The effects of sports and fitness activities on our body, mind and spirit are numerous.
One meta study carried out by the University of Naples in 2018, found that physical exercise (of the regular aerobic kind) results in structural and functional changes in the brain that improves both cognitive functioning and wellbeing. It is not the type of sport or exercise you do that matters, but that you stay motivated to do it regularly and at an intensity that will deliver results. The Naples University study also found that it did not matter what age you are, as regular physical exercise offers benefits for all ages. It improves focus (task goal orientation) and confidence (perceived competence) in children, it improves mood and overall health of teens and in older people it has a positive effect on both physical strength and mental health.
Ponsonby News readers are fortunate to have a broad range of sports and fitness opportunities to choose from. They also have a vast array of health professionals and wellbeing services to help them maintain their health or repair and rehab their bodies when injury happens. We asked a few Ponsonby News readers to share their sporting loves and fitness success stories with us to help you find the best combination of fitness activities and support services for your own health and wellbeing goals.
Tracey Walker
As a busy mother of two boys, and director of client relations for Westpac Institutional Bank, Tracey juggles a demanding career while coordinating a full range of sporting activities and social events for her children. This means it’s always a challenge for this 40-something year-old-mum to carve out time for her own sporting loves and personal fitness needs.
“I can be at football fields across Auckland six days a week,” says Tracey, whose boys play for the local Western Springs Football Club. “I love to do a range of fitness activities to keep training interesting and suit the season or fitness level I am at, but most importantly to stop me getting bored. I’d like to do all of it more, but the juggle is real and some weeks are better than others.”
Barrefigure is Tracey’s current addiction. “I love everything about it! The studio, the music, the instructors, the way it burns and never gets easier. You secretly love the burn, but you don’t admit that to the instructors at the time,” explains Tracey.
Tracey uses a number of different activities to help keep her fitness and maintain her overall wellbeing. "I have worked with personal trainer Keri Ropati since the birth of my first son. She helped me regain my fitness after having a baby and got me back into an overall healthy eating routine which I have largely stuck to for 10-plus years. Keri is an institution. I love the high intensity, short sharp, half-hour morning group classes. Guaranteed to raise your pulse and work on your general fitness but I equally love Keri. She has been making me laugh for over 10 years now and I couldn’t do without her!” A member of Les Mills Fitness for many years, Tracey still enjoys the quick half-hour classes when she can race away from the office and is a foundation follower of Nikki Ralston’s the Ralston Method, despite not being much of a yoga fan. “Yoga is not really my thing. However, Nikki nearly makes me a convert. I recently attended her yoga retreat at the Sherwood which was a real treat and I think my preferred way to enjoy yoga,” says Tracey.
When it comes to her overall health, Tracey feels she has a secret weapon. “My younger sister Rebecca is an osteopath at Health Within Osteopathy in Westmere and, although she often has a waiting list, I can usually manage to get an appointment. If I have pulled a muscle or my body feels out of alignment, a treatment or two from Rebecca really helps. She also has a range of supplements that she is always recommending to help me stay healthy.”
Having the right gear to wear for various activities can be a great motivator. “Didn’t someone say recently that active-wear pants were the new jeans? I love that active wear is getting a little more street wear cross-over so that you feel better about staying in your active wear all day long. Westpac has great flexibility policies and I am lucky to work from home on a Monday. Part of the appeal is that I don’t have to dress up in a suit and can stay in stretchy clothes all day long!”
Andrew Clapham
Link Business Broker Andrew Clapham, husband of Donna and father of four, is a well-known Ponsonby local, having owned and managed a range of hospitality spots in and around the local area. He is now a specialist hospitality broker sharing his experience in branding, management and operations with others.
Since leaving the coalface of the hospitality industry, fitness and wellbeing have become even more of a focus for Andrew. “Since having a heart attack a year ago my fitness goals are to stay alive,” says Andrew, who took up Stand Up Paddle boarding (SUP) as part of his programme to stay fit and healthy. “I try and do five days a week on the water, even in winter. I started competing primarily because I wanted other people to feel good about beating me,” laughs Andrew. “No, it’s great to compete, as it improves your techniques and raises the fitness levels.”
Andrew has tried the usual fitness options including running and walking but with old injuries these just didn’t work for him. “I found being on the water is an immense benefit to my overall wellbeing and fitness and more people are starting to see this through SUPWELL training programmes run by my new friend Helen Blair,'' says Andrew. In September, Andrew will be competing in the Cambridge to Hamilton 23km SUP river race as part of his build up to taking part in the Mission Bay summer series starting in November.
It’s been quite a journey, recovering from a heart attack to actively competing in local SUP competitions, but one thing that has really worked for Andrew is seeking advice from other SUP athletes. “I took a leap of faith and got one of New Zealand’s top SUP competitors to write a training programme for me. Ollie Puddick has written two programmes for me so far. They are designed for my age, capability and work on my weaknesses (pretty much everything) so I can become a better technical paddler.”
The gear you wear and the equipment you use has a big role to play when you are out training on the water, especially over the winter months. For Andrew, this is even more important as the medication he takes for his heart can affect his stability. “Jeremy Stephenson at Starboard has been incredibly helpful in making sure I have the right equipment. Taking into account my heart issues and getting the balance between stability requirements and speed. My medication affects my stability so a wider board has been helpful,” explains Andrew who uses a Carbon Fibre Starboard Sprint SUP, 14ft x 25 wide, and a Starboard Lima Carbon Fibre Paddle.
