UNS – The Faculty of Sport (FKor) Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta held a webinar under the theme ‘Ngobrol Pintar tentang Keolahragaan Online’ (Smart Chat on Online Sports) or Ngopi Teko on Friday (8/5/2020) afternoon. The webinar held in the Ramadan is special raised the theme of ‘Training Fitness amid the COVID-19 Pandemic in Ramadan.’ The theme was selected as an effort to raise the awareness on the importance of maintaining physical fitness while undergoing ‘Work from Home’ or ‘Study from Home’ amid the COVID-19 pandemic in the Ramadan this year.
On this occasion, the Rector UNS, Prof. Jamal Wiwoho delivered an opening remark. In front of 190 webinar participants from various institutions and areas, Prof. Jamal appreciated FKor UNS initiative to held the Ngopi Teko webinar in his remark.
“I conveyed my appreciation amid the COVID-19 Pandemic, FKor can hold this webinar because gathering 190 participants is not an easy task for the committee. Therefore, I appreciate what the committee did,” stated Prof. Jamal in his opening remark.
To review deeper on the means to maintain and improve physical fitness at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, FKor UNS invited speakers to discuss the webinar theme. The speakers are Dr. Raden Isnanta, M. Pd (Deputy of Sports Culture Ministry of Youth and Sports (Kemenpora), Dr. Sapta Kunta Purnama, M. Pd (Dean of FKor UNS), and Dr. Haris Nugroho, M. Or (pencak silat expert).
As the first speaker, Dr. Isnanta conveyed that in the COVID-19 pandemic, many degenerative illnesses appear. This is caused by the unhealthy lifestyle which lower the immunity.
“Many degenerative illnesses started from unhealthy lifestyle. From the data we can see that our people have 34% of participation and 24% of fitness level. If we have high participation and fitness level, the number of casualties will not this high,” he stated.
Cultivating unhealthy lifestyle according to Dr. Isnanta is a result of excluding workout from lifestyle. In his opinion, including workout as a lifestyle is important because with the sport spirit will have a positive impact on the productivity of a community in a country.
The lack of community interest on sport is also mentioned by the Dean of FKor UNS, Dr. Sapta Kunta. While in fact, sports activities that are supported by good physical activity will have an impact on fitness and health.
“Gardening, housework, climbing stairs at work, and carrying merchandise to and from the market are physical activities, but these activities are considered not exercise/sports. Physical activities and nutrition are the factor of lifestyle which has great effect on fitness and health,” he stated.
Dr. Sapta Kunta also stated that the community at all age levels who do not perform intense physical activity will be susceptible to various diseases, both non-communicable, degenerative, and catastrophic, such as obesity and diabetes.
On the occasion, Dr. Sapta Kunta emphasize the guideline in performing sport through FITTE. FITTE intended by Dr. Sapta Kunta is an abbreviation of frequency, intensity, time, type, and enjoyment. Dr. Sapta Kunta advised that in promoting the spirit of sport must also be accompanied by feelings of joy.
At the end of the webinar, Dr. Haris Nugroho who is a pencak silat expert shared tips to maintain physical fitness with the training method applied by merpati putih.
“Firstly, physical exercise by increasing the function of function of organs, skeletal muscles, ligaments, cardiorespiratory, and vascular muscles. Secondly is psychological through visualization, relaxation, and mediation. And lastly, metaphysic with spiritual exercise/mental spiritual,” explained Dr. Haris.
The method of breathing exercise applied by merpati putih mentioned by Dr. Haris is also useful to maintain fitness and happiness. It is performed by combining the psychological intervention and breathing exercise.
“Psychological intervention can create comfort and calmness. Breathing exercise creates thorax activity, diaphragm activity, breathing pattern and frequency. Breathing exercise also increase body temperature,” he concluded. Humas UNS/Yefta
