Daily Self-Care Gives Your Mental Health a Boost There are a lot of things people do every day to take care of their physical health. You can eat healthy foods, exercise, and get plenty of sleep. But even beyond that, a lot of people pick up other daily habits that protect their body, such as taking medication and applying sunscreen. Others take it a step further, engaging in activities that benefit their whole health, such as yoga. Taking care of your physical self is important, but what have you done today in an effort to support your mental health? What Is Mental Health? When we talk about mental health, we are talking about how we feel about ourselves and how we relate to the world. Your mental health determines how you make and keep friendships and relationships. It also contributes to how well we learn from others in our lives and how we use what we learn to develop psychologically and emotionally. When your mental health is poor, you may feel anxious, worried, depressed, or numb enough that it interferes with your abilities to carry on with your everyday responsibilities. Chronic stress -- often associated with work -- can lead to unhealthy coping mechanisms, including drinking alcohol. Those struggling with their mental health might avoid even the most basic self-care practices, including eating healthy meals, exercising, and getting enough sleep. Mental health is your emotional, cognitive, and behavioral well-being. When a person is free from mental health issues, they are in a state where they can easily cope with the normal stresses of life. They are able to work productively and feel like they are truly making a contribution to their community. Furthermore, they relate with others and are able to practice empathy. In the same way you do those little daily rituals that help with the upkeep of your physical health, there are ways you can support your mental health. Consider adding a few of these helpful suggestions to maintain optimal mental health every day. Care for Your Body There are some surprising ways that your physical health can affect your mental health. For instance, did you know that the health of your gut can affect your overall mood? Serotonin naturally boosts your mood, and it is found in your gut. In order to keep serotonin levels high, make sure to take probiotics, limit intake of antibiotics, and eat plenty of yogurt and kefir. Another way to boost your mental health is to keep your mouth healthy. Poor dental health has been linked to depression. Make sure to schedule regular checkups and don’t delay any necessary dental work. Clean Something Believe it or not, chores can do a whole lot more than making your house look great. Keeping your home and other areas clean and tidy is good for your mental health. Researchers have found correlations between cluttered homes and feelings of depression and anxiety in the inhabitants. Meanwhile, a clean and organized home acts as a refuge from the world where you can recharge and relax so you’re ready for another day. Meditate There’s a reason some of the world’s most successful people meditate every day. Meditation trains your brain to focus and remain in the present. This training makes it easier to handle the things in our lives that can cause stress and negative feelings. People who meditate are better able to deal with pressure and rise above it to reach their goals. Make meditation a priority by dedicating a room in your home to the practice. It doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive. Simply incorporate calming colors, sounds, and natural light. Then, be intentional about utilizing the space daily, as well as anytime you are feeling stressed. Be Thankful In today’s materialistic world, we are bombarded with media showing us advertisements for products we don’t need and celebrities with lavish lifestyles we’ll never have. It’s important to be thankful for what we do have. Practicing gratitude is one of the simplest, yet most effective, ways to boost your mental health. It makes you patient in a world that is obsessed with instant gratification. It improves your relationships, sleep, and diet. Gratitude is effective if you’re battling depression. When you live your life thankful for all the things you have while not giving those things you don’t have any mind, you create a lasting happiness and self-satisfaction that is a hallmark of good mental health. **** All those little things you do for your physical health are great for your mental health, as well. But most of us could do a little more to protect our cognitive and emotional well-being. Maintaining a tidy home means you have a place where you can feel comfortable and rest easy. Meditation is a popular habit many successful people use for their mental health. Finally, practicing gratitude helps establish lasting happiness in your life.

A comforting vegan one-pot recipe that counts for 3 of your 5-a-day! You can't go wrong with this iron-rich, low-fat, low-calorie supper. INGREDIENTS • 1 tbsp sesame oil • 1 red onion, finely chopped • 1 garlic clove, crushed • thumb-sized piece ginger, peeled and finely chopped • 1 red chilli, finely chopped • 1½ tsp ground turmeric • 1½ tsp ground cumin • 2 sweet potatoes (about 400g/14oz), cut into even chunks • 250g red split lentils • 600ml vegetable stock • 80g bag of spinach • 4 spring onions, sliced on the diagonal, to serve • ½ small pack of Thai basil, leaves torn, to serve METHOD Heat 1 tbsp sesame oil in a wide-based pan with a tight-fitting lid. Add 1 finely chopped red onion and cook over a low heat for 10 mins, stirring occasionally, until softened. Add 1 crushed garlic clove, a finely chopped thumb-sized piece of ginger and 1 finely chopped red chilli, cook for 1 min, then add 1½ tsp ground turmeric and 1½ tsp ground cumin and cook for 1 min more. Turn up the heat to medium, add 2 sweet potatoes, cut into even chunks, and stir everything together so the potato is coated in the spice mixture. Tip in 250g red split lentils, 600ml vegetable stock and some seasoning. Bring the liquid to the boil, then reduce the heat, cover and cook for 20 mins until the lentils are tender and the potato is just holding its shape. Taste and adjust the seasoning, then gently stir in the 80g spinach. Once wilted, top with the 4 diagonally sliced spring onions and ½ small pack torn basil leaves to serve. Alternatively, allow to cool completely, then divide between airtight containers and store in the fridge for a healthy lunchbox.

