Newly certified Community Strength and Balance instructor Vera Rapana is no stranger to exercise delivery. She’s been doing it since the leotard days she laughs. Vera has a real passion for wellbeing and wanted to provide a quality service to her community. Becoming certified means Vera is an exercise provider who meets all nine ACC assessment criteria for community group strength and balance programmes and is eligible to use the ACC quality ‘tick’. 

Here's what Vera has to say:

I love anything aqua and have been enjoying swimming my whole life. I love hauora and water fitness, as it helps me with my own health and wellbeing. Low impact and no impact on the body joints is one thing I love about it. It’s safer to exercise than opposed to on land, also for injuries, disability and rehab it's great and the body is supported and massaged by the water producing awesome results. Both the main pool and the hydrotherapy pool are outdoors with fresh air and sunlight also excellent for hauora.

I love serving the community in this way I can awhi people to achieve their health goals adding to their kete of hauora tools. I practice Rongoa this way in water with music, clients are achieving their health goals getting toned, improving their strength, balance, mobility, and confidence in the water.

I'm grateful for the supportive community of this initiative I named AquaMotion. Last season I received awesome response from the community Kauri Coast Community Pool staff management and the Dargaville High School pool during autumn and winter where we have a couple of classes per week there. Sport Northland have been very supportive of this initiative for community health and Te Ha Oranga staff and management are supportive of the programme too, I appreciate them all.  

I look forward to developing further as I’m still trying out a few new things this season and I invite all to come give it a go.

Lynley Thompson is a regular participant. She damaged her spine after an accident and thought she’d give water exercise a try.  “Since starting these classes I’ve never felt better and no longer suffer from pain. The specialist couldn’t believe the improvements I’ve made. Vera is good at communicating, she makes the routines exciting and fun and looks out for everyone. I can’t recommend it enough”.

Another participant comments “I love it and think it’s awesome. Vera is lovely, she makes you feel comfortable and allows you to go at your own pace. The class makes me feel happy and good, it’s awesome to do it with a group.  Exercise is way easier in the water than on land, this gives me the time to work my way up to get fitter and stronger. I then hope to do other activities out of water. It’s amazing, I recommend this to anyone trying to better their health and weight loss”.

You can find more information regarding this class and other Strength and Balance classes at www.sportnorthland.co.nz on the Community Strength and Balance page under Get Active.