With our focus on Health & Fitness we thought we would have a chat with a few prominent Shore people about how they combine a fitness regime with their busy lifestyles. We chat to well known Bays locals Jayne and Peter White, popular local board members Alexis Poppelbaum and Toni van Tonder, and real estate supremo Andrew Dorreen. Interesting reading...
Jayne and Peter love to keep heathy and fit, they talk to Channel Mag about their summer break, having fun with their family (including their 10 beloved grandchildren) and travel. The former gym owners are now semi-retired, but both keep active daily, and Peter is still involved in Rugby (management for North Harbour and working with international teams when they tour). The couple lead a busy life and give readers some good tips on creating healthy habits, enjoying exercise and more.
Channel Magazine: How’s 2022 going so far for you, have you had an enjoyable break and good start?
Peter: We’ve had a great break – the weather has been outstanding, and we have done a number of smaller breaks, including a wonderful staycation at QT in Auckland, cycling the waterfront cycleway from the Harbour Bridge to St Heliers and back, and attending the marvellous Michelangelo exhibition that Benefitz were prominent in facilitating. We also did five days in Taupo, a few days at Mangawhai and lots of time with the in grandchildren in Milford and Omaha. We have also got a South Island holiday booked in March doing the Lake Dunston Cycle trail and visiting the Catlins and Stewart Island.
Jayne: These are certainly challenging times for everyone. We are fortunate that we are semi-retired and surrounded by eight of our 10 grandchildren (We have two living in Australia but were lucky enough to visit just before we went into lockdown). We had a trip to Taupo, a night in town visiting Art Exhibitions and my favourite shops, but mainly spent the break on the beautiful North Shore, at Mangawhai and Omaha.
CM: Have you made any life adjustments health wise with Covid19/Omicron and the pandemic?
Peter: Only the obvious, mask wearing, vaccinated and boosted, scanning and increased hygiene.
Jayne: Covid-19 and Omicron has meant so many adjustments for people. Again, we are very fortunate, however wear our masks and try to stay as healthy as possible.
CM: What does your weekly health and fitness regime look like?
Peter: I have a split program but cycle at least 20 mins (rehab for a dodgy knee), stretch and self-massage with a massage gun every day. I weight train three days a week alternating with a cardio (swim and indoor rowing) and shoulder rehab three days a week.
Jayne: I probably do some form of exercise every day, whether it be walking, cycling, stair running, resistance training and stretching.
CM: What do you enjoy about keeping healthy and what parts do you find harder?
Peter: I love being able to train with Jayne both structured and recreational. Whenever we go away, we try and hire a tandem bike (especially enjoy riding around the vineyards in Queenstown and Napier), we often go to the gym and cycle together and we especially enjoy being fit enough to play with grandchildren, things like the pool, beach, trampoline, climbing trees, being able to lift them onto playground equipment or swing them around and capable of getting onto the floor to play (and back up again!). As I've got older, I had to accept that I don't need to train as hard as I used to, and that flexibility is just as important as strength and cardio training.
Jayne: I just love how keeping healthy makes me feel every day. We need to keep up with the grand kids and apart from cycling the big hills around the Bays, I’m still enjoying it all!
CM: Do you have any tips for Channel readers when it comes to creating healthy habits?
Peter: Find activities you enjoy – especially if you can participate (and make a commitment) with your partner or friends. Don't try to do too much, instead train regularly to establish a habit. Everything in moderation (food, drink etc) and don't beat yourself up if you slip up every now and again. Ensure you include flexibility, cardio and resistance training in your fitness regime.
Jayne: Do things you enjoy and often. Grab a friend, go for a walk, a swim or cycle, try dancing or yoga. Do this in conjunction with a balanced diet. Eat lots of green, limit sugar and alcohol, additives and preservatives but, all while understanding that it really is ok to have cake or your favourite pizza, pasta dish sometimes.
CM: Random question but are you team electric bike or old-fashioned pedal bike?
Peter: Old fashioned pedal bike, although have tried electric and will definitely get one later in life.
