Achieving physical fitness also involves mental resilience.
Achieving physical fitness also involves mental resilience.
A group fitness kaupapa called Tamatū and designed for tāne is aiming to help them reach their fitness goals.
Benjamin Tawhara (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kahu, Te Rarawa) endured losing a friend to suicide last year.
He said the loss of his friend wasn’t the only motivation to start Tamatū, but it was one of the kickstarting factors that got him into action.
Tawhara said the goal was to improve his life for himself and for his family, his community and for the people he associated with.
“People want to lose weight but I think for us, for me and my committee, it’s about resilience, mental resilience to stay solid and weather the storm.”
Tawhara said a lot of young men were into drugs and alcohol and it “hindered their processing and they just make dumb decisions”.
“Being healthy in mind and body is simple but effective”.
Benjamin Tawhara: "Being healthy in mind and body is simple but effective." Photo / Supplied
Tawhara explained the programme started off with him making a commitment and practising what he preached by starting and completing the first six-week programme.
Tawhara led by example, saying the application of physical fitness was able to show people around him he was being more positive and more active, and that started having a ripple effect on those people.
“It’s a kickstart; it takes time, energy and commitment.”
WHERE TO GET HELP
If it is an emergency and you or someone else is at risk, call 111.
Safe to talk (sexual harm): Call 0800 044 334 or text 4334
All services are free and available 24/7 unless otherwise specified.
For more information and support, talk to your local doctor, hauora, community mental health team, or counselling service. The Mental Health Foundation has more helplines and service contacts on its website.
