Whilst this post is focused on babies, of course, the benefits of swimming apply to all of us, no matter our age!
When you actually stop and think about it, there is a wide range of benefits available to babies and children who are taught to swim in a gentle, gradual pace. If you speak to any parent who has put their children in swimming lessons from a very early age, chances are that they witnessed first-hand the many examples of mental, physical, emotional, developmental, and social benefits that result from teaching their children to swim.
First of all, a weekly swimming lesson is often a child’s first social experience out of the home that involves their peers. They learn to relate and interact with each other and look forward to seeing their classmates each week, and even watch them for cues when it comes to taking risks and learning something new. Early swimming also fosters a growing sense of self-esteem, confidence and independence, and as a child’s ability to freely move through the water increases - so does their sense of wellbeing.
For the right people, in the right situation, baby swimming can also nurture a special new connection to family, community and to the outer world. Time spent having fun and learning new things in the pool is an ideal opportunity for parent and child bonding in a relaxed and fun environment that they will both love being a part of. Social skills and self esteem are developed through interaction with other children and positive encouragement from parents and any other family who watch them at swimming time, and your child will develop a trusting relationship with you at the same time. When parents are spending time face-to-face, skin-to-skin with their babies in the water, it is a very special time for both parties. Their bond increases through the swimming lessons and parents can also exercise their patience, encouragement and kindness toward their little one. They will also learn more and more about their little person’s growing personality and how they approach new situations as they are challenged more and more.
Swimming allows babies to move independently before they are able to on dry land, which is vital to creating happy little people. Babies can learn trust and boost their confidence and self-esteem through their swimming lessons, especially as they grow and do more and more on their own. Swimming can be very empowering for babies, since it offers them a new sense of freedom as well as a way to play and explore the brand new world around them in a truly fun and relaxing way.
Based in Silverdale, Northern Arena has four cutting-edge, heated pools – all indoors. The pools are treated by ultra violet light similar to the way drinking water is treated, allowing for a low level of chlorine that makes them ideal for babies and those with sensitive skin. All of their lessons are designed to be fun as well as educational, enhancing enjoyment and confidence in the water.
Have a think about popping your child in the water – you’ll be helping them on the way to knowing how to save themselves in the water, increase their learning ability and have a lot of fun while they’re at it!
Northern Arena offer a full range of SwimFit classes for all ages and abilities - check out the options online
Ph: 09-421-9700 - Email: info@northernarena.co.n - Web: northernarena.co.nz
If you want to look good and feel great there are always lots of locals here on the Hibiscus Coast who can help!
If you're looking for a local business in the health sector, any service from a doctor to a chiropractor, or a hairdresser to a podiatrist then you can find links to many locals across the Coast in our Health, Beauty, Medical and Wellbeing section.
If you're thinking you might want to get into a new sport or more recreational activity you can find a great variety from swimming lessons to cycling, fishing to water ski-ing there's a local who can help you out in our Sport and Recreation section.
Or if you're looking for something new to wear, an item to make your life easier or just plain enjoy hitting the shops you can find everything from book shops to clothes shops, from shoe shops to furniture stores in our Shopping | Retail Section.
If you're looking to get fit and enjoy recreational activities we have two of the best options here on the Coast with Northern Arena and Stanmore Bay Pool and Leisure Centre. You may not be aware but, when you swim at Northern Arena SwimFit there is an expert coach on hand to help to correct your swimming technique, set you a swimming programme and to help you get the best out of your swim. Plus, once you've set those fitness goals, you can get the results you want with the support and guidance of the Northern Arena fitness family with memberships that encompass a full range of exercise options.
Stanmore Bay Pool and Leisure Centre of course also has a full suite of fitness, gym, swimming, aqua classes and group classes plus sport, recreation and sport leagues with plenty of fun and activities for all ages and abilities including learn to swim classes and classes for seniors and rehab.
But if you're looking for a different type of fitness routine you can find all sorts in our Exercise and Fitness category.
When it comes to medical services again on site you can find local doctors, dentists, physios, etc and when it comes to hearing anyone who has a little difficulty will be the first to tell you how great they feel once they get the right devices to help. The locals who can help you here on the Coast are a small, family owned business with Steve and Sam at Hear Again. Free assessments at their clinic or they will come to your home and a wide range of hearing aids and accessories to suit everyone. Check out details here ...
Once you are feeling great then you need to celebrate so why not head out, buy yourself a new outfit and head out for some fun on the Hibiscus Coast!
So, as you see there's no need to leave the Coast for you to "Look Good, Feel Great" and you can find a local to support to Go Local, Grow Local ...
