Be your best self

Set yourself on a positive path heading into the New Year. Try some of these ideas to look after your body, mind and soul.

If ‘improving fitness’ is among your resolutions, try these tips from Millie Walker, Master Trainer and Yoga Instructor at the Adelaide Aquatic Centre.

“Set realistic goals that include basic lifestyle changes like swapping the lift for the stairs. Also, set a weight goal, not a weight loss target. This’ll give you something to get to and maintain.”

“Different body types respond to different exercises. Consider investing in yourself by working with a qualified Personal Trainer. Regular sessions can stop you plateauing.”

“Map out your monthly exercise plan and stick to it. Make time ahead of each new month to diarise upcoming workouts. If you need to bump a class, commit to replacing it within 24 hours, if possible.”

“It’s important to remember that you can plant the seeds of greatness within your daily routine. Think of things you can easily change up any day of the week like taking the stairs, not the lift or trading the carbs for a calorie-loving salad for lunch.”

“If you share exercise interests with a friend, team up. Try to find someone for each activity you’re into so you don’t rely on just one mate to help motivate you."

“If you find yourself questioning the effort of exercise- tell yourself: ‘I’m investing not extracting. This is now about what I can get out of this work-out or meal today, this is about the long-term yield.”

“Evaluate fitness progress regularly. If you’re working with a Personal Trainer, assessments can be built into your program, and your plan adjusted accordingly.”

“Big or small, if you land a fitness goal, recognise and reward it! An incentive could be wellbeing-focused, like a cleansing facial or healing massage.”

Click here to find out about all the services on offer at the Adelaide Aquatic Centre and how the team there could help you on your fitness and wellbeing journey.

The City of Adelaide operates three community centres across the CBD and North Adelaide and each one hosts free or low-cost activities, run in collaboration with local residents.  

Among the many activities run are classes aimed at improving physical health and general wellbeing, all while having a little fun.

At the North Adelaide community centre, consider trying:

  • Strength and Stretch Class: Led by the lovely Leanne with a mix of chair-based and movement exercises to improve aerobic levels, strength, balance and flexibility. $10 per session.

If the city’s south-east pocket is more convenient to you, the Box Factory Community Centre offers:

  • Chair Based Exercises for All: Whatever your fitness ability, these classes are designed to improve aerobic levels, strength, balance and flexibility, through chair-based and movement exercises. Classes run weekly every Monday from 4 pm – 4:45pm.

Options for Minor Works Building Community Centre include:

All three City of Adelaide Community Centres off Health & Wellbeing classes.

Simple pursuits can be some of the most heart-warming – especially when you’re sharing the fun with friends. 

Monday night is Board Game Night at the North Adelaide community centre. For just $2, join in on playing a variety of non-traditional board games. Everyone is welcome, war gamers, LCG gamers, tabletop gamers, or just anyone who likes playing and learning new board games! From 5 pm Mondays (except public holidays). The Minor Works Building Community Centre also has board games on the fourth Sunday of every month from 11 am to 5 pm.

Too hot outside for boccia? No problem. join in on Indoor Boccia, also at the North Adelaide Community Centre. From 1.30 pm on the first, second and fourth Monday of the month.

Sharpen up your table tennis skills playing at the Box Factory community centre. You’re welcome to bring along your friends or come by yourself and meet new ones. Free to play, and on the last Tuesday of the month enjoy a pizza dinner for just $3.

If learning a new language is on your ‘to-do’ list, why not start the year by joining a weekly class run by one of Adelaide’s three Community Centres?

For a contribution of just $2, you can take your pick of English, Spanish, Mandarin, and Arabic at the Minor Works Building Community Centre, Spanish at the Hutt Street Library (run by the Box Factory Community Centre) or maybe conversational English at the North Adelaide Community Centre. You can even brush up on your English whilst playing board games!

If you have a special skill you are happy to share, you could run your own community workshop. With help of the Community Centre, locals have run floristry workshops, crochet groups and fitness classes – all volunteering their time and talents. If you have a skill to share, pop into a centre and chat with the friendly team.

Share a skill or learn a new one.

Visit the Community Centres website to see the activities on offer at all three facilities – and for individual contact details.