Let's Get Physical

Kia ora e hoa mā! 

Let’s get physical!

So we’ll be real with you. We can confirm we’re not the sportiest Salient editors. If anything, we might be the two of the least sporty. Does this mean that we’re couch potatoes? We do froth a Love Island night, but we’re definitely active, just in our own way. 

Aotearoa is obsessed with sport and fitness. It’s a culture so strong, being unsporty in school could get you bullied; not just by other kids, probably by their mums too. But being active is not exclusive to the sports field or gym. Keeping active might mean your choice of transport to uni—walking, biking, or e-scootering up the hill. Activity is Sunday walks to get coffee with friends, the yoga sessions in your flat living room, or the nights spent dancing up a storm in Circus. Anytime you’re moving your body, it’s all active. 

Maia: I might feel uncomfortable in active wear, but I still see the value in keeping active. Activity is not just about fitness, but it’s important for mental health, clearing your head, and valuing how amazing and strong your body is. Life as a student is busy; it’s filled with lectures, tutorials, work, clubs, and fitting in a social life around this. Keeping active is the first thing I sacrifice when the going gets tough. This is where finding your ‘chosen sport’ comes in handy: something that you can easily do when you least feel like being active. You might see me riding my bike up and down Kelburn Parade. By bringing activity into my mode of transport, I can trick myself into doing something active everyday, and find fun in it too. 

Fran: I personally quite enjoy activewear, especially tennis skirts (so cute), basketball shorts and sneakers (fun and cool), and yoga pants (far out, they make my butt look great). Activity for me has meant roller-blading, netball, a few quick gym memberships,  leisurely cycling to tunes while stressed, and my current love of daily yoga. My mum is a big yoga fiend, and since childhood she’s been trying to get me into it. Like, for real, we had multiple ‘kids yoga’ DVDs at home. Naturally, I rebelled, not believing her spiels on yoga’s seemingly-magical positive effects. As much as it pains me to admit, she was right. After a brain injury, I can confirm it’s a wellbeing game-changer. At least I can still rebel against my dads love for Tai Chi, but he is 60 so come back to me in 30 years…

This week, we introduce you to the new Vice Chancellor, Nic Smith. Pippi brings you along to emergency responder training with UWERT: the University of Wellington Emergency Response Team. Phoebe explores queerness and activity through burlesque, cabaret, drag, dance, and theatre. The Salient news team unpacks Yung Gravy’s concert, understaffing, and campus business security. They also asked who tf approved the Nic Smith hot new bombshell TikTok.

This issue is all about making activity your own. We encourage you to make time for movement. It doesn’t have to be the gym. Our key advice: carve out ten minutes in your busy uni week for movement, even if it’s a bedroom dance break. 

Arohanui, 

Maia and Fran xx