Hauora holds key to wellbeing

J .F. KENNEDY said, "Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body, it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity".

Today's youth are fixated with the idea that physical fitness is having ripped and defined muscles or being skinny and lean, but we are just confusing physical fitness with physical appeal.

We want to look good and forget about feeling good. Being physically fit requires good mental health, total wellbeing and healthy motives.

One of the hurdles to overcome in being physically fit is starting with a healthy state of mind. Being able to be proud of your body and who you are is a vital step in becoming physical fit.

Look at yourself in the mirror and smile, because you deserve to.

Physical fitness greatly relies on having a healthy and balanced life-style. This means being able to obtain total wellbeing.

A Maori philosophy of health which is unique to New Zealand is hauora. Hauora has four dimensions: mental and emotional, social, physical and spiritual wellbeing.

Mental and emotional wellbeing looks at expressing thoughts, feelings and responding to others constructively. Social wellbeing looks at a person's relationships with others. Spiritual wellbeing explores values, beliefs and sense of purpose in life. And physical wellbeing looks at how the body is cared for and maintained.

In order for one to have good wellbeing, all four dimensions must be symmetrical and strong. Having a good hauora contributes to an individual being physically fit because all aspects of life will then be balanced and well maintained.

I studied hauora in Year 9 health, where we looked at the interconnectedness of hauora and how each dimension can influence another. Hauora helped me look at my life and assess my total wellbeing, which made me consider different ways in which I could improve my wellbeing. The dimension I found really helpful was spiritual wellbeing.

Just being able to identify my purpose in life, self-awareness and identity helped me be optimistic about life, which had a positive impact on the three other dimensions.

I recommend looking at hauora and how it can greatly improve your wellbeing because it has certainly improved mine. I used to only run because my parents told me to. But after looking at hauora I had a sudden determination to get active and take a positive approach to exercise.

To most, seeing someone lose weight makes that person appear committed to exercise, and it is usually admired. However, the motivation may be unhealthy.

Often we want to be physically fit to be accepted by our peers, to impress others, to attract the opposite gender or to be popular. These are unhealthy motives for being physically fit.

We have disregarded the motive of being physically fit to make us feel good and stay in touch with our inner selves. We must realise that we are all gifts and are unique in our own special way. When you realise this, you are halfway to being physically fit.

Say this: I am who I am no matter who you are and if you don't accept who I am that's just who you are.

I run almost daily, but it depends on my timetable. I am really busy, with the pressures of NCEA, netball, choir, production, brothers' sports, family business and music lessons. Fitting in a run is difficult.

Facing the first year of NCEA in Year 11 is quite frightening and you will find yourself uptight and depressed by the end of the year. My advice is find 30 minutes at least three times a week to go for a run or walk because, believe me, not only will it stimulate your brain, it will loosen you up.

You don't have to go as fast as you can. You can even walk if you want, because it's about enjoying the exercise, not making it a yet another burden on top of your huge list of things to do.

Dejealous Palota-Kopa, Year 11, Auckland Girls' Grammar School