Jayne: Pedal bike so far, however, I think I will get an electric bike eventually.
CM: What hobby keeps you busy and happy and why?
Peter: Family is most important. Jayne is very good at getting all of our kids and grandchildren together for family occasions and trips on a regular basis. I am still heavily involved in Rugby as manager of the North Harbour NPC team, working with International teams (Ireland and the French women's team later this year), and with a number of different programs with the New Zealand Barbarians Rugby Club.
Jayne: Apart from fitness it is totally the grandies – makes me feel grateful and happy every day.
CM: My fitness and/or lifestyle goal for 2022 is to…
Peter: Be able to continue enjoying activities with my wife and family.
Jayne: Continue to stay fit and healthy and having fun on the way.
Alexis has been on the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board (East Coast Bays division) since 2019. She was born in the Bays, grew up locally and now lives in the area with her husband and two children under three. With a background as a political staffer, policy analyst and communications specialist, Alexis leads a busy life as a working mum and says she loves spending time outdoors. She tells Channel Magazine about her lifestyle and how prioritising her own health and wellness makes her a happy and healthy mum.
Channel Magazine: How’s 2022 going so far for you, have you had an enjoyable break and good start?
Alexis Poppelbaum: We had a very low-key summer staying local and enjoying some quiet family time, which was nice now that I’m back into the full swing of things at work.
CM: Have you made any life adjustments health wise with Covid19/Omicron and the pandemic?
AP: I do click and collect supermarket orders every week now. Aside from the obvious benefits, it also puts a halt to off-the-list treats coming into the house!
CM: What does your weekly health and fitness regime look like?
AP: As a working mum of two children under three years old, every week is different. I do have a Personal Trainer (Kelly Hebbink Fitness) who comes to me once a week which really helps.
CM: What do you enjoy about keeping healthy and what parts do you find harder?
AP: We like getting out and about as a family doing local bush walks but I find it really challenging to make time for my own regular exercise.
CM: Do you have any tips for Channel readers when it comes to creating healthy habits?
AP: I read somewhere recently that you should think of finding the time to exercise as a privilege, rather than a task. That mindset change has really been helping me.
CM: Random question but are you team electric bike or old-fashioned pedal bike?
AP: I know several older people who have purchased e-bikes and love getting around the Bays on them, where they wouldn’t have done so otherwise. Whatever works to get you out and about is a winner in my eyes.
CM: What hobby keeps you busy and happy and why?
AP: I’m really into growing my own fruit and vegetables. I get a real kick out of it and love watching my three-year-old eating straight from the garden.
CM: My fitness and/or lifestyle goal for 2022 is to…
AP: Keep trying to prioritise regular exercise – a happy healthy me is a happier healthier mum to my children.
Andrew and his family enjoy keeping active, the busy real estate agent from Precision Real Estate, lives in Takapuna with his wife Sarah and two school aged children, Ruby and Jack. Andrew talks to Channel Mag about taking up wing foiling, his general approach to health and wellness and the importance of goal setting and taking time to enjoy life.
Channel Magazine: How’s 2022 going so far for you, have you had an enjoyable break and good start?
Andrew Dorreen: We had great break in Opito Bay in the Coromandel, staying with friends with plenty of fishing, beach time and just relaxing with the kids. We came back early January for work but enjoyed some down time in and around Takapuna which was great.
CM: Have you made any life adjustments health wise with Covid19/Omicron and the pandemic?
AD: We are a very health driven family, we all do regular exercise and keep active. Other than the mask wearing and general precautions we have to adhere to now with work and social life, we are pretty much living as normally as we can.
CM: What does your weekly health and fitness regime look like?
AD: I go to the local gym 4-5 times a week to keep active and on the other days I run, often with a friend. I also play tennis on a Monday night and our interclub team has a casual hit with the coach on a Thursday morning followed by coffee at the local. Since the last lockdown, I’ve also started Wing Foiling (water sport)! This is my favourite, a new skill and great exercise at the same time. If I have an hour or so in the middle of the day and its windy, I’ll try nip off to the lake.
