Yoga for Health
By Dr.Aruna Shukla, Indian Cultural Centre, Bali

Most people have a nagging conscience about their bodies. The World Health Organization has defined health as "a state of complete physical, mental and social well- being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity". Health is not simply absence of disease it is something positive.

Yoga has a positive contribution towards maintaining our general well-being and happiness. The word health means wholeness. When you lose your health, you lose your sense of wholeness. A loss of wholeness or integration leads to disintegration. Therefore, we can see that in this equation Yoga equals health.
Yoga means the integration of personalities-physically, mentally, morally and spiritually. Yoga improves one’s energy, vitality and tranquility. Human health depends not only on the adequate supply of nourishing elements but also on the internal secretion of the endocrine glands in preserving the health of these glands first mentioned above yoga exercise have been found to be excellent exercise for the thyroid also.
Asanas have an effect on not only our body but also our minds. Our total personality is related with our actions. If we want to stay healthy then asanas are necessary. In fact, in yoga health is regarded as more mental than physical. Yoga is not only asanas or exercise it is mainly concerned with the mind, its modifications and its control.
Yoga has eight limbs:

1. YAMA or external vows: Ahimsa (non-violence); Satya (truth); Asteya (non-stealing); Brahmacharya (celibacy); Aparigraha (non-acceptance).
2. NIYAMA or observances: Saucha (purity); Santosh (contentment); Tapa (austerities); Svadhyaya (self recitation); Ishwarapranidhana (worship of God).
3. ASANA (firm, comfortable, meditative posture).
4. PRANAYAMA (breath control).
5. PRATYAHAR (abstraction of the senses and mind).
6. DHARNA (concentration).
7. DHYANA (meditation) and
8. SAMADHI (superconscious state).

Asanas
Asanas are the postures or held position. Asanas also have an effect on the emotions. The practice of asana is necessary to teach us how to sit erect keeping ourselves healthy and channelising the current of prana towards the final goal of spirituality.
Asana should be performed with the least effort; if we strain during performance then it is not asanas. Patanjali (founder of yoga darshan) has said" Sthira sukham asanam". That is stability and feeling of well-being are the result of Asana Sutra can also mean that the posture which is comfortable and stable is an asana. Sthir means stable refers to the physical aspect of asana, sukhama to the mental aspect. Asanas make the supine strong and supple.
Asanas are in two main categories: Meditative and Cultural. Cultural also has the sub-classification - Relaxative. The Relaxative postures are the fatigue releasing posture. Before starting asana, we have to remember some important points:

1. Asanas should not be practiced merely from books. The guidance of a teacher is also necessary.
2. Asanas should be practiced very slowly, smoothly, step by step and without jerks.
3. Yoga should be done on empty stomach. No practice should be done after lunch for up to four hours. Food should not be taken before or immediately after yoga.
4. The early morning is the best time to perform asanas.
5. The place of Yoga should be clean and ventilated.
6. During pregnancy, those asanas which give pressure in the abdominal region hold should be avoided. Also during menstrual period no asana should be practiced.
7. While performing asana it should be noted that for most asanas breathing can be maintained normally while for asanas with forward bending the breath must be in exhalation.

Pranayama
After performance of asanas, we should do the practice of the Pranayama. Patanjali has said "Tasminsati Savasaprasvasayogativiccheda Pranayama". After establishing oneself in a stable posture, pranayama has to be performed, even if asanas are practiced with pranayama, no problem occurs.
In Pranayama savasa means inhalation known as Purak. Prasavasa means exhalation known as Rechaka, and gativiccheda means Retention. So pranayama is the Retention of inhalation or exalation phases of breathing.
Pranayama is the control of the breath. The Hatha Yoga text says; "if Pranayama is properly and judiciously done, we can remove all the abnormalities, all the abnormal functions of the body. But if it is done injudiciously, it is inevitable that all kinds of abnormalities arise. So pranayama must be practiced with great care, and in the beginning the breath holding phase must be avoided. Through the controlled inhalation or exhalation of pranayama, the diaphragm is controlled and this has an effect on the kidneys and intestines. Pranayama also tones up the pancreas and liver.
If we learn Yoga correctly and do the asanas regularly we will enjoy all the benefits of Yoga. Yoga has a complete message for humanity, it has a message for human body, it has a message for human mind and it has a message for the human soul. (*)

"Makepung"
Distinguish Tourist Attraction of Jembrana Regency

Jembrana Regency lies on the west gateway of Bali Island with its Gilimanuk port. This port connects Bali and Java Island and on the other way around. On that account, the first image for tourists travelling to Bali by land will be this regency.

