実践ビジネス英語 ディクテーション (5/17,18)

こんにちは。NHKラジオ「実践ビジネス英語」”Talk the Talk”のディクテーションです。

Lesson 3のテーマは、’Wellness Tourism’（健康増進のためのツアー）でした。Vignetteでは、より健康で幸せになるためのウェルネスツアーが話題になりました。スポーツ、美容術、瞑想やヨガなどさまざまな活動が含まれていることが特徴で、最近とても人気があるそうです。日本の森林浴も海外から注目されているそうです。

Talk the Talkでは、理想のウェルネスツアーや森林浴などについて話されています。

*英文の終わりに語注をつけました。

Wellness Tourism

（S: 杉田敏先生　H: Heather Howardさん）

S: Our current vignette talks about wellness tourism, or travel aimed at improving participants’ physical and mental well-being.

Have you ever done that, Heather?

H: No, but I would love to. Sounds terrific.

I wouldn’t mind a yoga trip, for example: a package at some quiet resort where I can take daily yoga classes, eat healthy meals packed with fruits and vegetables and take long reflective walks on the beach.

I maybe do some meditation, too.

It also may be fun to try something new, like archery, which I have always longed to try, or surfing, which I have only done one single time in my life.

What about you, Mr. Sugita?

S: I have always lived in a world obsessed with working long hours and staying busy.

That’s how we all contributed to the business world and to our economy.

So that the only thing I’ve done to combine wellness and travel is to go to onsen.

I still leave the hustle and bustle of Tokyo every once in a while and unwind by going to an onsen and getting a massage and a haircut.

H: Ah, massages! Massages are one of the best things human beings ever invented.

There is a massage salon near my office and every couple of months or so, I go there for a foot rub or a hand rub, sometimes both.

So, I would have to add those to my fantasy wellness tour, too and acupuncture.

I had acupuncture every month when I was pregnant with my daughter.

And my body felt lighter after every session.

I really think it helped me stay in good condition.

Forest bathing sounds nice as well.

You haven’t done that, Mr. Sugita?

S: No, I haven’t.

The concept of shinrinyoku, or forest bathing, was patterned after sunbathing.

It was promoted by the Japanese government in the early 1980s and eventually made its way overseas.

The health benefits of spending time in forests are said to be more psychological than scientific.

But chemicals emitted from trees known as “phytoncides” are believed to reduce stress levels.

Some scientists also suggest that forest sounds―birds chirping, rustling leaves―have a physiologically calming effect.

But evidence to support that theory seems limited.

H: Well I’m a believer in the idea that a tranquil mind contributes to a healthy body.

At the very least, there’s no harm to things like forest bathing.

If they make people feel happier and less stressed, I’m all for it.

S: The vignette also mentions that millennials are the main target market for wellness tours.

H: I am definitely getting old.

When I read that, I couldn’t help thinking: ”Millennials? Why do they need extra help with their health?

They’re still fairly young and strong, their metabolisms haven’t slowed to a crawl.

Move over, kids, and make room for those of us who really need some nurturing.”

But no, seriously, it’s good that millennials prioritize their health.

Their bodies will thank them for it in later years.

So will their bank accounts―they won’t have to spend a much on medical care if they’ve kept themselves healthy and in good physical shape.

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Words and Expressions

acupuncture: はり治療

be patterned after: ～にならって作られる

phytoncide : フィトンチッド

tranquil : 穏やかな

slow to a crawl : 鈍化する

お疲れさまでした。お読み下さり、ありがとうございます♪