Power of Exercise

Participate Every Day!

‘JJ’ Jeremy Johanson

Good health begins with regular exercise and a healthy diet. Beginning today!

This message is not only being proclaimed internationally by the World Health Organisation, as 2002 is the year to ‘Move For Health’, but also at all levels of Thai Government, from the halls of Government House to the grassroots level.

On February 17th 2002, the Government designated this year as the ‘Year of Building Good Health for all Thais’, marking the beginning of changing health-care philosophy from ‘fixing health problems’ to ‘building sustainable health for the whole population’.

The ‘Power of Exercise’ was the theme of the world’s largest health festival that took place at Sanam Luang from November 22-25^th. The real power was witnessing 46,824 registered participants’ exercise for over an hour with the Prime Minister, in the pouring rain, to break the existing Guinness Book world record of 38,633 people who exercised together in Mexico 4 years ago.

To keep fit on a daily basis, the Bangkok Government, or BMA, offers free fitness activities in all of their 50 districts. There are over 1000 places where you can keep fit, either at various stadiums, playing football, basketball or volleyball, or in the parks, jogging or joining in the free aerobic lessons offered every evening at 6pm (5pm on weekends and holidays).

So, don’t make any more excuses! From now on, think of taking the stairs instead of the elevator… getting off the bus (or BTS) 2 stops early and walking… or dancing to a good song on the radio.

With the chance to live in a city that offers so many free options to go out and stay fit, follow this year’s motto and,

MOVE FOR HEALTH!

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	Thaksin Shinawatra Prime Minister “The most important resource in every country is its people. You need a healthy population to be able to get yourself ready for competition, so we need the Thai people to be healthy. Exercise is one of the major methods. Therefore, I urge every one of us to take this special day as the starting point for doing exercise regularly, especially those people who work in air-conditioned offices all day and those who use their brains more than their bodies. They should take note that after a period of exercising, not only will your body feel more refreshed, but your mental condition will be improved and you will always be in a good mood. In addition, you will commit less error in your judgements and make more right decisions. As a result, you will be able to optimise your knowledge and skill in your work to better yourselves and help push our country forward.”
	Dr. Bjorn Melgaard Director- WHO Thailand “We at the World Health Organisation think this is a fantastic initiative. It’s extremely important that dietary habits and physical activities become changed so that in the future we can prevent a number of very prevalent diseases in countries that get richer and richer, such as Thailand. Thailand is moving from a lifestyle of physical activity into a more sedentary lifestyle. Physical activity is one cheap, fun, easy way of preventing such diseases, just as long as you do it regularly. So that’s why we think bringing this advocacy to physical activity, the power of exercise, is a fantastic initiative. It’s extremely important that the Prime Minister participated in the event. With this type of political commitment, when the leaders of a country go up front and say that this is important for all of us, then that is the best democracy we can get.”
	Dr. Vallop Thaineua Permanent Secretary – Ministry of Health “Thailand is like other developing countries. We are facing the problems of non-communicable disease like heart disease, diabetes and hypertension. They all could be amended or be improved by encouraging people to do more exercise and select the proper diet. So we have established our first national Health Festival to set the tone for all of the people of Thailand and send this important message. Even the Prime Minister stayed with us for the whole hour to break the world aerobic dance record, giving importance to the message of staying fit, to the whole nation.”
	Nathanon Thavisin Permanent Secretary – Bangkok Metropolitan Administration “The BMA is responsible for the people, for their physical development, economic development and social development. The BMA is always thinking of the health of the people. We co-operate with the World Health Organisation and their theme this year, ‘Move for Health’. Fitness is good for health, it makes you strong which prevents you from getting sick. The BMA includes 50 districts and each district has the policy to support fitness. Everyday, people can go outside to any of Bangkok’s public parks and sports centres where the BMA organises free aerobic dance classes as well.”
	‘Gung’ Dunagporn Piyamada BMA Aerobic Teacher – Lumpini Park “People come to participate in aerobics together, because they realise the importance of good health. We are ready to help everyone get into shape and get healthier, both physically and mentally, helping us all to live together happily in society. Therefore, everybody comes to participate of his own will and every park in Bangkok is open to the public. The BMA pays Aerobic teachers to give lessons and help people realise the importance of fitness. This means that you can come participate with the whole family, even ask your friends to join, and it’s free!”
	Kanba & Karin Tang Hua Seng Sports Club “At the Tang Hua Seng Sports Club we like to be healthy. When we play aerobics, we feel healthier. It’s also fun to meet so many nice people. We go to sport 3 times a week and are glad that many people come to join in these big fitness events.”
	Yudapon Jonsute 77 years old – Born in Bangkok “I love fitness. I’m a former boxer and I have always run. I run every day, sometimes 4 or 5 kilometres. I run all the time, I like it a lot.”
	Pichai Boonwijit 11 years old – Korat Province “I like to run, it makes me healthy. I go to fitness every day. When I grow up I want to be an Athlete.”
	Suwan Sakudompeud 56 years old – Bangkok Resident “I’m a housewife who stays at home. I do not work, but I jog every day for an hour and participate in all of the marathons running the whole length. I ran the 21 km Rama V marathon in 2 hours and 20 minutes! When I started 16 years ago, I could only run 2 or 3 kilometres before passing out. But I realised that if I practised enough, I could participate in the Bangkok mini-marathon. So I say to people, don’t rush yourselves, run for yourself, not for the competition. Lately people are more interested in fitness. One of the reasons is because the government has a campaign about it. I also have 7 dogs and I run with all of them and work on a project to have dogs run also. When they run they never get sick. The dogs also run all the marathons with me and they get a lot of attention. It makes the marathon more enjoyable, because it motivates everyone to stay in the competition and keep up with the dogs.”