SPORT MANAWATU HEAD OFFICE

Sports House, 47 Queen StreetPO Box 797 Palmerston North 4440

P +64 6 357 5349

SPORT MANAWATU FEILDING

Makino Aquatic Centre10 Council Place, Feilding

P +64 6 353 6900

SPORT MANAWATU DANNEVIRKE

Gordon Street PO Box 115, Dannevirke 4942

P +64 6 374 4136

If you have any enquiries about Green Prescription, physical activity or nutrition, we are happy to discuss

these topics with you. You can contact us over the phone,

or check us out online:www.sportmanawatu.org.nz/green-

perscription

Phone 06 357 53490800 ACTIVE (228 483)

Thanks to the continued support of MidCentral Health

CONTACT US ACTIVE ISSUE 17 | OCTOBER 2019COMMUNITIES

IN THIS ISSUE / LINKING WITH LOCAL CLUBS / PARTICIPANT SUCCESSES / UPCOMING EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITYwww.facebook.com/greenprescriptionsportmanawatuCHECK US OUT ON FACEBOOK

STRENGTH & BALANCE

UPCOMING EVENTS

SUCCESS STORYWelcome to the Active Communities newsletter!

T his newsletter is all about keeping you up to date with Sport Manawatu’s Active

Programmes. In this issue, you’ll find information on upcoming events in the community that you might want to target and we share some fantastic success stories of our programme participants. We’d love to get your feedback on this newsletter so please email us with your thoughts grx@sportmanawatu.org.nz From the Active team.

“No matter how slow you go,

you are still lapping everybody

on the couch.”

HEALTHY LIFESTYLE PROGRAMME

Sport Manawatu Whanau Fit Training ProgrammeModule 2 starting mid-OctoberProgrammes offered in Horowhenua, Palmerston North, Feilding and Dannevirke. For more information and to register email andreh@sportmanawatu.org.nz or 021 765 903 Website: https://www.sportmanawatu.org.nz/active/whanau-fit-programme/

65th Feilding MarathonSat 2 Nov5km, 10km, ½ marathon and marathon distances available. Start and finish at Timona park (Campbell St, Feilding). Fore more information: https://feildingmoa.co.nz/event/feilding-marathon/

Building Champions Obstacle ChallengeSun 3 NovLido Aquatic Centre. For children aged 3-13 with parents or guardians run free. A short Nippers course for under 5-year olds. A more challenging 15 obstacle course for the older kids (or grown up kids). Enter at: https://obstaclechallenge.co.nz/palmerston-north

Active Families Big Day Out!Fri 6 Dec, 3.45 - 5.30pmTerrace End School Active Families programme will again finish the year with a fun afternoon of activities for ALL our families across our regions.

Palmerston North ParkrunEvery Saturday morning, 8amManawatu Riverside Walkway, Fitzherbert BridgeFree 5km timed rum or walk. Register at www.parkrun.co.nz/register for your own personal barcode, and remember to bring it along with.For more info: https://www.facebook.com/PalmerstonNorthparkrun

Feilding and Levin Heart Support Groups Groups for people affected by heart disease including atrial fibrillation and their families. Feilding meets the last Wednesday of the month at 4pm, Senior Leisure and Learning Centre, 14 Bowen Street Feilding. Levin meets 1pm, 3rd Monday of the month in the open meeting room, Te Takere, 10 Bath Street, Levin. For more information, contact the Heart Foundation on 06 358 7745.

Social Badminton A group of past GRx participants meet on Monday night’s from 6pm at the ‘Seventh Day Adventist Hall’ on Ferguson Street, Palmerston North. Cost is $2 per person per night. Social play so it is great for exercise and weight loss. Contact Phil 0279185805 or email pnsparkie@hotmail.com

The GRx team and the Manawatu Diabetes Trust delivered another successful 5-week GRx/Healthy Lifestyle programme to local refugees. The participants were part of the English Learning Partners (ELP) – Palmerston North school.

The programme came as a result of discussions with the Red Cross. It was identified that new migrants to Palmerston North needed support in adapting to the kiwi way of life through healthy lifestyle choices. The 2019 programme had 57 participants.

The Active team thoroughly enjoyed working with the group and based on feedback consider this 5-week programme a great success. We look forward to watching the programme participants flourish and get involved

with the great sporting and recreational opportunities within the Manawatu region.

ELP Testimonial

‘During the previous week, some learners and teachers at ELP slept just a little more soundly at night. And during the day others have groaned and pulled a few faces when moving their arms or walking about, but it’s all for very good reasons! As well as having healthy cooking lessons, participants have been learning to strengthen their muscles and joints using exercise bands and warming up with gentle winter cardio exercise (cunningly disguised as fun and dance) at the Sport Manawatu workshops being held at ELP in July and August.’

Patricia, age 83, joined the Strength and Balance programme at Sport Manawatu in February. A friend recommended the programme and she’s been coming nearly every week since.

Due to having a couple of falls and a hip replacement, Patricia decided to join. As well as balance issues, her shoulder has only one muscle attached to the head instead of three, so she found lifting her arm above her head difficult.

Before she started the programme, her health was generally good, and she was walking an hour a day on average but wanted to increase her strength and ability to balance again.

Now, Patricia enjoys walking and doing the exercises she has learned in class. She has noticed a great improvement in her balance as she can now balance on her hip replacement leg. She’s also noticed that she can raise her arm well above her head. Because of the improvement in mobility, she is considering playing tennis again,

as she gave up due to the lack of mobility and strength in her arm especially when serving.

