Sport Central's new community educator Jill O'Brien is aiming ‘‘to increase the level of physical activity in the Central Otago region''.
During the weekend Mrs O'Brien (nee Roughan) married Cromwell builder Steve O'Brien.
Having a four-year-old son to care for, having competed in the Coast to Coast and maintaining her own fitness regime - which includes kayaking, running, biking and netball - Mrs O'Brien has an active life.
In mid-January this year she began working at Sport Central, replacing Chrissie Davies who returned to teaching.
Mrs O'Brien, of Lawrence, has lived in Cromwell for the past five years.
‘‘I've been a personal trainer for about 10 years and sports co-ordinator at Cromwell College for three years so I've been in the industry for about 13 years,'' Mrs O'Brien said.
Her programme at Sport Central ‘‘is very diverse'' and she works with all ages.
Once a month she visits Plunket in Wanaka, Alexandra, Queenstown and Cromwell, assisting new mothers to teach their babies how to co-ordinate their body movements.
‘‘It can lead to them learning to write and read easier. It's all interlinked.''
She assists with active movement for under-fives and an active family programme for five to 12-year-olds, establishing healthy diets and exercise. It includes the whole family and can be effective for children who have weight problems.
A similar programme is run by Sport Southland in Queenstown called the Hype Programme.
‘‘We're just there to help them get on the right track and introduce them to new physical activities, whether it's golf, swimming or things they haven't done before.''
The UBWell programme runs in six weeks' time for the over-20 age group and has 10 people enrolled.
It includes a physical examination before starting the exercise programme, along with working with a physiotherapist and nutritionist.
For members above the age of 55, Mrs O'Brien holds a gentle exercise programme on Fridays in Cromwell.
