PORPI offers healthy life through 'breathing'

PORPI offers healthy life through 'breathing'

By Aloysius Unditu and Stevie Emilia

JAKARTA (JP): People living in big cities are getting dizzy
trying to cope with the current hardships caused by the crisis,
the country's worst ever. Most are just painstakingly seeking
ways to survive, both mentally and physically, by keeping
themselves healthy.

As spending a lot of bucks is no longer an attractive option,
some groups which claim to offer more effective results at a
relatively lower cost are gaining in popularity.

Persatuan Olah Raga Pernapasan Indonesia (PORPI), or the
Indonesian Breathing Sport Association, is one of them.

"We don't make claims that our group can cure this or that,
but it is just a form of exercise to keep one healthy. Too many
claims will confuse people," said PORPI chairwoman Annie
Widyapranata, one of the group's founders, of the exercise
routines.

"If a person is healthy, automatically, no diseases will get
to him or her. The important things are how to balance exercise,
work and rest."

But by continuously waking up early every morning, one can
feel fresher and healthier, she said.

She said she had received reports that some female members
claimed the exercises gave their husbands new 'spirit'.

Annie, who practices with other members in her comfy 6,000-
square-meter home three times a week, also feels the positive
effects of the exercises.

"People told me that I look fresh with my skin stretched and
my body in proportion... I can find my clothes' size easily,"
said the 50-year old woman, who looks younger than her real age.

Annie, who has six children and five grandchildren, is also
not a person who slavishly uses commercial products, such as
shampoo and other health-care lotions, to make herself up.

"I do not feel the need at all to use such products because I
prefer to do the exercises," she said.

PORPI, formed in 1981, was initially a sports group called the
Monas Chikung Club that practiced at the National Monument
(Monas) park. It was dissolved in 1986 to become PORPI, a mass
organization.

PORPI now has about six million members throughout the country
-- three millions of whom live in Greater Jakarta. They do a one-
hour exercise routine at least one, and usually three times, a
week.

The exercises combine warming-up, stretching and aerobics. All
are done to a variety of music: pop, rock, disco, ballroom and
even dangdut folk music. Relaxation exercises taken from Thai Chi
movements usually complete the routine.

Thai Chi is based on Chinese martial arts and traditional
exercises. It aims to boost both the spirit and health of the
performer.

"Our trainers teach aerobics movements which are easy to
follow even by new participants," said Annie, who has chaired
PORPI since 1986.

She said the groups used both local trainers and ones sent
from the national headquarters with occasional instruction from
foreign teachers.

To become a member, one is charged only Rp 2,000 (13 U.S.
cents) for the monthly membership fee.

Annie said PORPI does not rely on the membership fees to
finance its activities.

"PORPI is not a business-oriented organization. Some of PORPI
executives have had to spend their own money to finance the
organization's activities," said Annie, who uses income from a
gas station to support the group.

PORPI's exercises are not a competitive sport and it is not
listed under the National Sports Council. "That's why we have to
raise our own funds," said Annie, who is the secretary-general of
the Asian Breathing Association and director of the Los Angeles-
based International Breathing Association.

PORPI members come from various social, economic and religious
backgrounds. Children, old people, married couples, businessmen,
employees and military personnel are all welcome. "There is no
discrimination in the group," Annie said.

She hopes that PORPI can lure everyone into exercising,
especially families.

"Families who love exercising will produce healthy
children... but so far, only about 5 percent of Indonesians
exercise regularly," she said.

As a social mass organization PORPI also helps the poor and
orphans. "The social activities enable us to get closer to all
(sections of society)," Annie said.