CM: What do you enjoy about keeping healthy and what parts do you find harder?
AD: Exercise and being healthy is really quite easy for our family as my wife Sarah is also on the same page. We find, even if away we will make time individually to go for a run or gym even when overseas. I guess a healthy lifestyle makes me feel fresh as work is demanding and often can be stressful with the load that comes with it, keeping healthy resets me so I find if I go two or three days without exercise, I’m craving it and feel the effects of not doing it.
CM: Do you have any tips for Channel readers when it comes to creating healthy habits?
AD: Find an activity or activities that you love or want to do. If you’re just getting started, do it with a friend or in the gym use the services of a personal trainer. Walk or run in fine weather, don’t battle when it’s raining or windy as it becomes unpleasant. Keep it fresh, keep it varied. If you go yourself, listen to a podcast on a topic you like or want to learn about it makes time go quickly.
CM: Random question but are you team electric bike or old-fashioned pedal bike?
AD: Old fashioned pedal for me!
CM: What hobby keeps you busy and happy and why?
AD: I love playing tennis. It’s very social but can be competitive if you want it to be. After an hour, it’s a real work out. Wing foiling is great and now a passion of mine, there’s a great bunch of guys doing it of all ages and abilities. After a good session on the lake, it’s always followed by great topical discussion afterwards!
CM: My fitness and/or lifestyle goal for 2022 is to…
AD: Each quarter I do write goals down and love to tick them off. Lifestyle wise, I like to continue to coach my son’s rugby, water polo, sailing and in general making as much time for both children as practically possible with a highly time poor occupation! We are finally about to move into our new house in Takapuna after two years of construction so taking a moment and enjoying that is high on the list!
Toni is a Devonport resident and member of the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board, she’s also a mum of three school aged children and wife to Pierre. Movement is an everyday part of her life; she loves how it makes her feel and says her grandmother has been a big influence on the way she views wellness. Toni talks to Channel Mag about the importance of starting simply with walking or pilates, keeping active even when lockdowns have cancelled a few regular classes like Yoga and also explains about taking up new activities like cross fit to keep her routine fresh and exciting.
Channel Magazine: How’s 2022 going so far for you, have you had an enjoyable break and good start?
Toni Van Tonder: We've had a fantastic break. I think we did a year's worth of adventuring in four weeks with hikes in Queenstown, surfing at Matauri Bay, swimming in Mount Maunganui and mountain biking in Rotorua. It was a fantastic time to switch off from all the noise and connect with my family. Even though we spent about six months stuck at home last year with one another, juggling work and school commitments meant we weren't always that relaxed. Am feeling revived now and our family time has been quality time.
CM: Have you made any life adjustments health wise with Covid19/Omicron and the pandemic?
TV: Not really. I've always been a pretty healthy and active person and I support my kids to engage in physical activity as much as possible. In lockdown, I missed my yoga but stayed active through running every second day. One thing my husband and I have taken up this year is Cross Fit at Sano Training on Barry's Point Road. The guys there run a slick operation and it's really fun. Weight training is a whole new thing for me. The palms of my hands are all calloused now, and we've been forced to remove our wedding rings as a result, so I'm not sure where it's going to take us!
CM: What does your weekly health and fitness regime look like?
TV: Monday night it's yoga, Tuesday morning up and down Takarunga three times and Tuesday night Sano Training, Wednesday it's a run, Thursday it's Takarunga again at 6am, Friday rest day, weekend one more run and a rest day. Probably looks a bit OTT but I'm a movement seeker and need to exercise daily to feel like I'm switched on and ready to go.
CM: What do you enjoy about keeping healthy and what parts do you find harder?
TV: I love fitness and feeling strong and well. My grandmother was an absolute role model. She lived in an apartment in downtown Mount Maunganui and every birthday she'd swim a length of the 20-metre pool for each year she had been alive. She was still doing this in her 80s. I'm definitely finding the weight training hard, but that's because it's new. I'll get there.
