WALKING CHALLENGES:The Irish Heart Foundation (IHF) is behind a new initiative to encourage people to walk to keep fit.
The IHF recommends that we walk about 30 minutes a day (three brisk ten minute walks are as good as one 30-minute walk) which amounts to approximately three kilometres a day. The new initiative, however, sets a further challenge to walk 100km (or 1,000 minutes) to achieve a silver pin or walk 500km to get a gold pin. Contact the IHF on tel: 01 6685001 or drop into any ECCO shoe stockist for a free challenge card.
WORLD HEALTH DAY:Saturday next (April 7th) is World Health Day, an annual event which marks the founding of the World Health Organisation. Each year, the day is used to raise awareness of key global health issues. This year's theme is international health security. See www.who.int/world-health-day/2007 for more details.
HOMEOPATHY AWARENESS WEEK:Women's health is the theme of this year's World Homeopathy Awareness Week which runs from April 10th-16th. There will be a free public talk on the topic in Mansion House, Dawson St, Dublin on Monday, April 16th at 7.30pm. The speaker is Grainne Freya Hammond, qualified registered homeopath. Advanced booking essential on mobile 086-3779974.
In Galway, the Galway College of Homeopathy is hosting an information evening on Wednesday, April 11th at 6.30pm in Bodkin's Bar, Kingsvalley, Hotel, Merlin Park. Speakers include Clare Sheehan, director of the Galway College and Councillor Niall O'Brolchain, Mayor of Galway. Tel: 091 776886 for more details.
MEDITATION WORKSHOPS:Mindfulness meditation is based on increasing our awareness of and appreciation of what's happening in the present moment. The technique has become a valued tool in the treatment of anxiety, fear, worry and depression.
The Passaddhi meditation centre in Adrigole, Beara, Co Cork is the venue for a residential workshop on stress reduction through mindfulness, on April 13th-15th. The weekend will be led by Catherine Sutton. Tel:027 60223 or e-mail moosterhoff@eircom.net for more details. See also www.vipassana.ie