Despite trying to eat well and avoid processed foods, Andrew sometimes needs something more to keep him balanced. “A massage from Richenda Rowe is great for a very up-tight body like mine and good advice about how to train and live.”
Kristin Percy and Rupert Wilson
A professional couple in their 50-60s, Kristin and Rupert make good use of Auckland’s incredible coastal playground as keen Stand Up Paddle boarders (SUP) and members of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron. They take part in club racing and passage (coastal) racing. “We have also participated in the Tahiti Pearl Regatta twice, crossing the line first in every race except one earlier this year,” explains Kristin.
Being safe and competitive on the water requires a range of skills as well as fitness. “We respect each other’s strengths when it comes to boat handling, navigation, maintenance and crew liaison and enjoy solving problems which is just as well as there are always some interesting moments on a boat,” says Kristin. In terms of fitness, Rupert and Kristin enjoy a wide variety of adventure-style activities. Rupert regularly goes to a gym to keep up his general fitness and combines this with cycling, SUP and hiking. For Kristin, a mix of yoga, pilates, cycling and running are combined with SUP, skiing, hiking and scuba diving.
Kristin thrives on the inspiration the open sea offers and has never found high-impact training in minimalist gym environments has worked for her. “For general fitness I like cycling. It is easy to do, it blends into life’s routines and it’s
a low impact, high-cardio vascular workout,” says Kristin.
All of Rupert and Kristin’s sports and activities require good overall health and fitness, so what superfoods do they recommend? “Brussel sprouts, along with fruit, yoghurt, salmon and lots of salads,” says Kristin. When injury threatens their sporting goals these two recommend Bodyworx Healthcare.
Yacht racing requires some fairly specific gear and, as Kristin explains it, comfort is the number one rule. “Woollen undies! Wearing cotton undies can seriously spoil your day. When they get wet they can stay wet for hours,” says Kristin. “I also have a great pair of Henri Lloyd sailing overalls which are designed for women. You can unzip the sides when you go to the toilet rather than having to take every layer off.” Musto shorts and Spinlock harness lifejackets are the pair’s recommendations for lightweight and reliable safety gear.
Lauren Meale
In her teens, marketing and content executive Lauren Meale was a competitive runner adhering to a strict training schedule to achieve her goals. Now, in her 20s, Lauren still has goals but they are less focused on the competitive side of sport and more about keeping fit and healthy. “These days I’m a lot more low key in my approach to fitness. My only real goal is to feel good in myself, and become fitter and stronger than I was last month. If it makes me feel good, I do it, if it doesn't, I don’t.”
Lauren explains it is about listening to your body which is a constant learning process. “Sometimes I feel on top of the world and literally crave hyped-up, high-intensity workouts, other days I know my body would much rather prefer a gentle walk in the fresh air. It’s about being aware of how you feel and what serves you best.” Lauren works at Eve Health by BePure, a local business that uses a scientific approach to nutrition to offer effective and personalised health care products and services. “Since working at Eve Health I’ve learnt so much about how our hormones affect fitness and exercise and that what serves us best changes throughout the month. It really makes a lot of sense and is something I wish more young girls were aware of,” says Lauren.
Like many people, Lauren really enjoys variety when it comes to sports and fitness activities and finds it hard to choose her favourite. “I can’t pick just one, I have two: Les Mills GRIT and Reformer Pilates. GRIT is a 30 minute, high-intensity workout with great music and motivating instructors that get you pushing yourself beyond what you thought was possible. Reformer Pilates is my other love. It’s such a good workout and absolutely burns your muscles so much, yet is relatively low intensity and has a very minimal sweat factor. I’ve never really enjoyed yoga. But I also know how amazing it is for you and feel like I should go a few more times before deciding it’s not for me."
Keeping on track with fitness and sports goals can sometimes appear effortless for fit, young people but Lauren approaches her health holistically and takes nutrition seriously while still keeping food simple. "In terms of my diet, I aim to eat 80-90% whole foods – lots of fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds, gluten-free grains and meat, and the rest – ‘soul foods’," explains Lauren. “I make sure to include healthy sources of fats, carbs and proteins in each of my meals to balance my blood sugar, support my hormones and give me energy to train, work and live. I take BePure One, Three, magnesium and zinc and can’t speak highly enough of them. They have really helped my sleep, energy, skin, digestion and so much more.”
Sports wear and comfort go hand and hand in the minds and hearts of many and Lauren is very familiar with many of the current options. “I have tried a lot of different brands of sportswear over the years and have come to the conclusion that you just can’t beat Lululemon leggings. They’re comfortable, flattering and stay where they should, no matter how many burpees you do. Other sportswear brands I love are Nike, P.E Nation and The Upside.
Everyone seems to have a sports and fitness wishlist and for Lauren the top three are: an Apple iWatch, A Reformer Pilates membership and a P.E Nation jacket.
Ponsonby News readers regardless of age or lifestage have so many choices when it comes to finding ways to stay fit and healthy. From the fitness programmes on offer, to the range of health providers and support services available, there is a product, a solution and a local community to help everyone to enjoy the benefits of physical exercise, body, mind and soul.
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