Learning to live well with health
The Waipukurau Te Taiwhenua O Heretaunga conference room on a Wednesday morning is the meeting place for seven kauma¯ tua of the Live Well programme run by Teiti Hapuku from Sport Hawke’s Bay.
The Live Well programme focuses on sharing healthy eating advice, physical activity socialising and sharing experiences.
This Live Well group are all kauma¯ tua from Takapau.
They have all known each other before the programme and keep each other accountable.
Last week they celebrated completing the programme and reflected on their time with Teiti, what they learnt, the changes they have implemented into their lives along with the health benefits they have noticed due to these changes.
Nanny Norma Thompson has been working with Teiti for the past year. She says she initially started with the mindset of “it’s my life — you can’t tell me what to do.”
In the past year that has changed.
Norma says she has made improvements to her life and is noticing the differences.
Two major aspects are her self-control, and activity. Before undertaking the Live Well programme, Norma always had treats in the cupboards for her moko and found herself eating these treats as well. She learned how to implement self-control through the Live Well programme and now isn’t tempted by her moko treats.
She loves the exercises Teiti provides and practices the exercises in her own time, and sometimes going above and beyond to test her body’s limit, particularly with the poi and tı¯ ra¯ kau.
Norma is swimming daily at the pool with Whaea Turiana Williams, another Live Well kauma¯ tua. These women have taken up the opportunity via green prescription and relish the social interaction within their community that it creates.
They recently persuaded Nanny Ethel Renata, another Live Well participant, to join them.
“Once a week is enough for me,” Ethel says.
“It’s a great start. I take my book because I get cold and can read while they are still in the pool.”
Ethel credits swimming for her increase in activity.
“I used to get really sore after exercising and needed to sit down.
“But after swimming I’m out doing the gardening because it doesn’t hurt my joints and I’ve got more energy.”
Koro Arthur Snee has also made changes to his lifestyle and is noticing the differences.
The focus for Arthur was to reduce then eliminate bread and potatoes from his diet. Arthur has now seen the effect of these changes by an increase in his energy levels and tasks that used to be challenging, like walking up flights of stairs at work, are now a breeze. Arthur credits this to his diet changes that were encouraged through the Live Well programme.
The sense of community is strong within Nga¯ Kauma¯ tua o Takapau. They say they are engaged and encourage one another and have created swimming and walking groups.
The Wednesday activities included tı¯ ra¯ kau, poi, and the Moving Easy programme focusing on upper body strength and agility, Mauı¯ matau to focus on handeye coordination and Ringa a paki, to focus on memory.
Nga¯ Kauma¯ tua o Takapau who have participated in the Live Well programme are keen to continue better health and wellness.
Eight kauma¯ tua are now registered with the Green Prescription Adults.
The combination of the GRx Programme and Live Well Programme has given these kauma¯ tua the opportunity to make healthy lifestyle changes.
Nga¯ Kauma¯ tua o Takapau says they are thankful to Teiti and Central Hawke’s Bay Active Lifestyles Advisor Rachel Gunson who have assisted in their journeys.
Live Well is a selfmanagement course administered by Stanford University Patient Education Research Centre. Its primary goal is to encourage individuals with long-term health conditions and chronic pain to be in control of their own health.
■ For more information about the programme, contact Teiti Hapuku at Sport Hawke’s Bay. Phone: (06) 845 9336 ext. 706, email: teitih@sporthb.net.nz