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

After practice yoga number 13 – 15, in this edition you can continue the number 16 up to 18, have a nice practice!

16. USTRASANA (BACK WARD BENDING)
Sit in Vajrasana, stand on the knee, bend your body backward and try to catch hold of the right leg of heel with the right hand and left leg of heel with the left hand and loosen your body towards back after maintain it for some slowly return to the original position.
Benefits-This is very useful in back pain also this strength the abdominal muscles.
Limitation- those suffering from high blood pressure should not practice it.

17. YOGA MUDRA (IN VAJRASANA)
Sit erect in vajrasana, close both fists of your hands and place near the side of the naval. Now start bending from your waist and bring the body forward as much as possible without raising the buttocks from the heels, touch your head on the ground. After maintaining it for some time raise your forehead and chest release your hands and sit erect.

18. PADMASANA (LOTOUS POSE)
Sit erect; stretch both the legs together, hands by the side, palms resting on the ground, fingers together pointing forward. Place right leg on the left thigh, by holding toes of the leg by left hand and ankle by the right, similarly hold the toes of the other leg by right hand and ankle by left. Place hands on respective knees in Gyana Mudra.
IT is a meditative posture, so spine should remain straight in the final position
Limitations- those suffering from chronic knee pain should not practice it.

Badung Lifeguard
Prepared to Safeguard the Coastal Territory

Kuta Beach attracts the largest number of foreign visitors. So, it’s fair that Kuta is then given a nickname as an international small town. Daily activities performed here are surfing and bogy board. However, the most familiar activities are bathing, swimming, sunbathing and watching sunsets. This white sandy beach stretches along 3.87 km. Here, many facilities and services are available for visitors such as the rental of surfboard, mat and parasol and services like drawing, massage and tattoo. In addition, for security affairs there has been beach police, police of civil servant and lifeguard.

According to Coordinator of Lifeguard of Badung Regency, Made Suparka on the tourism promotion event together with the Badung Government Tourist Office, Friday (20/10), the lifeguard is assigned to secure the safety of visitors using the beach tourist area in Badung. Should someone get an accident at sea like getting sunk, his party has the task to save him or her. Meanwhile, the office of the lifeguard is located at Kuta Beach.
To anticipate any accidents, the lifeguard of Badung also sets up some signs and announcement for the beach users. There is also an announcement board reading ‘Do not swim at this area’. Some red flags or icon of skull are installed at beachside conveying a prohibition to swim. The safe area to swim is marked with the yellow-red flag, while the balls in the sea are used to mark the border of marine exercise.
So, are there more features indicating other hazards? "Of course, yes. When the surface of seawater is calm, it means that there is vigorous undersea stream. If the seawater on the left and right side of waves immediately breaks, do not bathe at that area. Likewise, if there is rubbish on the surface of the water, do not bathe there a strong stream under it," Made Suparka explains while adding that should there be any accident do not hesitate to contact his party at the telephone 755660 extension 14 or to radio no. 998.
The lifeguard team amounts to 73 personnel and are assigned at the territory of Badung Regency. At this moment, there are 14 posts of the lifeguard spreading out the beach of Nusa Dua (3 posts), Uluwatu Beach (3) Kuta Beach (5), Seseh, Berawa and Batubelig Beach (3). "Every post has been equipped with a tower and radio as means of communication," he says.
Nevertheless, accidents occurring outside the Badung Regency are also taken care of. A member of lifeguard should have full skills. For that purpose, his party regularly holds exercises or competitions. It aims at training the new staff so they can give assistance as expected. These exercises and competitions are also meant to socialize the existence of lifeguard. "So should there be any accidents occurring one can contact the lifeguard as soon as possible," he tells Bali Travel News.
During the exercise, his party regularly invites overseas instructors such as from Australia. His team also does exercise on Fridays like running, swimming and competitions. Even, in every momentous event the Lifeguard Team of Badung represents Indonesia to compete or attend seminars on the life guarding services overseas.
Though the lifeguard team is sufficiently agile, there are always drowned victims in the sea every year. Since January up to this Friday (20/10) there have been 239 accidents at sea. Amongst them, 215 victims could be saved, 22 people were killed and the last 2 victims have not been found. "Most of the victims are locals who were taking a bath or fishing," Suparka adds.
Expounded, this lifeguard was initiated by Gede Beratha. In 1973, Gede Beratha together with his friends voluntarily lent a hand to those engulfed by a disaster that took place at Kuta Beach or other beaches across Bali. Though they had no institution yet, they frequently executed patrols along the Kuta Beach, made possible with the assistance of donators and hotels existing at its surrounding.
In 1978, a colonel drowned at Kuta Beach. Based on that accident, many team members were got involved to find him. Due to its outstanding achievement, the Balawista or lifeguard was established under supervision of the Badung Government Tourist Office. (BTN/budarsana)

