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Stanmore Bay Leisure Centre fitness instructor Claudia Fowlie

Turn New Year goals into long term habits

Personal trainer and Les Mills instructor Claudie Fowlie started in the fitness industry, 4-5 years ago, at 17 years old. She works at Stanmore Bay Leisure Centre and Les Mills Takapuna as an instructor for several Les Mills programmes, including Body Pump, Body Combat, Sprint and Grit, and she is also a Strength Development instructor. At this time of year, there are many new people coming to the gym in hope of achieving fitness and health goals. Here are Claudia’s tips to help those New Year resolutions stick: “People thrive on having structure and goals to attain. They love the idea of achieving something, because it feels good, and is bettering them as an individual in some way. I think it’s fair to say that we’ve all been guilty at some point of making goals that seem extreme or unattainable, with an underlying idea that what was completed through the previous year wasn’t enough, or coming up with countless ‘excuses’ and reasons as to why these goals weren’t achieved. I know I have. Once the New Year rolls around, it doesn’t mean to say your previous goals or habits just diminish. Instead, re-evaluate them, see what you can do to alter them, what was stopping you from achieving those goals last year, and is there anything you want to add? New Year’s resolutions (goals) should be measurable, my tips are: • Self-reflection – this is a tool I love. Go through last year’s goals and see what areas you thrived in and what areas didn’t go according to plan. This can make planning for the New Year feel less overwhelming and easier to tackle. • I like to categorise goals into: mind, fitness, health, career, relationships, travel and ‘other’. When done, group them into daily, weekly, monthly and yearly targets to help keep you invested. If you’re like me, seeing yourself achieve daily goals is the best kind of motivation! • Make a habit checklist (there is magic in colouring in the boxes to signify the completion of tasks). Google ‘Habit tracker template’ and print out one to use. Fill it with daily habits you want to achieve. • My favourite – send yourself an automated email monthly that reminds you to check in with your goals. Are there areas you can improve on? Have you been lacking in completing daily tasks? Or are you on track and proud of the things you’re ticking off so far? Food for thought. Eventually goals, or resolutions become an automatic system that doesn’t take much thought. Forming habits is what creates routine, and routine creates our day-to-day lives. So implement things that challenge you, allow you to grow, deepen your knowledge, and fill your cup with richness and zest, because we only have one shot at it. Make it count. • Remember to be kind to yourself, set realistic goals, and enjoy the process of becoming the best version of yourself. Start now.

Health improving seminars at Stanmore

If better health is on your list of New Year resolutions, a series of upcoming Green Prescription seminars, which will be held in Stanmore Bay, could be just what you’re looking for. This year, Green Prescription will run its free healthy lifestyle seminars at Stanmore Bay Leisure Centre. They are open to the public and the first one will be held on February 21. The topic for the first seminar is Healthy Ageing, with a focus on how to give yourself the best chance of staying fit and healthy, as you age. A seminar will be held every six weeks and topics that will be covered include weight loss, rehabilitation after injuries, managing health conditions with exercise and how to use gym equipment correctly. Seminars, which are presented by professionals in each field alongside the Green Prescription team, aim to provide you with the information and tools to make changes and improve your health. Info: www.facebook.com/activeforlife.waitemata To sign up for the first seminar, email kierans@harboursport.co.nz or phone 09 415 4657.

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