Patricia said she’s really enjoyed coming to the classes. The instructors are friendly, helpful, and encouraging. She has enjoyed building new friendships and engaging with other participants that are both old and new friends and has recommended this programme to many others.

Meet Ray

How to refer to Active Families

Green Prescription (GRx)

Term 3 has seen the launch of the Active Teens programme in the Manawatu as a collaboration with Feilding High School. Twelve students ranging from Year 9-11 have taken part in the programme. The students have been introduced to new games, activities and exercises – in the hope they find something they enjoy and want to continue on with after the programme finishes. The students were also very lucky to have a local gym, Rec Room, open their doors and provide a group class especially for them to experience exercise in a gym setting in a less intimidating way.

The last session of the term, the teens delivered activities for each other. Our goal is that this group of students will continue to build on their experiences and become champions within their school. Long term, we wish to see them initiate and implement activities at school for their peers to create an active environment.

Ray, age 70, was referred to Green Prescription (GRx) in April 2019 by his GP Matthew Claridge to help improve his health through group support and activity. Ray used to be a very active person and would love going for long bike rides, but he had a stroke in October 2018 which set him back completely. He stopped doing any form of exercise and found it hard just to get out of bed in the mornings. He would go for a 10-15 minute walk around the block once a week, sometimes only once a month as he just couldn’t be bothered, which eventually took its toll on Ray’s mind and body, and prompted him to agree with Dr Claridge to come along to the GRx programme.

Ray completed his first term on the programme with flying colours, attending 9 out of 10 of the classes. He then had a chat with the GRx team to see where to go from there and decided that he would benefit a lot from learning what to do in the gym. In his second term with GRx as a graduate, Ray spent his sessions in the gym working with one of our Massey students who was gaining hours towards their studies. Ray is now exercising 4 to 5 times a week doing weight training and walking. He is now

comfortable enough to go into the gym on his own and loves weight training as it helps him focus on what he is doing and gives him a goal to work towards.

Since starting the programme Ray has lost 7.5kg, he has noticed his clothes fit differently and his body shape is changing. He has gone from drinking 6-8 cups of coffee a day to just 1 and has been mindful of his portion sizes. He feels he is now leading a calmer lifestyle; he can think more clearly which has helped improve his outlook on other things and people and has given himself a sense of direction again. Ray says he now has more good days than bad.

What Ray liked about the programme was that anyone could ask for help when they needed, and he enjoyed being surrounded by people. He felt at ease walking into the room and seeing others that were just like him. He understands that there is still room for improvement and has a goal of continuing with the work he has been doing in the gym, and possibly increasing the intensity further down the track.

“With a little help you can improve your well-being” - Ray

Active Teens Manawatu

Health professionals can refer children by using the Active Families referral form or online via our Sport Manawatu website: www.sportmanawatu.org.nz/green-prescription/health-professionals/

Families can self-refer on our website: https://www.sportmanawatu.org.nz/green-prescription/join-grx/

Or you can call Sport Manawatu on (06) 357 5349

We will follow up on all referrals to ensure they have appropriate medical sign off.

GET IN THE SWIMWith warmer weather on the way, you may be more tempted to exercise in water.

‘GET IN THE SWIM’: A good activity for health and wellness.

Swimming combines the benefits of strength and aerobic workouts, with minimal impact on joints. A useful activity when recovering from injuries in other sports.• You use many muscle groups -stomach, back, legs and arms.

Essential for your water balance are the oft-neglected deep stabilising muscles in the core and lower back.

• Swimming provides great energy output – between two and five times as much as land exercise.

• Your focus reduces to your stroke and your breathing, so it can be quite meditative.

• Swimming provides repetitive stretching exercises, with reaching, rotating and pulling

•

• Overall lung volume increases; as swimming improves so does breathing technique, with improvements in exercise-induced asthma.

• There are swims and swimming groups for everyone – from the seriously social to the seriously competitive.

Welcome Tina

For more information about classes in your area please visit Live Stronger For Longer website or contact our

Communities Strength and Balance Coordinator, strength.balance@sportmanawatu.org.nz

Community Group

Strength & Balance Coordinator Our new Strength & Balance Coordinator, Tina Solja is passionate about supporting Seniors to engage in physical activity. She enjoys seeing people of all ages and abilities improve their lives by discovering the benefits of regular physical activity.

Outside of work, she’s often exploring, running and cycling the Manawatu Region.

FUN FACTS

Hometown: Cakovec, Croatia

Qualifications: Master’s Degree in Sport Science and Education

Areas of Expertise: Exercise Prescription, Rehabilitation and falls prevention exercise, Resistance Training

Sport: Endurance Sport, Running, Triathlon

AGE ON THE GOUPCOMING EVENTSAGE ON THE GO EXPOFRI 18 OCT, 10am - 3pm

Horowhenua Events Centre, Levin

Organised by Horowhenua District Council, the 2019 ‘Age on the Go’ Expo is the biggest expo in the region with up to 60 stalls providing information, education and entertainment for the hundreds of visitors that attend. The expo will be held at the Horowhenua Events Centre in Levin, from 10am to 3pm. The expo promotes positive ageing by showcasing activities and services that focus on good health, fun and support for older people in Horowhenua.

For more info: www.horowhenua.govt.nz

SUPER SENIOR EXPOFRI 1 NOV, 10am - 2pm

Feilding Civic Centre

This event showcases a wide range of organisations, activiteis and support for seniors in our community to help them remain independent, engaged and connected.

Organised by Manchester House Senior Centre.

Public entry is free.

If you wish to have a stand, contact Sandy Hirst at the Senior Centre - 06 323 2410, sandrahirst@mhss.org.nz