CM: Do you have any tips for Channel readers when it comes to creating healthy habits?
TV: Just start. That's the only hard part. It'll take you about two weeks to realise you feel a million times better for doing some exercise. I started with lots of pilates, yoga, dog walking. These are non-confrontational options for newbies and as you grow your fitness, you may find you can challenge yourself further.
CM: Random question but are you team electric bike or old-fashioned pedal bike?
TV: That's actually a great question! I have always been team electric bike because it's so fast and you don't break a sweat, can wear skirts and make up and not feel hot and bothered before work, but through lockdown I started cycling more and have found my cycle fitness and actually love being on a push bike. I haven't actually used my electric bike for six months, opting instead for the standard. I feel like I still need both though. We're a single car family and if I need to get somewhere quickly, the ebike is the answer.
CM: What hobby keeps you busy and happy and why?
TV: I do like listening to a podcast and walking our dog Scout on the beach.
CM: My fitness and/or lifestyle goal for 2022 is to…
TV: I don't have any fitness goals. Fitness is simply a part of my lifestyle. I don't aspire to be a champion or beat my time at anything, it's just the act of moving my body that makes me happy.
Martin Cooper is thoughtful and considered when it comes to his health and wellbeing. Mental wellness is just as important to him as his physical health and he does many different things in his daily life to create healthy habits. Martin’s the high profile Managing Director of Harcourts Cooper & Co, a leading Real Estate company on the Shore. Martin explains to Channel Mag about how he spent the summer, learning a new skill each year and prioritising wellness in his busy life.
Channel Magazine: How’s 2022 going so far for you, have you had an enjoyable break and good start to the year?
Martin Cooper: I had a great break full of connecting with family. We spent time in Queenstown where I grew up and we had four generations there from my grandson through to my parents so a nice summer really focused on friends and family. Work-wise, we’re in a changing market and it’s challenging because of the isolation created by not having our teams together as a result of Covid19. We had things like our Christmas and planning functions postponed. Real estate is such a people-business so we’re all missing the team and people I think.
CM: Have you made any life adjustments health wise with Covid19/Omicron and the pandemic?
MC: I am far more conscious of social distancing, I used to be a big hugger so I’m missing my hugs and I’m more aware of wearing masks, sanitising hands. I’m taking all the usual precautions and am fully vaxxed and boosted.
CM: What does your weekly health and fitness regime look like?
MC: I’m very strict on sleep, hydration and breathing and trying to be present. I mountain bike 4-5 times per week and that’s a great chance to catch up with thoughts and reflect on things, I also go to the Harcourts Cooper & Co run events like the Takapuna Beach Series, recently I did the Harcourts Cooper & Co Devonport Half Marathon. Well it was the five kilometre race but I did it!
CM: What’s important to you about keeping healthy?
MC: Mental fitness is important, filtering and concentrating on things I can control and not things beyond my control like economy, pandemic etc. To be the best I can be at managing those things I can control.
CM: Do you have any tips for Channel readers when it comes to creating healthy habits?
MC: My tip would be to have current and up-to-date written goals and aspirations. I recommend people manage their self-talk because people can be their own worst critic. I also take time to reflect on all the things I am grateful for often.
CM: Random question, but are you team electric bike or old-fashioned pedal bike?
MC: I have a place in Queenstown and in lock-up we have both pedal bike and e-bike and we also have the same set up in Auckland. I’m a Real Estate Agent so I have to be honest and the pedal bike is gathering more dust than the e-bikes!
CM: What hobby keeps you busy and happy and why?
MC: Well as I get older, each year I like to take on a new challenge so a few years back it was boating, now I have shares in a boat and can take it out. The latest challenge since Covid19 is wing foiling. So I have all the gear and been on Lake Pupuke, behind a jet ski on the foil board and now I’m figuring out how to do foiling and wing together so wish me luck!
CM: My fitness and/or lifestyle goal for 2022 is to…
MC: … Weigh in at 89 kilos!