For the love of beauty … All of us can either spend a fortune or find remedies in the kitchen cupboard. Here are some interesting tips, some are practical, some great money savers and others just plain unusual Enjoy!
Nix Post-Shaving Redness - Shave your face, legs or underarms in the shower after standing under warm water for a few minutes. This will help open up hair follicles and will soften hairs so they're less coarse to shave.
Apply Mascara To Fake Lashes - This will help fake lashes blend in more seamlessly with your natural ones.
Keep It On - When using cream-based beauty products - like lipstick or foundation - apply a dry face powder on top to seal in your look.
Find Your Shade - When choosing a foundation, test a product on the skin near your jawline. And be sure to do it in natural light. This will ensure the foundation tone you choose for your face isn't too different from the natural shade of your neck
Cracked Heal Remedy - Apply nappy rash cream to help heal cracked elbows and feet. The moisturisers and anti-inflamatory ingredients help hydrate and repair the skin.
Remove Nail Polish Without Remover - If you run out of nail polish remover, you can remove nail polish by applying a clear top coat to the nail and removing it quickly with a cotton ball.
Treat Ingrown Hairs - Apply a product containing witch hazel to help reduce the swelling and redness, then coax the ingrown hair from its location with a pair of tweezers (don't pull it out as this will only make the ingrown hair regrow the same way later).
For Greasy Hair - Avoid applying conditioner directly to your hair's roots - just apply the heavy moisturizing cream to the ends of your hair
Sunburn Remedy - Take a warm bath in VERY strong black tea -- the tannins take away the sting and swelling
Dry Out Pimples - Dabbing toothpaste onto a pimple is a quick and easy way to help dry it out
Give Curls Bounce - Never brush curls out with a brush. Instead, loosen them with your fingers. This will give curls added lift without flattening them down.
Use Oil On Your Skin - Even If is is already oily. While it sounds mad using an oil-based product to remove makeup or excess dirt from your skin can actually improve your epidermis' condition. Why? Over-cleaning stimulates the sebum glands, which causes skin to over-produce oil. Using oil-based products will have the opposite effect.
Linku2 take no responsibility for any outcome from use of any of these tips or whether they really work but guess they are always worth a try – we are just the messenger. Sources include Total Beauty, Huffington Post and Women’s Day.
It’s tough to avoid overeating. You might have a healthy meal at home, but once you step out and are surrounded by tempting junk food, your resolve can weaken. Or, maybe you stick to nutritious options, but they’re so delicious that you can’t help but reach for seconds. Here are some strategies to help curb your appetite.
When you let yourself get too hungry, you're more likely to overeat. This can lead to a cycle where, after overeating, your insulin levels spike, leaving you feeling tired and hungry again, causing you to overeat once more.
Instead of waiting until you're starving, eat when you're only slightly hungry. This helps you eat less and more slowly, which not only keeps your appetite in check but also gives you more energy throughout the day.
Regular, small snacks help regulate ghrelin, a hormone that controls hunger. For this strategy to work, the snack must be bland, and you should only drink water for at least an hour before and after eating it.
Try options like a small handful of unsalted almonds, a plain orange with a dash of cinnamon, or a small amount of watermelon. Even a tiny drizzle of olive oil with a sprinkle of sugar for energy can be effective. Doing this once a day can greatly reduce your overall appetite.
There’s a delay between eating food and feeling full—typically around 10 to 30 minutes. This means that if you eat quickly, you’re likely to consume more than you actually need. Eating slowly gives your brain time to catch up to your stomach, helping you stop when you're satisfied.
A simple trick is to chew each bite at least 10 times. This will not only help you slow down but also allow you to savor your food more, making each meal more enjoyable.
If you’re looking for ways to add flavor to your meals or drinks without sugar, try vinegar or cinnamon. Vinegar, which slows digestion, can add a tangy flavor to salad dressings, sauces, and roasted vegetables without adding many calories.
Cinnamon, which adds natural sweetness, also slows the rate at which food moves from your stomach to your intestines, helping you feel fuller for longer and preventing the post-meal energy slump.
Mild dehydration can sometimes feel like hunger, leading you to eat when all you really need is water. On the other hand, liquid calories—like juices and sodas—don’t fill you up, and they can cause rapid spikes in insulin.
Instead of sugary drinks, opt for water (still or sparkling). You can add a bit of flavour with lemon, strawberries, or cucumber, but keep it low-calorie.
Make it a goal to drink at least 8 glasses (or 2 liters) of water each day, and try drinking a glass about 20 minutes before each meal to help curb your appetite.
With these simple strategies, you can effectively manage your hunger and avoid overeating.
So it's time for a detox? Feeling sluggish, need to drop those couple of kilos or just need a really good pick me up. So how does detoxifying work?
