Mastery of inner power can bring both health and beauty

By Yudha Kartohadiprodjo and Stevie Emilia

JAKARTA (JP): Many people say beauty usually comes with good health.

What many are not aware of, however, is that both beauty and health can derive from tenaga dalam, or inner power.

That's what the members of Jurus Seni Penyadar (JSP), literally the art of awareness movements, believe.

The group claims that gaining beauty and health from inner power is one of the benefits of certain regular activities.

By combining three factors: mind, breath and movement during consistent and serious exercises, one can obtain an inner power.

JSP teaches 11 movements and three breathing methods. From the beginning, members are drilled to perform the movements correctly. The breathing methods are then introduced and refined gradually after the movements are mastered.

Such movements are termed as jurus in the traditional martial art of Pencak Silat here.

Inner power is also believed to be possessed by human beings right from birth. To many, however, this power appears in a disorganized form. Pencak Silat clubs and other groups like JSP study methods to organize this inner power and use it effectively.

"I believe that any exercise in traditional martial arts results in inner power. The difference between each martial art is the method of breathing and the jurus, and the way the two are combined," said Marjoeni Warganegara, an veteran member of the group who joined in 1986.

"However, the strength and the use of inner power depend heavily on your mind," he added. Marjoeni was a former president director of the state-owned steel company PT Krakatau Steel.

He said that those with clean and peaceful minds possess a strong inner power.

Explaining how such an inner power was produced, Marjoeni said the human body had invisible electrical currents, or bio- electrons and protons.

"Correct breathing methods, movements and concentration create friction in these currents. It is this friction that makes the inner power emerge," he said.

Beauty

Despite the belief that the combination of correct breathing methods and jurus can enhance health and beauty, many are reluctant to follow the exercises. Many beginners say the exercises are hard to learn.

"The movements are really simple and can be memorized after a couple of exercises," assured Eka Yoga Pratama, better known as Mas (brother) Boy, JSP's head instructor. "The key is how to combine these movements with a full concentration."

Sadoso Sumosardjuno, a doctor and well-known sports expert, shared Eka Yoga's opinion, saying the movements were not difficult and were beneficial for one's health.

He said each movement exercises different parts of the body simultaneously. For example, one movement works out the upper body muscles and the hands and legs.

"These exercises will tone and strengthen the muscles and skin in these areas," said Sadoso, who joined the group with his wife about two years ago.

The movements and breathing exercises are also aerobically valuable and benefit the cardiovascular system.

"Exercise in these areas may prevent cardiac arrest as well as maintain one's fitness."

Improving on beauty and health are not the only benefits of manipulating one's inner power. JSP also claims that inner power can do more, such as heal some ailments.

Eka Yoga said that some of the group's members had been cured from chronic cardiovascular disease as well as breast cancer.

He said the reasons behind this were logical.

"Once people are able to regulate and control their own inner power, they become more in tune with their body and mind. They will feel if there is something wrong with parts of their body. They will also know what part of their body needs to be revitalized. They can then direct their strength to correct what is wrong." Boy said.

These claims have yet to be scientifically proven. "Such claims are yet to be scientifically proven," Sadoso said.

Self-defense

Apart from improving health and beauty and from curing ailments, the exercises also provide another "extra" benefit: self-defense.

"A person who has gained inner strength will have a certain aura, which has a protective power," said Marjoeni. Such an aura can prevent people from attacking a person, he added.

Marjoeni said his daughter, also a JSP member, studied in the United States and was approached by a couple of men on her way home from the campus one night. When they started to harassed her, she shrugged her shoulder which ignited her inner power without her realizing it. To her surprise, the men fell to the ground and, startled, immediately ran away from her, he said.

The group targets women and children for self-defense lessons, he said.

"Since our exercise is not hard at all, people of all ages can join in," Marjoeni said.

The group, however, screens its membership since not all people would use the power responsibly.

"We realize that such a power could be used with bad intentions," Eka Yoga said. "But those who misuse the power will suffer," he added without elaborating.

One of the requirements to join the group was a belief in God.

Marjoeni said prospective members may come from various religious, social or professional backgrounds, but each must believe in God. "We believe that it is He who gives this power to humans."

Founded in 1977, the group's practice was derived from the martial arts of the soldiery of ancient Javanese kingdoms. In the group's early stage of existence, exercises were limited to families and friends.

Now diversity is reflected in the group's members. Retired government officers, housewives and young professionals all join JSP for various reasons, including self-defense and health.

People wishing to join can contact the secretariat at Jl. Bumi No. 6, Kebayoran, Jakarta.

Training centers are located at the Senayan Sports Center (behind the swimming pool) in West Jakarta, Kelapa Gading in North Jakarta, Bintaro in South Jakarta and the Jakarta Police Headquarters.

For more information call: 7396408 or 7201859. Who knows, you may find your inner beauty.