Seizing the years with Brian Kling
Brian’s recent bike adventure in Switzerland
I recently sat down (virtually!) with one of our Yeu Zone community members, Brian Kling. Based in Switzerland, Brian is a traveller, cyclist, and wellness enthusiast. I asked Brian to share about active, adventurous, and extraordinary things he’s done in the past, recently and plans to do in the future. Plus all about what he does daily to stay energised! He shared his exciting adventures and his 360 approach to health and well-being. Here’s our insightful conversation.
Trip to Japan
Rachael: Brian, you mentioned that you went on a big family trip a few years ago. What inspired that journey?
Brian: I had saved up frequent flyer miles for years, probably over about 10 years. I didn't know that I wanted to use it for Japan, but I just thought I'd save it for a special trip. I've always been intrigued by Japan because there's this reverence for nature, reverence for craft and finely made things.
Rachael: Right, I feel like it really piques many people’s curiosity as a country. What was it like experiencing such a different culture?
Brian: It’s great to experience a very different culture. In Europe, if I don't speak the language, I can fit in pretty much, but you go to Asia, and you don’t fit in at all. We went to Tokyo first and experienced the modern part called Shibuya, which has the famous intersection you see in movies. It’s the biggest intersection in the world. We stayed in a traditional place with tatami mats and kimonos in the historic section of Tokyo called Asakusa and saw temples.
Rachael: That intersection blows my mind in photos! But then you also have the incredible nature to contrast that urban setting. I heard you did some hiking there too.
Brian: Yes, I had heard about this Kumano Kodo Trail, which is the sister trail of the Camino Santiago in Spain. It’s an old pilgrimage trail with lots of paths on the Kii Peninsula with waterfalls, temples, and lots of nature. The Kumano Kodo Trail was the most energising part of the trip. We hiked for four days and stayed with local people, experiencing their hospitality and traditional Japanese meals. The nature is so different there, with huge ferns in the forest and cicadas making their special noises. We even saw blue freshwater crabs kilometers from the ocean.
Rachael: Sounds beautiful! Any other unique experiences you had there?
Brian: Japan’s really into vending machines, so you’d be walking along, and there’d be these vending machines with drinks. One of the common drinks is called Pocari Sweat.
Rachael: Haha, great name for a drink when you’re on a long hike! How did you observe the roll of people in the latter stages of life while you were there?
Brian: In general, Japan’s culture reveres older people and celebrates aging. They don’t just push them off into a rest home. Older people want to stay active and are still fairly independent.
Recent Bikeride Event
Rachael: You also participated in a cycling event just a few days ago, Nova Eroica, in Switzerland. What was that like?
Brian: The event started in Italy to celebrate the history of cycling. And it's a gravel or an off-road type of event as well. It's not riding on paved roads. They encourage you if you can or if you have it to ride an old bike with classic, old gear even if you have it. So there were a few guys on the route who had really old metal hip flasks for drinking and really old bikes probably from the 20s or the 30s, and then there were people wearing round goggles.
Rachael: That sounds like a unique challenge. How did you prepare for it?
Brian: I don't have a gravel bike either, but I have a friend here who's crazy into cycling, and he was kind enough to loan me his gravel bike which is kind of nuts because he has a Specialized S-Works. We've been having some rain, so I was like, man, it's gonna be raining probably. So we went with friends, and we have a friend who has a camper van. So we stayed in their place. There were two couples and another British guy that we're friends with, so six of us were there.
Rachael: How did the event go despite the rain?
Brian: The morning of, our event started at 10:00 and it was raining until probably noon. So, five minutes into the ride, we were soaking wet. So then we just had to get over that. So now it's kind of fun because you're just wet and who cares if you get wet? We rode full tilt through puddles to see how big a splash we could make and made a slow-mo little movie of it and stuff.
Rachael: So fun! What was the route like?
Brian: There were different ways. You could do the more hardcore, like a longer one where you don't stop much, but we decided to do the more relaxed one. It was like, I don't know, 65k but there were five stops where you'd have something to eat and that focused on products of the region. One of the special dishes was called Cholera — no not the infection! It’s a little savoury pastry thing with potatoes, cheese, and chopped-up apricots which sounds weird but it's actually quite good because that region, the valley in Switzerland, is known for its fruit and wine.
Rachael: Sounds like a great way to combine fitness and fun.
Brian: Absolutely. I put in the effort on a regular basis. I have a foundation I built up, a base. And then it's just nice to be out in nature and to spend time with friends. So there's the social aspect and the outdoorsy aspect and then getting some exercise as well. So put all those together, that sounds like a pretty good life to me.
Future Adventure
Rachael: What’s next on your adventure list?
Brian: One of the things I definitely want to do is visit the huge national parks in South America. They were created by the founder of Patagonia. They bought huge tracts of land and then worked with the government to donate other large tracts. It’s a pristine wilderness that has never been developed, and they want to keep it that way. It spans across Peru and Chile, and they’re even reintroducing some of the original species. It’s something I really want to see.
Wellness Routine
Rachael: You have a strong focus on wellness. Can you share some of the habits that keep you energised on a daily basis so you can keep doing all the things you love like travelling and cycling?
Brian: Sure! Sleep is a big one for me. All the science coming out about sleep is irrefutable. It affects us in so many ways if we do not get adequate sleep. So that's one of the top on my list. Normally, I get to bed by 10:00 and then wake up naturally around 6:00 or a little after six.
Rachael: What about hydration?
Brian: Hydration is crucial. My family jokes, calling it my fish bowl. I have a litre-and-a-half jar where I put the juice of one lemon, a little bit of Stevia, and water, and I drink that every day.
Rachael: How do you keep active during the day?
Brian: I try to get up from my desk and move around every half an hour or so. I have an app that bugs me about it, so I'm trying to use that more regularly. Just getting up, doing 10 squats, walking around – they call these exercise snacks. It’s important because we didn’t evolve to sit around. For most of history, we were active, so sitting all day is quite recent.
Rachael: How about your diet and strength training?
Brian: I've been eating healthy for a long time, avoiding processed and junk food. And I do some strength training. It feels good to have some muscle, but it's also for longevity. As you get older, maintaining muscle is crucial because you lose it at an accelerated rate, leading to instability and lower activity levels. More muscle means a higher metabolism and feeling strong and capable mentally.
Rachael: Amazing. Any final thoughts on your wellness philosophy?
Brian: I'd say it’s all about balance – eating, sleeping, and staying active. The old adage "use it or lose it" rings true. Our bodies are amazing at adapting to what we demand of them, but if we don't stay active, they conserve energy and don't work as hard. Keeping both mind and body engaged is essential, especially as we age.
Thank you so much, Brian, for sharing your story with us!
If you would like to be featured, or know someone who would be great to feature, please don’t hesitate to email yourfriends@helloyeu.com 😊
Seize the years,
Rachael Jennings | Co-Founder + CBO, Yeu