Detoxifying is a cleansing of your blood and nourishing the body from the inside. Toxins are eliminated and nutrients replaced.
There are a number of things you can do when you detoxify your body but start with the obvious. Eliminate certain items including alcohol, cigarettes, caffine, processed foods saturated fats, refined sugars and cut down on (or give up) meat.
If you are not following a specific programme you should make sure you eat plenty of fibre. Brown rice and organic fresh fruits and vegetables and great.
Make sure you are drinking plenty of water. At least 2 litres a day should really be a normal intake, however, is vitally important during a detox to help flush your system out. Add a little fresh lemon juice.
Drink tea. Not only is it full of antioxidants but great as a thirst quencher. Herbal teas are usually the best option with green tea excellent in a detox.
Juicing is a popular form of detoxifying. Fresh organic fruit and vegetables are recommended. Green vegetable juice is good because they are rich in chlorophyll, which is said to help cleanse and heal the digestive tract.
Other juices good for a juice fast include celery, carrot, cabbage, apple, spinach, beets, and leafy greens. Remember to remove the stones in peaches, apricots, cherries and other fruit, apple seeds, carrot and rhubarb tops, and tough skins of kiwi, pineapple and mangos should be avoided.
Take care of the outside of your body too.
Make sure you exercise and sweat! Sweating is one of the body's natural ways of removing toxins. Whether through exercise or in a sauna you will feel better although be careful with the amount and type of exercise if on a strict detox programme.
Take deep breaths allowing oxygen to circulate throughout your system better.
Yoga is known for it's ability to detox by putting pressure on certain internal organs as well as helping to relieve stress being one of the major causes for needing to detox!
Exfoliating your skin is great to help remove toxins through your pores.
Get more sleep. Relax for at least an hour before you go to bed and drink a cup of camomile tea or other herbal sleep enhancing formula. Take time to relax your mind and try to get at least one extra hour than you normally do.
A massage can often be beneficial such as a Swedish massage, lymphatic drainage, deep tissue massage or Thai massage although do make sure you advise your massage therapist you are on a detox programme.
Other treatments suggested to benefit in a detox include colonics and hydrotherapy showers (5 minute very hot shower running over your back, 30 seconds cold water x 3 times followed by a complete relax in bed for 30 minutes)
However you decide to detox your body, do it carefully, follow the basic rules and you will come out cleansed and feeling like a million dollars!
Picture this: It's late, you're exhausted after a long day at work. The boss has been relentless with deadlines, and the stress has been building up. Suddenly, you feel a sharp pain in your chest that radiates down your arm. You're alone, about 8 km away from the nearest hospital or emergency room, and unsure if you can make it that far.
You know a bit about CPR, but no one ever told you how to apply it to yourself. Unfortunately, many people face heart attacks alone, and when the heart starts beating irregularly, you may only have about 10 seconds before losing consciousness. So, what can you do?
If you find yourself in this situation, start coughing vigorously and repeatedly. Before each cough, take a deep breath, and ensure that both the breaths and coughs are deep and forceful, like you're trying to clear your chest.
Repeat this cycle—deep breath, then deep cough—every two seconds without stopping, until help arrives or until you feel your heart return to a normal rhythm.
Why does this work? The deep breaths help oxygenate your lungs, and the forceful coughing compresses the heart, keeping blood circulating. This pressure may also help the heart reset its rhythm. In doing this, you might buy yourself enough time to get to help or for emergency services to arrive.
You've kicked off your summer fitness routine, and it feels great — at least for the first week. But then, small excuses start creeping in, and sticking to your commitments becomes harder. So, how do you maintain your momentum? Here are six easy strategies to keep your motivation high:
Start by defining what you want to achieve. Is it running 5km, climbing six flights of stairs without feeling winded, or feeling more confident in a summer outfit? Choose a realistic goal and write it down in the present tense, like, “I will do 30 sit-ups without stopping.” This helps turn your goal from a distant dream into an attainable reality.
Achieving fitness milestones is no small feat, so celebrate the wins along the way. Did you complete a full week of workouts without missing a session? Schedule a relaxing massage. Hit your daily step count consistently? Maybe it's time for new workout gear. The more enjoyable the journey, the more likely you are to stick with it.
Feeling bored with the same workout? Shake things up by trying something new. Attend a different fitness class, swap your regular cardio session for a swim, or explore a different style of exercise. Mixing things up keeps your routine exciting and gives you a fresh approach to staying fit.
One of the biggest challenges is finding time to work out. Make it easier by prepping everything you need ahead of time. Planning to run after work? Pack your gear and leave it by the front door so you can’t miss it. Want to work out in the morning? Lay out your clothes the night before, so all you need to do is roll out of bed and head out the door.
