Staying healthy on tight budget
An apple a day keeps the doctor away, says homespun wisdom, but even apples are a bit beyond the budget nowadays. The Jakarta Post team of reporters Aloysius Unditu, Christiani S. Tumelap, Johannes K. Simbolon, Oka Budhi Yogaswara, Ridwan Sijabat, Stevie Emilia and Yudha Kartohadiprodjo find out how to stay healthy on a budget.
JAKARTA (JP): A fortunate few can still juggle their work schedules with fitness regimes, paying for expensive memberships to keep themselves in the bloom of health.
For most of us, these are no longer an option. Many of us are turning instead to alternative therapies.
Private bank employee Adi Wiyono is one. "I used to go to Monas (the National Monument) on Sundays with my wife to exercise," said Adi, 39.
On Sundays, the area around the monument is usually packed with people of all ages. Initially, the groups followed oriental meditative movements and calisthenic forms such as Thai Chi Chuan and Wai Tan Kung, which became a trend in the 1980s.
The father of three explained his exercises focused on controlling breathing and taking maximum advantage of the oxygen inhaled into the lungs to aid circulation and help the heart function well.
"As far as I remember, I didn't pay anything to join the group, I just came and followed the routine with the others."
But his heavy workload left him too tired to travel every Sunday for the exercise from his home in Bintaro, South Jakarta.
"After taking part in the exercises several times, it wasn't hard for me to practice on my own at home."
Adi said he only exercised for half an hour about four times a week in the early morning.
"But the exercises really help me to loosen up a bit and feel fresh at work."
Senior sociologist Selo Soemardjan of the University of Indonesia acknowledged that many people now could no longer afford to pay high expenses to maintain good health.
They, he said, previously preferred to exercise in fitness centers not only because of their good facilities, but also because they were comfortable, modern and prestigious.
"Now many think of them (fitness centers) as too expensive," said Selo, still fit age 83 through walking and stretching.
Numerous public venues for groups offering breathing and other physical exercises are easy to spot on an early morning.
There are some which prioritize breathing drills along with exercise. Others concentrate either on breathing or physical exercises, while there are those which combine both, or adopt movements, known here as jurus, from martial arts.
For believers, besides health, "inner power" may be a bonus.
Many assert "inner power" (tenaga dalam) is possessed by those either gifted or "magical" beings, while others have laughed it off as an old wives' tale.
Some of the aforementioned exercise groups claim that every human being possesses this inner power from birth even though it is "disorganized", or not channeled properly. Some groups, especially those practicing martial arts, assert they can draw out this inner power in anyone, and teach them how to use it effectively, sometimes for self-defense.
Marjoeni Warganegara, a senior member of Jurus Seni Penyadar, said a person with inner power had a protective aura.
He told of his daughter, also a member, who beat off two thugs who were harassing her just by shrugging her shoulders.
The exercises also promise another coveted benefit: enhancement of one's beauty.
"People told me that I look fresh.. my body is proportional... I can find my clothes' size easily," said Annie Widyapranata, who chairs Persatuan Olah Raga Pernapasan Indonesia (PORPI/the Indonesian Breathing Sport Association).
She is living proof -- still svelte, she looks at least 10 years younger than her 50 years.
Many of the groups also work on mental health as they instill discipline and spiritual teachings.
Some claim their exercises can cure ailments -- even cancer -- and there are people who swear they have been cured after regularly following particular exercises.
Noted health expert Sadoso Sumosardjuno welcomed the prevalence of groups promoting both physical and breathing exercises, but warned people should not to fooled by incredible promises not backed by scientific proof.
"Don't be lured by claims, such as the ability to cure cancer, it's too much," said Sadoso of the Bola sports tabloid.
"Up to now, there's no scientific evidence about them (the claims). Don't believe them too much because they will leave you feeling down if you don't achieve such results."
He said breathing exercises should be accompanied by more active physical exercise, such as walking, running or aerobics.
Good exercises are determined by three factors, he said: intensity, duration and frequency.
Intensity, he said, was shown by measuring the pulse during exercise. For instance, if someone is 40 years old, his or her heartbeat should be 60 percent from the amount of 220 minus his age (40), or 108 beats per minute, he said. Exercise should be conducted for at least 20 minutes up to 45 minutes three times a week for best results.
Exercise, in whatever form, may be the prescription to maintaining your mental and physical health in the crisis. Despite differing opinions on the claims of the above groups, just getting moving will provide benefits. And you could end up being able to fend off unwanted advances with a simple shrug of your shoulders.