- Te Whare Tapa Whā
Te Whare Tapa Whā is a model that provides a Māori perspective on health. This was created by Tā Mason Durie in 1984. The model has 5 pillars which I'll go into more detail below and the activities I undergo that relate to each pillar
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Taha Tinana (Physical Wellbeing)
Physical wellbeing is the one that is easiest to identify. How your body is feeling and moving is important even when you aren't doing physical activities. To help with this I'll be taking my dog for a walk every weekday and most weekend days to keep us both fit and active. I also ensure I always am in bed for at least 8 hours so I get a good amount of sleep and am ready for the day. My work on in this area is to try and eat healthier. It isn't easy when I'm at home all day, I tend to snack more than I should. I'll try and snack on healthier food items to keep my body well nourished.
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Taha Whānau (Family Wellbeing)
I spend quality time with my family every morning before work/day care and every evening after everybody returns home. Often we'll play games and eat meals together. It is nice to spend time as a family and communicate about the different events going on in our lives. I don't have much time for those outside my immediate family but fit in the odd visit where I can if its practical.
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Taha Hinengaro (Emotional and Mental Wellbeing)
This is the hardest pillar for me. Having a healthy mind is crucial to success. I have been trying to relax more and take pressure off myself. Having a young family has its pressures to provide and ensure they are happy and healthy. It's best to lead by example though so I try to be a calm and communicative person where I can. My daily walks are helpful in clearing my mind and putting me in a good mental state. I also complete deep breathing exercises when I am starting to feel overwhelmed. Mostly it's about overcoming my inner voice which is a battle still enraging.
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Taha Wairua (Spiritual Wellbeing)
I'm not a believer in spirituality. If it does exist I think it would come under mental and emotional wellbeing. Mindfulness is something I'm trying to implement for this.
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Whenua (Interconnections to the land and environment)
When I'm outside walking the dog we walk through nature and waterways which makes me feel like a part of the natural order of things. If it wasn't winter I'd probably do some more sitting in the sun to improve my mental health and vitamin D intake.