Lena Kairau Active Families Advisor Sport Bay of Plenty

When we talk about being healthy and well, we need to focus on more than what can be seen on the outside.

The Te Whare Tapa Wha model, on the Ministry of Health website, outlines four key aspects of wellbeing for people to nurture to fully look after themselves.

If more than one of these areas is not strong, life can be quite un-balanced. Professor Mason Durie has a few analogies to assist people with this concept.

The most popular is that of a whare (house), but the one I find the simplest to explain is a chair with four legs. If you have a chair with one wobbly leg, it isn't comfortable, but it can still function. If a chair has two or more wobbly legs, then it's likely to collapse in a heap as soon as any pressure is applied.

How can physical activity assist in strengthening all of these aspects of wellbeing? The most obvious one is the physical body, tinana. Set your week up for some regular walking times, and arrange to meet someone so that it's actually an effort to cancel. Attend structured classes or community activities. Play backyard frisbee or touch outside with the kids. There are plenty of sports groups and ‘have a go' type activities in our region. Have a good look around Sport Bay of Plenty's website and the ‘What's On' sections of the newspapers.

Our spirit, or wairua, is an area of identity, or channelling of good and bad energy. After a stressful day at work, consider a walk on the beach with your feet in the sand and water. This can make you feel relaxed, re-energised and generally uplifted.

The sense of sharing, caring and belonging, when doing an activity as a collaborative group, can be acknowledged as whanau, or family. Joining the surf life saving club, social touch team, kappa haka group, or sharing a meal with friends and family, encourages togetherness and team work. This allows you to feel like you make a valuable contribution to a wider group of people.

Another area is hinengaro – listening to your mind and emotions. What is it that motivates you? It won't necessarily be the same as what motivates those around you. Think about what gets you out the door on the days when you really don't want to leave the comfort of home. Try to repeat those things and be kind to yourself. There is a lot of research on the benefits of physical activity and its positive influence on mental health. Being active gets the oxygen flowing around your body and produces endorphins, otherwise known as the ‘feel good' chemical in your body.

Here is a useful website link: www.sportbop.co.nz/playinthebay