To Improve Services for Tourists, Lifeguard Exercise Held

Except for its culture, Bali also has appealing water recreation. This marine tourist attraction is a special attraction of its own to visitors. It is a challenging activity but having high risks. Well, to give security and convenience to visitors using the beach along with its activities, the Regional Government of Badung held a training of marine tourism lifesaving at Kuta Beach, Wednesday (11/10).

I Wayan Tana, S.H., Chairman of the training organizer said that his party trains 107 beach lifeguards. They originate in the starred and non-starred hotel task forces and the businesses of marine tourism. Additionally, the training was also joined by participants from Mentawai (13 people) and Batam (2). In the meantime, the instructor was taken from the experienced officers of Badung lifeguard and a special guest instructor from Australia.
The training was carried out for ten days and was divided into three levels, namely the resuscitation, lifesaving certificate and bronze certificate. "By improving the performance of lifesaver it can create the safety and convenience for the tourists using the beach as a place for recreation," he said.
This training was intended to enhance the quality service of the marine tourism. Similarly, it was meant to upgrade the perspective of the participants, so they will care about the environment, particularly the one that is related to tourism. "It aims at educating and training the skilled workers in marine lifesaving so it could result in the security and convenience for the tourists taking advantage the marine tourism facilities such as the beach, swimming pool and so forth," he observed.
Regular exercises are held every year since 1975 and was inaugurated by the Head of Badung Government Tourist Office, I Made Subawa representing the Regent of Badung." (BTN/015)

36 International Billiard Players Competed in Bali

A number of 36 billiard players from 14 countries took part in the ‘A Mild Billiard Bali International Open 2006’ tournament. This tournament is officially recognized by the Asian Pocket Billiard Union (APBU) and World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA). They were from Japan, New Zealand, Taiwan, Singapore, Iran, Qatar, the Philippines, Brunei, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Australia and Korea.
The tournament took place for five days (17-21 September) and was slightly different from that in the previous year. It was held at two venues, namely Stage 1 at Next Billiard Club (NBC) for the qualification session, while the final session was held at Ballroom of Sanur Beach Hotel. This ninth tournament since 1997 had a total prize winning budget worth IDR 350 million ( around US$ 40.000).
"A-Mild Billiard Bali International Open 2006" is an international billiard tournament of nine-level ball in Indonesia, organized by the sponsor A Mild in co-operation with the Indonesia Association of Billiard Sport (PB POBSI)," said Assistant Director of the Tournament, Sri Iswara accompanied by Area Marketing Manager of PT HM Sampoerna Tbk of Denpasar Region, Wahyu Adi Wahono and Supervision Division Head of POBSI Bali, Herman Yongki Ariono.
Also added, Iran and Qatar were two countries that newly joined in the tournament. The Winner of the World Pool Championship 2000 from Taiwan, Mr. Chao Pong Fang, also participated. In the meantime, the talented Indonesian billiard player Muhammad Zulfikri and Ricky also took part in the competition. "There were 15 players of Indonesian top ranks in this competition. In addition, student players constituting the champion and runner up of the A Mild Students Billiard Tournament 2006 namely Yoni Rachmanto and Irwan Limardi," he observed while adding that the annual tournament is totally under control of Sports Director of APBU, Mr. Kazuo Fujima and with the assistance of Assistant to Tournament Director, Sri Iswara Adi. (BTN/015)