As a Financial Adviser providing insurance and investment advice, Gareth felt it was essential to test AIA Vitality before recommending it to his clients. Initially, Gareth wasn’t sure how the AIA Vitality programme worked, but he quickly fell in love with it. “If there’s room to improve my health and wellbeing and a tool that can help me do that, then I’ll definitely use it,” says Gareth. Less than two years in, he’s already a Platinum status member.
Surfing to stay physically and mentally fit
Health has always been a priority for Gareth. "The habits around exercising were already there, but AIA Vitality has reinforced them further," he says. Gareth's idea of health has changed throughout his life, and his current exercise choice is surfing. "Surfing is one of my favourite tools to decompress after a big week or day - it's exercise but also a form of meditation for me. I use the Dawn Patrol surf app that links to Apple Health and then feeds into AIA Vitality."
Before or after work, he tries to squeeze in a surf – and if the swell and his schedule permits, during lunch hours. "Most of the Finsol Hawke's Bay team are ocean lovers, so we often head out for a surf together", he explains. Gareth's surfing colleagues are also AIA Vitality members, so there's some healthy rivalry out on the water. But in the office, they share strategies to maximise the benefits and rewards of the programme.
When there are no waves, Gareth likes to stay active by doing one-on-one kickboxing and Tabata-style training in his home gym – a project he has been working on for the last two year. “Because of my lifestyle juggling the business and family life, I train more at home before heading to work.” says Gareth.
Training for life
Staying consistent with his training is Gareth's fitness goal. He jokes that he is training "just for life." With a young daughter and baby number two on the way, health and wellbeing is more important than ever. "I want to be a mobile and healthy dad, so that's a big reason to train. When I'm physically fit, I feel more mentally healthy, which translates to more capacity at work to help my clients."
Gareth's partner has also joined him on the AIA Vitality journey. Although they have different training styles, they like to check in with each other to see if they've made their daily Active Points. "The choices and daily habits we create now dictate where we'll be health-wise in the future," Gareth says.
Tried and tested – and now recommended
True to his role as a Financial Adviser, Gareth's favourite aspect of AIA Vitality is being able to see his health and wellness translated into numbers. "Seeing the points and being able to track and quantify everything resonates with me," he says. AIA Vitality also suits his personality. "I love that it accurately tracks your training and exercise and that you get rewarded for it." Gareth is currently using his active Points towards the Apple Watch Benefit.
Gareth wanted to explore the AIA Vitality programme before recommending it to clients. And now, he's a convert. "I recommend anybody who has an AIA policy to try it out – it doesn't matter what their levels of health and wellness are, just try it and see what resonates."
AIA Vitality is also the right fit for his office. "We've swapped Friday drinks for afternoon training and lunchtime surfs. We also have a smoothie station, free gym memberships and mental health days for when any of the team needs to recalibrate."
