Council encourages active lifestyles

A new, free exercise class aimed at getting our city’s older citizens active outdoors has started in central Nelson.

The classes, funded through the He Rautaki Whakatupuranga/City for All Ages strategy, are led by ACC accredited community fitness providers Angela Baker, Ollie Martin and Leigh Dalzell, and take place on Thursdays at midday at the outdoor exercise station alongside the Maitai River Walkway, near the Collingwood Street Bridge.

The Strategy’s goal is to make Nelson an age-friendly community, and in it, physical activity and social connectedness are identified as key elements of overall wellbeing. These classes encourage both. They also help participants keep their muscles strong, which is so important for maintaining strong bones and avoiding falls.

Angela said the aim of the classes is to get older people exercising safely outdoors, using the infrastructure the city already has. 

“A lot of people don’t know how to use this equipment. We need people to learn how to use it safely, and ideally, go on to bring others along with them, and teach them how to use it.”

The classes were trialled at exercise stations in Saxton Field and Tāhunanui late last year. Regular attendees reported moving better and more freely, and it had also resulted in new friendships, Angela says. The classes have now re-started at those locations, in addition to the new central city location.

Nelson Mayor Nick Smith and Nelson MP Rachel Boyack joined Angela for a quick rundown on the classes at the Maitai site.

Mayor Smith said Nelsonians were fortunate to have an abundance of outdoor activities to choose from, and he enjoyed sea kayaking, running and swimming. 

“Council has made an incredible investment in equipment around the district, and I'm immensely proud that in the last census Nelson was the most active region in New Zealand. But we need to keep working at it. 

“The big challenge of the next 25 years is that our older population is growing hugely, to a point where it is a third of the total, and we want to encourage people to keep up their exercise in their older years.

“There’s lots of options and people need to find what they enjoy and keep it age relevant.”

Rachel Boyack says she loves to get out on her e-bike and also loves to swim, whether it’s in the Parliamentary gym’s pool during a long day, or at Tāhunanui Beach with her dog. 

Taking the time to be active and decompress was critical, she says.

The classes are aimed at older adults aged over 65, but no one is turned away. They run Mondays at midday at Saxton Field outside the stadium on the gym equipment and Thursdays at midday on the gym equipment next to mini golf in Tāhunanui and at the new Maitai site.