UNS – The Dharma Wanita Persatuan (DWP) of Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta hosted a Nordic walking event in collaboration with the Indonesian Nordic Walking Community (KJNI) of Central Java and Solo Raya. The event took place on Saturday morning (1/2/2025) at the G.P.H. Haryo Mataram Auditorium, UNS, followed by a healthy walk around the campus.
During the event, the Rector of UNS, Prof. Dr. Hartono, dr., M.Si., warmly welcomed the Nordic walkers from KJNI Solo Raya and Central Java. Representing the university community, he expressed gratitude for their visit to UNS and hoped they would enjoy the fresh air around the campus.
Rector Expresses Support
Supporting the Nordic Walking initiative, Prof. Hartono emphasized the importance of sports and physical activity for public health. He highlighted data showing that only 10% of Indonesians actively engage in sports. This inactivity contributes to the rising cases of cardiovascular diseases, strokes, kidney diseases, and hypertension in Indonesia.
“These diseases share a common cause—arterial thickening—often due to a sedentary lifestyle. Other contributing factors include obesity, high cholesterol levels, high blood sugar, genetic predisposition, and smoking. We must take a preventive approach. We fully support health communities that promote a culture of regular exercise,” Prof. Hartono said.
The UNS Rector also recommended cardiovascular exercises like Nordic walking, which benefits heart health, strengthens blood vessels, boosts immunity, and helps manage stress. He advised engaging in cardio exercises for 30 to 40 minutes, three to five times a week, to maximize health benefits.
Health Benefits
Dr. Ir. Retno Gito, M.Si., a representative of KJNI Central Java, shared that Nordic walking has only been introduced in Indonesia over the past six years and is currently practiced in four provinces: DKI Jakarta, Central Java, Yogyakarta, and East Java. Nationwide, there are 29 cities and districts with Nordic walking communities, comprising approximately 10.000 members. Central Java ranks first, with 14 districts and cities actively participating in KJNI.
“We aim to continue raising public awareness about the health benefits of Nordic walking. The Faculty of Medicine at Universitas Diponegoro (Undip), in collaboration with KJNI Semarang, conducted a three-month study on 40 Nordic walkers. The study found that training three times a week for 40 minutes—including warm-up, Nordic walking, and cool-down—led to a 3% reduction in body fat, a 10% increase in cardiovascular fitness, a 4% improvement in balance, a 12,5% increase in upper body muscle strength, and a 27% increase in lower body muscle strength,” Dr. Retno explained.
KJNI and the Center for Population and Gender Studies (PPKG) at the UNS Institute of Research and Community Service (LPPM) plan to collaborate on research and community service projects focusing on health, fitness, and psychological well-being.
Through this initiative, UNS and KJNI actively encourage the public to adopt a healthy lifestyle, improve access to healthcare services, and prevent non-communicable diseases. This effort aligns directly with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Number 3: “Good Health and Well-Being.”
HUMAS UNS
