At 77 years old, Bev is no stranger to the challenges of surgery and recovery. Having already undergone total hip joint replacements on both her left and right sides, she faced yet another obstacle when she suffered a tibial plateau fracture. This type of injury, which involves breaking the bone and damaging the cartilage on the top of the tibia, could have been a severe setback for anyone. But Bev isn't just anyone.

With a determined spirit, Bev set out to not only recover from her injury but also to become an inspiration to people of all ages. She knew that the road to recovery would require hard work, patience, and a positive attitude. Undeterred by the pain and the long journey ahead, she dedicated herself to regaining her strength and mobility.

As she healed, Bev's interest in trying new forms of exercise grew. She was particularly intrigued by the idea of Tai Chi, a gentle yet powerful martial art known for its benefits in balance, flexibility, and mental clarity. Recognising her enthusiasm, Tania Upton, Bev’s Green Prescription Support person at Sport Northland, connected her with a gym pass to Kensington Fitness, where Tai Chi classes were offered, along with a pamphlet highlighting community Strength and Balance classes.

Bev eagerly began attending Tai Chi classes every Monday and Friday at Kensington Fitness, quickly finding herself captivated by the flowing movements and meditative aspects of the practice. The classes not only helped her physical recovery but also brought her a sense of peace and wellbeing whilst also improving her balance and concentration. Bev loved the classes so much that she has become a regular attendee and finds it a wonderful social group to have coffee with after the session.

When asked, what advice would you give to someone considering becoming more active, Bev says “go for it, take small steps, it takes time, so don’t be hard on yourself”.  Bev has had her wonderful husband, friends, their Road Movie & Lunch group plus the wonderful, encouraging and supportive people that gently push her through the injury recovery.

Through being physically active, Bev is now set to overcome another hurdle which lay ahead: a knee replacement surgery. We wish Bev well with her surgery when it goes ahead and will be here to support her post surgery with her physical activity journey.

The Green Prescription Programme here at Sport Northland, is a 6-month healthy lifestyle programme for adults who would benefit from one-on-one support to make small, achievable changes to improve their health and wellbeing.   Green Prescription focuses on supporting healthy behaviour changes by developing sustainable physical activity and nutritional habits.  For more information, reach out to us on 0800 ACTIVE.

Article written by Tania Upton, Healthy Lifestyle Support