The beginning of a new year brings with it many new year’s resolutions!  In fact, 83% of Australians set goals for the new year, and 51% of these goals are related to improving health. The sad truth is, research shows only 25% of people usually stay committed to their new years’ resolutions after 30 days. We sat down with Club Active Parkwood Accredited Exercise Physiologist, Matt Hansford, to discuss how to set realistic and attainable goals, that people will be motivated to achieve. Get out your notepad and pen team, we’ve got some great tips below to help you set your goals! First, b ..read more

  Bowel Cancer – what are the symptoms? Bowel cancer or colorectal cancer is known to affect the large part of the gut known as the colon and can affect the rectum. This type of cancer develops in the inner lining of the bowel wall, forming growths known as polyps. These polyps can become cancerous and invade other areas of the bowel, if left untreated, they may spread to different parts of the body. The Statistics: Approximately 15,494 Australians were diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2020. Bowel cancer affects both men and women and has the greatest impact on the over 50’s population. Sym ..read more

Transition to civilian life is something every Defence member will go through at some stage during their career. Many ex-service personnel find it difficult to successfully integrate into the wider community. As a result, continuing to focus on your health, fitness and wellbeing can sometimes take a back seat. There is a well-established link between a healthy lifestyle and improved mental health, physical health, and social connection. So DVA has allocated funds specifically to one-on-one or group fitness sessions with an Accredited Exercise Physiologist Entitled DVA clients may be referred f ..read more

Club Active Yoga expert, Michelle from U.R.YOGA, shares key insights into achieving the attitude of gratitude. Learn as Michelle outlines the benefits of practicing gratitude and what practices you should be undertaking in your daily routine to enhance your wellbeing. What is gratitude? Gratitude is Latin for “gratus”, meaning “thankful”. It is a state or quality of being appreciative. It can arise spontaneously or we can make a conscious shift of awareness. When we choose to see the positive aspects of our existence, we cultivate the power of gratitude. “Gratitude is the heart’s memory.” Alth ..read more

What is Osteoarthritis and who is most at risk? Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. It is a condition that affects the whole joint including bone, cartilage, ligaments, and muscles. The wearing down of the protective tissue at the ends of bones (cartilage) occurs gradually and worsens over time as we age. An estimated 2.2 million Australians suffer from Osteoarthritis with 60% of conditions being in women. The incidence of Osteoarthritis increases with age, with recent figures suggesting that 1 in 3 people over the age of 75 suffer from the condition. Osteoarthritis symptoms m ..read more

Meet Alvin,  a dedicated member of Club Active Parkwood. How important is prioritising yourself and your health? Alvin proves it can change your life. Alvin consistently goes above and beyond as a Club Active community member to achieve his own health goals and motivate and support other members to achieve theirs. We spoke to Alvin about his Club Active journey so far and how he has achieved such incredible results. Alvin has provided his health journey below; enjoy – it’s a truly inspiring read. Hi, I am Alvin, a 52-year-old male, living on the Gold Coast and this is how I changed the wa ..read more

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to significantly impact our community, efforts to maintain wellbeing and reduce stress and anxiety have never been more important. Equally important, is returning to a regular exercise regime post-COVID recovery. But in doing so, it’s crucial to understand how the illness may have affected your body, and how best to readjust an exercise program to ensure continued recovery and avoid any further illness or injury. The most common symptoms following COVID-19 include shortness of breath and fatigue, which have been reported to come and go wit ..read more

September is prostate cancer awareness month! With Club Active’s member demographic being predominantly over 50, we wanted to take a moment to highlight how an exercise physiologist can help anyone affected by prostate cancer, by assisting with treatment side-effects and pelvic muscle strengthening. Factors that increase the risk of developing prostate cancer Age: the risk of developing or dying from prostate cancer increases strongly with age Family history: you have a higher risk of developing prostate cancer if your father or brother is diagnosed. Additionally, genetics, diet and lifestyle ..read more

Mental health & loneliness Almost half of all Australians aged 16 to 85 will experience mental illness at some point in their life. The most common conditions are: Anxiety Affective disorders, especially depression Substance use disorders, particularly alcohol consumption The feeling of loneliness can be extremely consequential in one’s life, to both physical and mental health. In older adults, loneliness has a significant impact on mental health and well-being. Research has found 1 in 2 older adults report feeling lonely at least once a week. The team at Club Active has put together a f ..read more