Te Whare Tapa Whā (the four sided house) is one model for hauora (wellbeing) in Te Ao Māori that describes how all aspects of our life are both interconnected and influence our overall. It represents the different parts of our hauora with each wall representing a different aspect that are all connected to the whenua.
Taha Tinana
Taha tinana is about how you physically feel and it encompasses how you nuture your body including physical activity, nutrition, sleep. I nuture my taha tinana by consistently making time for my sport, intuitively eating, and sleeping enough - both with regards to the quality and amount of sleep I need. I put in effort to make sure I listen to my body and give it what it needs rather than what I expect it should be given.
Taha Whānau
Taha whānau is focused on your relationships and who you feel you belong and are at home with. All my relationships are chosen ones, and I make sure to nuture them by proactively putting in effor to strengthen and deepen my relationships with these people - I schedule in climbing sessions, have weekly dinners, make an effort to reply to messages, check in on important happenings in people's lives, and honestly and directly communicate with them.
Taha Hinengaro
Taha hinengaro is focused on your mental and emotional state, both how you think and are inside your head, but also how your feelings impact how you communicate. I nuture my taha hinengaro by prioritising my mental wellbeing - it always comes first and impacts my daily choices. My sport, relationships, and how much I sleep and how I eat are all decided by what will have the best impact on my taha hinengaro. I also have fortnightly sessions with my therapist, and have a daily yoga/movement meditation to help ground my head and engage with my emotional and mental state.
Taha Wairua
Taha wairua is centered around your mauri - your life force and who you are, where you are from, and where you are going. This sense of spirituality is individual, and can range from faith and religion, a connection to the universe, or a sense of meaning and purpose My taha wairua is nutured by connecting myself to the things in my life that make me feel the most myself, like I am at the core of who I am. This includes trail running, making time to support and connect with my friends, and putting time and effort into the teenagers I mentor.
Whenua
Whenua is focused on the land and environment, and how you fit and belong with it. For māori it is an intrinsic part of your whakapapa, but as a pākehā where I feel comfortable, safe, and myself My connection to the whenua is nutured through making sure I make time for my trail running, by remembering and reinforcing that as a human I am part of te taiao during my morning yoga/grounding, ensuring I go outside every day, taking time to tend to my many plants, and ensuring I take time to breathe and listen to everything going on around me.