February 24, 2025This Wednesday, 26 February, the first WellAhead Open Day will be held at Kilmore District Hospital. It is a half day of activities, from qigong and yoga to card making, Japanese Braiding, a ‘Book Chat’ and a Sound Bath.
The activities have been carefully designed for those living with and beyond cancer. This includes patients, their families, and carers throughout every stage of their cancer journey, from diagnosis to survivorship and beyond.
Activities like yoga and qigong promote relaxation, reduce stress, and improve flexibility and strength. Card making and other creative pursuits offer emotional expression and a sense of accomplishment.
Kumihimo Braiding is a traditional Japanese art form of braiding threads into cords for garments or festival decoration. It helps capture your emotions, as well as document your life stories, through braiding.
Northern Health Library will host a relaxed and welcoming Book Chat. Reading plays an important role in overall health and wellbeing, offering relaxation, mental stimulation and a sense of connection. The Book Chat will encourage conversation and community, highlighting the ways reading can support wellness in everyday life.
The day’s activities end with a sound bath. A sound bath is when healing instruments are played for a group to create a therapeutic atmosphere that helps us rest deeply, rebalance our nervous systems and help us release emotions. The Sound Bath will be conducted by Romy Paltoglou. Romy is an accredited Peter Hess Sound Massage and Sound Bath Facilitator.
Bev Carmen and Northern Health Foundation are proud sponsors of the inaugural WellAhead Open Day, presented in partnership with VITA Martial arts, health and wellbeing and Beveridge U3A.
Mike Masilamani, Wellbeing Program Project Officer, says that while bookings are encouraged for the Open Day, they are not essential. “We are really keen the Open Day benefits the wider community-even if they aren’t patients of Northern Health. Please share this with someone you love.”
To learn more about the WellAhead program, visit nh.org.au/wellahead. You can also email wellahead@nh.org.au or call 0452476665.