Day One of Level 4 Lockdown. Have you joined our Northern Arena Private member Facebook group? During a lockdown, we have got heaps going on, like; live classes, workouts, and more every day to help you keep moving. Jump on over to the Northern Arena Private member Facebook group and add yourself to the group, it’s all free and it’s for you. We'll get through this together. Stay safe, and look after yourself. How to Join The Private Group If you're not tech-savvy, here's a simple step-by-step guide to joining the private Facebook Group. Please note you will require a Facebook account to join this group. Click the Button (This will take you to the group) or on Facebook search "northern arena member page" Click "Join Group" Answer the question to confirm you are a Northern Arena gym member. Please read the rules and press "submit" Your request will be submitted for approval. You will be notified and have access to the group once it has been approved by the gym team.

In light of this evening's announcement from the government raising the COVID-19 Alert Level to level 4, we have taken the advice and necessary steps. From 9 pm tonight Northern Arena swim school will be closed until such time we are advised it is safe and appropriate to resume operations. What’s Happening with my Swim School Swimming lessons will be suspended for free for the period we are closed. Lessons paid in advance will be credited to your swim school account for when we resume business. Keeping You Up To Date We will keep you updated as much as we can via email, our website, and our social channels. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@northernarena.co.nz. As you can appreciate we may take longer than usual to respond, however, we will do our best to get back to you as soon as possible. Be kind to each other, stay safe, and thank you all for your patience and understanding. Northern Arena Facebook | Northern Arena Swim School Instagram

In light of this evening's announcement from the government raising the COVID-19 Alert Level to level 4, we have taken the advice and necessary steps. From 9 pm tonight Northern Arena gym will be closed until such time we are advised it is safe and appropriate to resume operations. What’s happening with my Gym account? We want to advise you your gym membership will automatically be suspended for the period we are closed. You do not need to do anything! Membership fees paid in advance will be added as credit to your gym accounts for when we resume business. Any minimum term dates on your membership agreements will be automatically pushed out for the period we are closed as no additional payment by you will be made. Keeping you Active We may not be open, but we will keep you moving. Stay tuned on our social channels for more online workouts and information on what is happening at Northern Arena. We will keep you updated via email our website and our social channels. Northern Arena Facebook Northern Arena Gym Instagram Northern Arena Gym Members Private Group For Now… If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at gym@northernarena.co.nz. As you can appreciate we may take longer than usual to respond, however, we will do our best to get back to you as soon as possible. Be kind to each other, stay safe, and thank you all for your patience and understanding.

Member of the Month Nominate ... Pick 6 Read It... Get More Out Of Your Produce - Kumara Read It... WOD - 500 Rep Circuit Do It... Salad with Citrus Sesame Dressing Make It...

Member of the Month Nominate ... Kelly Moving On Read It... Inbody Scans Book It... Meet Rochelle Watch It... Refer-A-Friend Find out more ... All New Les Mills Find out more ... Paleo Snapper Crudo Make it ... WOD - Cardio HIIT Do it ...

This month, our group fitness and gym manager legend, Kelly will wave goodbye to us as she embarks on a new and exciting chapter in her life and career. Kelly has literally been with us since the beginning. Back in 2010, before we even opened the doors she helped galvanize and lead a culture and atmosphere at Northern Arena that has been electric, inspiring, and infectious. Kelly has put her heart and soul into everything at Northern Arena with only one goal in mind; to help, inspire and put a smile on the face of the Northern Arena gym family members. Fast forward 10 years, Kelly has constructed and run a comprehensive and full group fitness timetable with like-minded, inspiring instructors, covering all bases of fitness options including an incredible F2 Functional Training Studio and more recently the outstanding, outdoor training area and classes in The Yard. Kelly took the team to win the 2015 Large Exercise Facility of the Year Award at the New Zealand Exercise Industry Awards. To top off the evening, she personally picked up the Group Fitness Pre-Choreographed Instructor of the Year as well. Kelly was also an integral part of the team to help win the Employer of Choice and Supreme Business award at the Westpac Auckland Business Awards in 2016. After inspiring a new generation of group fitness instructors, gym-goers, gym instructors, personal trainers, and more, the loud little Aussie heads of to try something new and we wish her all the best for the future. Thankfully, she will still be at Northern Arena in a teaching capacity. If you have never been to one of Kelly's classes you are truly missing out on an experience like no other. So make sure you get online and book yourself into one of the most motivating group fitness classes you'll ever have. From all the family at Northern Arena, thank you Kelly, we will miss you.

Check out what is going on at your gym this month. Summer Series Buy Now... Meet Leah Meet Leah... Member of the Month Nominate now... Auckland Anniversary Timetable View it... Waitangi Day Timetable View it... 7 Ways To Up Your Legume Intake Read it... Raspberry Chia Jam Make it... WOD- Power vs Speed Do it...

Check out what is going on at your gym this month! Member of the Month Nominate Now... Personal Trainer - Liss Find Out More... Get more out of your produce Read it... Peanut Butter Cookies Make it... WOD - EMOM Do it...

Meet Amberlee Get more out of your produce - capsicum Read it... Creamy Pesto Pasta Make it... WOD - Cardio HIIT Do it... Anzac Day Group Fitness Timetable Do it... InBody Scan Book it... Yoga Workshop Book it... Coming Soon...

Easter Monday Group Fitness Timetable See it ... Meet Hayley - Les Mills Group Fitness Instructor Watch it... Member of The Month Nominate Your Member of the month ... Get more out of your produce - potatoes Read it... Cauliflower Fritters Make it... WOD - Upper Body and Core Do it...