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  There have always been at least two ways to look at an issue or an opportunity. The wisest way involves listing the advantages and disadvantages on either side. Then ‘weighting’ (A method of scoring fairly) these in relation to their importance, possibilities, and impact. Three thousand years ago the Egyptians were obviously ‘weighing things […]

  There’s little doubt some of us have had previous limits to mental health stretched over the last fourteen days. Those who work in the airlines, tourism, bars, restaurants, cafes, and yes, gyms have had massive disruption to their lives and their finances. The resulting challenge often leads to sleepless nights, pressure on relationships, and

  Faced with the shattering news that he had contracted the debilitating and terminal motor neuron disease; Auckland Pastor Phil Camden was a broken man. To be honest, YOU probably would be too. Phil was told that he only had eighteen months to live. After many days and nights wrestling with the news Phil finally

  Over thirty years ago I stood for a split second stunned in shock at the counter in our gym. In front of me was a person wanting to join. The phone rang with a supplier complaining about an unpaid bill and to the right of me, members were instantly swarming around someone who had

  As an educated guess you didn’t join the club to stay the same? Goals regularly span from losing weight, dropping a clothes size, becoming fitter, more confident, less stressed, more energetic, better sleep, to rehab an injury and to be among positive people. The gym is therefore a hive for people interested in personal

  Did you show up at the gym today? Just showing up means that you’re 80% of your way to a great workout. The hardest part – fighting with yourself, getting dressed in workout gear, dealing with traffic and the worry that you might experience ‘discomfort’, is over. Now all that’s left is your workout.

  About to be fired from his job, Steve (49), white shirt, arms folded, pensive stare sits observing our Transformation prize-giving. He’s not a member yet. It was fortuitous that we managed to capture him in this random photo. He’d been through an extremely rough period involving a family member that we’d prefer not to

  Have you ever imagined what it would be like living with diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, depression, osteoporosis or to contract heart disease or cancer? You would find yourself handicapped. A constant burden, a limiter causing you to feel old and lowering your self-esteem and self-reliance. No one wants this, yet in the majority

  If you ‘think’ you can, there is every chance that you will. If you think you can’t, you probably won’t. Do you know anyone who has become their own worst enemy? I do. I’ve heard it and seen, even people I love cutting themselves off at the knees by stating ‘I couldn’t do that’.

  The island of Sardinia has many of the world’s longest living centurions. Typically a shepherd will walk an average of seven kilometres in hill country each day while maintaining a diet leaner than most of our city folk. So one could theorise that fitness equals a long life. On the Island of Okinawa Kamada Nakazato (102) strides

  Legend tells us that the Phoenix was a bird that lived six centuries in the Arabian desert. Then it burned itself on a funeral pyre and rose from the ashes, and with renewed youth, ready to live through another cycle. The lock down was our phoenix experience. Have you found that you and your family

By the time two workmates and I surrounded him, and Brian (my Boss) ordered him to throw his knife down, there was no hope left for his wife. Quietly focused on the paperwork in my Social Welfare Auckland City office the silence had been shattered by blood curdling screams. I had quickly ran to investigate.

  Almost everyone I have spoken to says that they loved the family time, and the change of pace during the lock down – despite the lack of income. Could it be true that the World is shouting at us “IT’S TIME FOR CHANGE!” Our values have been swallowed up with the apparent and non-stop

  Three thousand years ago in Israel, World famous for his wisdom and success, King Soloman wrote that there is a time for everything in life. A time to weep, a time to laugh. A time to plant, a time to uproot. A time to mourn, a time to dance. There is a time and

  Gazing at the faces of a dozen orange vested road workers yesterday I felt a sensation for their sense of pride and purpose. The workers appeared to march towards their various machines and posts, with a bounce in their steps and steely eyed pride for what they do. Having been in lock-down, the same

  When talking about the health of the nation there is one industry that is not getting the consideration deserved from Government – the health and fitness industry, better identified as The Wellness Industry; responsible for the ‘wellness’ numbers approaching three quarters of a million New Zealanders and employing an estimated 10,000 Kiwis. Right now

  Pollution is down, crime is down, families are closer and the waters of Venice are clear. The World is closed for renovation – and Re-Think. The last four weeks have been a test in many ways, not the least, our mental attitude. And how we ‘think’ is vital to our health. If you allow

  In 1996 Tina and I sat in the audience at the San Francisco Convention Centre as the US Surgeon General announced a statement that was a game-changer at the time. The message was ‘Lack of exercise has a greater impact on your health than the top cardiac risk factors all together’. That is, not

  Exercise is the super-drug. Every regular exerciser who has mastered their first six week of self-doubt and adopted this daily discipline will assure you, ‘they feel better with it!’ Experts have regularly told us that 60-70% of patients are in hospital through events that they could have prevented by making the life-style choice of

  In 2017 Club Physical directors, Tina and Paul Richards accepted an invitation by TEAR Fund to travel to Bangkok and witness the first hand positive action of fellow New Zealanders combatting human trafficking. “Some of what we did there was quite risky. One night we were involved in the mock tracking of ‘traffickers’ in