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.