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

After you read the yoga practice for beginners in our previous editions, for this edition we will continue into the practice number 6,7 and 8.

13.JANUSIRASANA.
Sit by stretching both the legs together in front, hands by the side of your body. Fold your one leg with the knee; keep the foot on the ground and place it near the joint of the other thigh. Loosen your back muscles and bend the body forward as for as it is possible. Finally hold the big toe of the leg with the fore fingers of respective hands and place your head on the knee. In the same way, repeat this practice with the other leg.
Benefits- it removes constipation, and seminal weakness. It removes the possibilities of sciatica.
Limitation- Those suffering from cervical spondilitis should not practice it.

14.GOMUKASANA.
Sit erect stretching both legs together in front hands by the side, palm resting an the ground fold right leg at the knee and place it on the ground by the side of the left buttock , similarly brining the left leg from above the right leg. Place it on the ground by the side of the right buttock. The two soles will remain out towards left and right side. Now fold your right hand at the elbow and take it towards back, place the back part of the palm on your back. Fold your left hand at the elbow and bring into the back from above the shoulder. Elbow should points towards the sky. Now hold fingers of right hand from the fingers of left hand.
Benefits- This is very useful in arthritis and piles (dry) this helps in making the spine straight it removes pain in hip and back.
Limitation- Those suffering from bleeding piles should not practice it.

15.VAJRASANA.
Sit with legs extended together, hands by the side of the body, palm resting on the ground. Fold the right leg at the knee and place the foot under the right buttock, sole will remain inside similarly folding the left foot; place it under the left buttock, hands resting on the respective thighs, do not sit on the heels. After some time release the position.
Benefits-It strengthens thigh muscles and calf muscles.
Limitations-Persons suffering from piels should not practice it.

The Year 2008
Bali will Host the International Combat Kite Festival

It was confirmed that in the year 2008, Bali will host the World Kites Combat Championship. It was revealed by Ida Bagus Ugrasena on a meeting with the International Committee of Bali Kites at Maharani Sunset Bar, Sunday (8/10).

Stated, 15 Presidents of the Kite Clubs from several countries and tens of domestic clubs have confirmed to take part in the championship. "These presidents straightforwardly recommended their members to participate. Please let us know the fixed schedule as soon as possible when we ought to come to Bali," repeated Ugrasena the words of the involved club presidents.
Though the execution of the event remains far from now, according to Ugrasena, the Committee of Bali Kites started to make the consolidation effort since last October. It was commenced by the publishing of a guide book on the regulations of combating kites as recommended by the World Combat Kites Association. Then it was resumed with the founding of clubs of combat kites and organizing local championship (at the level of regency or province) as well as the national championship in 2007.
Ugrasena just returned home from France and the Netherlands, where he participated in similar kite festivals there. He said that the kites of Bali became the most attractive for the festival participants and spectators from both countries.
On that account, the International Committee of Bali Kites will fuse the activity of world championship with the traditional kite festival. "Personally, we are going to present the kites of Baliku type," he observed while adding that Baliku posed a kite measuring 5 meters to compete the Japanese kite that is known as Rokkaku kite.
Rokkaku has now gone international and frequently put into competition. Meanwhile, Baliku will be launched on the local and national Combat Kites Festival in the upcoming 2007. It consists of three dimensional elements, namely round, square and triangle. Square is identical to tapak dara (mystical cross sign) representing the perfectness or symmetrical on every corner composing a unity and so does the triangle. "So, the Baliku comes to be the kite representing the oneness and integrity," he explained.
On the question raised by a correspondent of French television, Ugrasena explained that in Bali the kite is God. God blesses with the bliss in the form of kites and through kites the bliss could be achieved and they present it back to God. Different from the community there, kites constitute merely things flown and could make news. "They looked amazed. In fact, the Balinese community is not playful with these kites," said Ugrasena who traveled to France together with his spouse R.A. Helmi Ginanti. (BTN/015)

Underwater Treasures

Indonesia as an archipelago country has been keeping amazing underwater treasures. Many kinds of coral reefs and marine habitats spread along the Indonesia Islands. "Existence and sustainability of coral reef is very important, because it can prevent a danger of Tsunami disaster," Utters Cipto Aji Gunawan from Air Diving Academy.

Bali was considered as one of strategic and complete diving places in the world. In Bali the diving lovers can enjoy many kinds diving activities. From drift diving, night diving, wall diving, cavern diving, boat diving, underwater photography, wreck diving, naturalist diving, macro diving, etc. In addition the marine of Bali also rich of special sea biota likes sun fish, Manta Ray, Ghost Fish, Pygmy Sea Horse, Sharks, Dolphin, Frog Fish, Leaf Fish, Crocodile Fish even unnamed sea snack live in the sea of Bali.
Nowadays, this valuable treasure can be enjoyed not only for the divers but also those who live in the island. So the ‘Underwater Digital Photography Training and Competition’ was held in Bali. About 20 participants coming from several provinces in Indonesia successfully took pictures of attractive sea biota from super mini species up to the big enough through their camera.
According to Cipto Aji, the marine life of Bali is still in good condition but is still not yet fully discovered and explored. "Lovina, Tulamben, Amed, Padang Bay, Nusa Penida Island, and Sanur are developing areas for diving in Bali. But, this potential is not yet known to the tourist," he said.
According to him, by the establishment of disaster issues, caused by excessive exploration of the marine treasure, its hoped the people can again their awareness to keep sustaining their environment and potency.
Simon Sinaga (Northern Sumatera) was selected as the winner of the competition for category The Best Overall, Sukendi D (DKI Jakarta) for The Best Macro and Zul Janwar (Southern Sulawesi) for The Best Wide Angle. (BTN/Rai)