsprings of beauty.

It’s a pretty great way to look at ourselves, at fitness, at wellness and at life in general. Bottom line: we think embracing the concept of wabi-sabi is an absolute gamechanger. What do you think? We’d love to hear your thoughts (or interpretations) of wabi-sabi in the comments below!