Even though your fitness journey is personal, you don’t have to go it alone. Invite a coworker to join you for a lunchtime class or find a local running group. A support system keeps you accountable and motivated, especially on days when you feel like skipping the workout. Share your goals with friends or online, too — the more support you receive, the more inspired you'll feel to keep pushing forward.
Sometimes, a fresh outfit can boost your enthusiasm for working out. Investing in flattering, functional workout clothes can make you feel more confident and excited to exercise. After all, when you "look good, you feel great," and you'll be more likely to stick to your routine with a bit of extra motivation.
By incorporating these tips into your routine, you'll be better equipped to maintain your motivation and reach your fitness goals with confidence.
Hearing losses usually develop very slowly, so it is easy to not notice them creeping up on you. If you are concerned about your own hearing, or that of a loved one, you can run a self check to give you some ideas. Hear Again, in Whangaparaoa, have an online self-check test, you are welcome to run through.
If you determin that perhaps hearing is affected but it may not actually be hearing loss it may be a case of blocked ears. Did you know approximately 5% of adults and 10% of children deal with blocked ears at any one time! If you’re uncertain whether ear wax is causing your hearing issue or whether an ear wax removal service can help, drop into Hear Again and their experienced staff will take a quick look free of charge. Ear wax removal is quite a simple and painless procedure and you can read more about what causes it and ear wax removal online with Hear Again.
Another frustration you, or a loved one, may experience is that annoying ringing in your ears! So what is it?
Tinnitus is the sensation of hearing sounds that aren't present in the external environment. It can manifest as ringing, buzzing, hissing, whistling, throbbing, booming, clicking, roaring, or a cicada-like noise. Tinnitus may consist of a single sound or multiple different sounds, and it can develop gradually or suddenly.
This condition is quite common, with most people experiencing it at some point, especially in quiet surroundings. About 20% of the population experiences persistent tinnitus, and for 4%, it significantly affects their quality of life.
Read more on what tinnitus is and how it can be combatted.
If you need support or hear advice remember Hear Again offer free hearing tests and also operate an in-home service if it's hard to get to their Whangaparaoa premises. The team are always happy to advise and help so you can "Rejoin the Conversation"!
Hear Again, Coast Whangaparaoa, 6 Main Road, Stanmore Bay, Whangaparaoa
0508-432-724 - info@hearagain.co.nz - https://hearagain.co.nz
Running is a popular health kick in New Zealand and can become quite addictive but running isn’t just good for the heart. Read on for some of the other great benefits then get those running shoes on and head out into our Spring sunshine!
1. Healthy heart - Running is one of the best ways to give your heart muscle an effective workout. By running regularly you can improve circulation, and reduce the risk of a heart attack, high blood pressure and stroke.
2. Weight loss - The average runner burns 1,000 calories an hour during a training session. So expect to get thinner, which will in turn help you run faster.
3. Osteoporosis - If you run on a regular basis you are continually taxing your muscles and bones so the bones are stimulated to remain stronger and do not easily weaken with age. So bye bye osteoporosis.
4. Mental health - A regular running habit will you lift your mood and build self-esteem. It also increases your self-confidence as you reach fitness and/or weight loss goals. Running can help relieve mild depression.
5. Sleep - Studies show that runners find it easier to get to sleep at night and sleep longer. Insomniacs take note.
6. Stress - Running increases your ability to cope with everyday minor irritations and stresses.
7. Happiness - Endorphins engendered by exercise mean that people who run are often happier than those who don't: ever felt that sense of elation during or after a run (known as the runner's high)? Running regularly can also improve patience, humour and ambition, and make you more good-tempered and easy-going.
8. Anxiety - Runners generally have a lower level of anxiety than those who don't run. One study suggests that regular training reduces the activity of the serotonin receptors in the brain which regulate mood. Reduced sensitivity of these receptors to stimulation might explain the positive effects of exercise on anxiety.
9. Immune system - If you are a runner you will find that you have a stronger immune system, that means you'll suffer less from minor illnesses such as colds, allergies, fatigue, menstrual discomfort, backache, and digestive disorders.
10. Brain power - You can increase your mental functions by going running as it boosts blood flow to the brain and helps it receive oxygen and nutrients, making you more productive at work.
11. Complexion - Running stimulates your circulation, improving the transportation of nutrients around your system and flushing out waste products. This will help make your skin clearer and give you that distinctive runner's glow.
12. Fat burn - By running you are building lean muscle, changing your body composition and your metabolism. Lean muscle weighs heavier than fat, but burns more calories even when you're resting, so cultivate a regular running habit and you should see a gradual, healthy inch loss.