As the territory located on the westernmost part of Bali, Jembrana Regency has a distinguishing attraction called makepung or buffalo race. Due to its popular art of this buffalo race, Jembrana is given the epithet as ‘Land of Buffalo Race’ and the ‘Spirit of Buffalo Race’ is then made into the motto of development in Jembrana Regency.
As a matter of fact, makepung in Balinese language literally means chasing one after another. Its inspiration arises from the procession of farmers on performing mutual assistance to convey their crops by means of chariot drawn by two buffaloes. Within ebullient climate on the flourishing harvest produced, the charioteer endeavour to chase one after another and arrive at a place determined as the finish line. Later, this unique tradition was developed into a tradition of buffalo race named mekepung.
In addition, the tradition of mekepung reflects this regency as agrarian territory where the farmer community, practising Hinduism, take advantage of this tradition as a gratitude to Goddess Sri on the wealth of crops attained.
Originally, mekepung tradition was sponsored by rich farmers by inviting colleagues to involve in this mekepung event. They supplied all needs of the racing, including its consumption, so the event was then made into an extravagant party on the success of their harvest.
Revitalization of mekepung came about in 1960 by founding an organization that was tasked to develop and preserve this tradition. Then, two organizations of mekepung were established before the name of river dividing the downtown Negara namely Ijo Gading River. Likewise, this river comes in the demarcation of the organization. Those domiciling in the west of Ijo Gading River was named West Ijo Gading Mekepung Group along with its green flag, while those living in the east of this
Revitalization of mekepung came about in 1960 by founding an organization that was tasked to develop and preserve this tradition. Then, two organizations of mekepung were established before the name of river dividing the downtown Negara namely Ijo Gading River. Likewise, this river comes in the demarcation of the organization. Those domiciling in the west of Ijo Gading River was named West Ijo Gading Mekepung Group along with its green flag, while those living in the east of this river named East Ijo Gading Mekepung Group with red flag. From that point onward, the mekepung event was immensely attractive as its chariot has been modified, carved and painted colourfully. Similarly, the charioteers and buffaloes wear traditional costumes.
To preserve this distinctive tradition, the regional government holds the mekepung race twice a year. Mekepung Race of the Regent Cup is held in August and Governor Cup in October. Besides, each group carries out regular exercises and local races at least twice a month. For the year 2006, the Mekepung Race of Regent Cup is held on 13 August that is associated with the 111th anniversary of Negara City. Such event takes place at the Mekepung Circuit of Kaliakah. (BTN/Gede Yasa)

Visiting BTN

DENPASAR – Mr. Awanish Tiwari (Deputy Director) Indian Cultural Center Bali and staff visited Bali Travel News, Tuesday (25/7) and were welcomed by the Chief Editor, Wisnu Wardana. (BTN/015)

Kite Festival

DENPASAR –Padanggalak Beach was crowded by visitors either local or foreign because of the annual Bali kite festival. 755 kite players from four regencies of Bali (Denpasar, Badung, Gianyar and Tabanan) participated in the 28th Kite Festival and competed in four kinds of kites, such as janggan, bebean, pecukan and creation. The Competition took place on 4 days (20 – 23 July) and was officially opened by the vice governor of Bali, Alit Kelakan Saturday (22/7). (BTN/015)

Graphic Works Exhibition

SANUR – About 51 painting works by Tisna Sanjaya has been exhibited at Griya Santrian Gallery Sanur – Denpasar. The exhibition themed Graphic Works was opened by Prof. Dr. Setiawan Sabana Friday (7/7) and takes place up to August 23. (BTN/015)