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Yutori: Living in Spaciousness

Posted on 1st March, 2024
I think back to the days when I rushed from one place to another, taking my daughters to various activities, always arriving just in time, with barely enough time to finish a packed dinner, let alone b r e a t h e. Squeezing in a run to utilise the waiting time, not wanting to waste a moment. Diarising future appointments, arrangements and fixtures. These journeys were rarely pleasant experiences. But boy was I productive. Or at least I thought I was.
Walk forward five years, I arrive at my forest bathing sessions at least an hour early to savour the stillness in the forest. I take my time preparing for my workshops, enjoying the hours of cutting fabric for the tisanes we make, sterilising medicine jars, alphabetically arranging the herbs onto my countertop, assembling the workshop booklets and arranging herbs and flowers on the table. I then make myself a cup of calming tea, sit, and enjoy the peace and order accomplished in double the time it could have taken.
Yutori is a Japanese word that embodies the philosophical concept of spaciousness, relaxation, and freedom within the confines of time and space. Rooted deeply in Japanese culture and lifestyle, yutori transcends its linguistic definition to represent a broader ethos of balance, mindfulness, and harmony.
At its core, yutori suggests a deliberate allowance of space and time within one’s life, a conscious decision to embrace a slower pace amidst the rapid currents of modernity. It advocates for a departure from the relentless pursuit of productivity and efficiency that often characterises contemporary society, instead emphasising the importance of moments of pause and reflection.
Foot bath at a Japanese open air hot spring (onsen)
In Japanese culture, yutori is exemplified in various facets of life, from kado (tea ceremonies) and shodo (Japanese calligraphy) to the design of physical spaces, such as gardens and architecture. In the practice of kado (tea ceremony), for instance, yutori is manifested through the deliberate and unhurried movements of the tea master, creating an atmosphere of calm and tranquillity for both the hosts and guests.

We can incorporate yutori in our lives. Deliberately arriving early to a meeting or engagement, and just being in the space and enjoying not having to do anything. Not filling our days with one activity or appointment after another.

Yutori finds expression in the aesthetic principles of Japanese art and design, particularly in the concept of “ma,”which denotes the space between objects or elements, or emptiness in space. This notion of negative space is integral to various art forms such as sado, also known as ikebana (Japanese flower arrangement), where the careful arrangement of flowers and empty spaces is believed to evoke a sense of yutori, allowing for contemplation and appreciation of the beauty in simplicity. During my shodo (Japanese calligraphy) class, my sensei (teacher) is constantly reminding me that it is not just the black ink that communicates, but also the white space, essential in creating harmony and space for balance and contemplation.
Ikebana , Japanese flower arrangement, simply putting flowers in a container.

We can incorporate yutori in our lives. Deliberately arriving early to a meeting or engagement, and just being in the space and enjoying not having to do anything. Not filling our days with one activity or appointment after another.

You can even embody yutori when you are actively doing something. For example, when reading a poem, enjoy being in that space, allowing the poem to hold you in that space, not having to interpret it or explain it, but just be with it. And it suddenly allows you to see things differently. When drinking a cup of tea, be with the tea. Feel where it travels to in your body. See if you can distinguish its flavours. The tea will become the most enjoyable cup of tea you have ever had!

Girl lying in grass, reading a book. Intentionally toned.
In essence, yutori expresses a philosophy of living that encourages individuals to cultivate a sense of spaciousness and ease within their lives, fostering a deeper connection with themselves, others, and the world around them. It invites us to embrace moments of stillness and reflection, to savour the beauty of impermanence, and to find balance in the midst of life’s complexities.
Had I slowed down and allowed for more time to do nothing, back in the days of chauffeuring my daughters, we may not have been able to do as many things as we had, but perhaps we might have enjoyed and appreciated even more of the fewer things we would have chosen to do.
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