Staying healthy on tight budget<\/p>\n
An apple a day keeps the doctor away, says homespun wisdom,
\nbut even apples are a bit beyond the budget nowadays. The Jakarta
\nPost team of reporters Aloysius Unditu, Christiani S. Tumelap,
\nJohannes K. Simbolon, Oka Budhi Yogaswara, Ridwan Sijabat, Stevie
\nEmilia and Yudha Kartohadiprodjo find out how to stay healthy on
\na budget.<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A fortunate few can still juggle their work
\nschedules with fitness regimes, paying for expensive memberships
\nto keep themselves in the bloom of health.<\/p>\n
For most of us, these are no longer an option. Many of us are
\nturning instead to alternative therapies.<\/p>\n
Private bank employee Adi Wiyono is one. \"I used to go to
\nMonas (the National Monument) on Sundays with my wife to
\nexercise,\" said Adi, 39.<\/p>\n
On Sundays, the area around the monument is usually packed
\nwith people of all ages. Initially, the groups followed oriental
\nmeditative movements and calisthenic forms such as Thai Chi Chuan
\nand Wai Tan Kung, which became a trend in the 1980s.<\/p>\n
The father of three explained his exercises focused on
\ncontrolling breathing and taking maximum advantage of the oxygen
\ninhaled into the lungs to aid circulation and help the heart
\nfunction well.<\/p>\n
\"As far as I remember, I didn't pay anything to join the
\ngroup, I just came and followed the routine with the others.\"<\/p>\n
But his heavy workload left him too tired to travel every
\nSunday for the exercise from his home in Bintaro, South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"After taking part in the exercises several times, it wasn't
\nhard for me to practice on my own at home.\"<\/p>\n
Adi said he only exercised for half an hour about four times a
\nweek in the early morning.<\/p>\n
\"But the exercises really help me to loosen up a bit and feel
\nfresh at work.\"<\/p>\n
Senior sociologist Selo Soemardjan of the University of
\nIndonesia acknowledged that many people now could no longer
\nafford to pay high expenses to maintain good health.<\/p>\n
They, he said, previously preferred to exercise in fitness
\ncenters not only because of their good facilities, but also
\nbecause they were comfortable, modern and prestigious.<\/p>\n
\"Now many think of them (fitness centers) as too expensive,\"
\nsaid Selo, still fit age 83 through walking and stretching.<\/p>\n
Numerous public venues for groups offering breathing and other
\nphysical exercises are easy to spot on an early morning.<\/p>\n
There are some which prioritize breathing drills along with
\nexercise. Others concentrate either on breathing or physical
\nexercises, while there are those which combine both, or adopt
\nmovements, known here as jurus, from martial arts.<\/p>\n
For believers, besides health, \"inner power\" may be a bonus.<\/p>\n
Many assert \"inner power\" (tenaga dalam) is possessed by those
\neither gifted or \"magical\" beings, while others have laughed it
\noff as an old wives' tale.<\/p>\n
Some of the aforementioned exercise groups claim that every
\nhuman being possesses this inner power from birth even though it
\nis \"disorganized\", or not channeled properly. Some groups,
\nespecially those practicing martial arts, assert they can draw
\nout this inner power in anyone, and teach them how to use it
\neffectively, sometimes for self-defense.<\/p>\n
Marjoeni Warganegara, a senior member of Jurus Seni Penyadar,
\nsaid a person with inner power had a protective aura.<\/p>\n
He told of his daughter, also a member, who beat off two thugs
\nwho were harassing her just by shrugging her shoulders.<\/p>\n
The exercises also promise another coveted benefit:
\nenhancement of one's beauty.<\/p>\n
\"People told me that I look fresh.. my body is proportional...
\nI can find my clothes' size easily,\" said Annie Widyapranata, who
\nchairs Persatuan Olah Raga Pernapasan Indonesia (PORPI\/the
\nIndonesian Breathing Sport Association).<\/p>\n
She is living proof -- still svelte, she looks at least 10
\nyears younger than her 50 years.<\/p>\n
Many of the groups also work on mental health as they instill
\ndiscipline and spiritual teachings.<\/p>\n
Some claim their exercises can cure ailments -- even cancer --
\nand there are people who swear they have been cured after
\nregularly following particular exercises.<\/p>\n
Noted health expert Sadoso Sumosardjuno welcomed the
\nprevalence of groups promoting both physical and breathing
\nexercises, but warned people should not to fooled by incredible
\npromises not backed by scientific proof.<\/p>\n
\"Don't be lured by claims, such as the ability to cure cancer,
\nit's too much,\" said Sadoso of the Bola sports tabloid.<\/p>\n
\"Up to now, there's no scientific evidence about them (the
\nclaims). Don't believe them too much because they will leave you
\nfeeling down if you don't achieve such results.\"<\/p>\n
He said breathing exercises should be accompanied by more
\nactive physical exercise, such as walking, running or aerobics.<\/p>\n
Good exercises are determined by three factors, he said:
\nintensity, duration and frequency.<\/p>\n
Intensity, he said, was shown by measuring the pulse during
\nexercise. For instance, if someone is 40 years old, his or her
\nheartbeat should be 60 percent from the amount of 220 minus his
\nage (40), or 108 beats per minute, he said. Exercise should be
\nconducted for at least 20 minutes up to 45 minutes three times a
\nweek for best results.<\/p>\n
Exercise, in whatever form, may be the prescription to
\nmaintaining your mental and physical health in the crisis.
\nDespite differing opinions on the claims of the above groups,
\njust getting moving will provide benefits. And you could end up
\nbeing able to fend off unwanted advances with a simple shrug of
\nyour shoulders.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/staying-healthy-on-tight-budget-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}