Saluting the sun

PARTICIPANTS in the Northamptonshire Festival of Wellbeing enjoyed a beautiful summer's evening and saluted the sun at today's outdoor yoga class at Delapre Abbey.  The group, led by Kerry, who is the yoga instructor at Northampton's Balance Studio and one of this year's festival organisers, took part in an hour's class on the lawn of the Abbey's delightful walled garden.

You can see more pictures from the class on the Gallery page.

Power walk your way!

FANCY joining occupational therapist Sue Rey at her festival power-walking group? Sue, who is a qualified race walk coach, is leading a power-walking group on a brisk walk around Abington Park in Northampton on Thursday evenings from 6.15pm to 7pm. No experience is necessary – but you do need comfortable clothes and trainers. If you’re interested in taking part, call 07917 396562 for details of the meeting point. (Note, this is a change to the contact number in the festival programme.)

Coming up in week 3!

THE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE Festival of Wellbeing starts its third week on Monday June 14 with a programme that includes fitness activities in Corby, the Health Event 2010 at Alliston Gardens Youth and Community Centre in Northampton, outdoor yoga in the gardens of Delapre Abbey, Nordic walking in Fermyn Woods Country Park, and a bicycle bazaar!

Highlights coming up in week three include:

• Monday: Inspirational speaker Gladys Famoriyo at Wellingborough Library
• Tuesday: Health Event 2010, an information and activity day at Alliston Gardens Youth and Community Centre in Northampton
• Wednesday: An outdoor yoga session in Delapre Abbey Gardens with BALANCE Yoga
• Thursday: Salcey Forest Breakfast Bike Ride, starting from Nene Whitewater Centre in Northampton
• Friday: Wellbeing and You, a morning of complementary therapy taster sessions at Greens Norton Community Centre
• Saturday: Bicycle Fayre on Market Square, Northampton
• Sunday: The Great Father’s Day Bike Ride around Stanwick Lakes; Nordic Walking at Fermyn Woods Country Park; Sports Festival for children and young people at Benham Sports Arena, Northampton, and the Bicycle Bazaar and Treasure Hunt on Market Square, Northampton

Check out the programme for week 3.

By young people, for young people: Youth and Wellness event

A NEW event for the Northamptonshire Festival of Wellbeing takes place this Saturday at the Northampton Academy on Wellingborough Road, Weston Favell.  Aimed specifically at young people, the Youth and Wellness event aims to highlight just some of the many ways people can have fun, get creative and socialise, and look after their health and wellbeing all at the same time.

The day features dance, fitness, music workshops and entertainment, as well as information stands and interactive stalls.

One of the day’s planners and organisers, 16 year-old Kizzy Jugon said: “Looking after your health is important for everyone.  We’ve chosen lots of things that we enjoy so that young people can see just how easy and fun looking after your health can be.

“It’s also a great opportunity to get answers to any questions about health that young people have – and to tell health services what young people want from the services they use.”

The Youth and Wellness event runs from 11am to 4pm on Saturday 12 June at the Northampton Academy, Wellingborough Road, Weston Favell. Entrance is free.

A food festival to tickle your taste buds!

ANOTHER new event takes place this Sunday (JUN13) as part of the Northamptonshire Festival of Wellbeing. The Food4Health Festival will be taking place at Smith’s Farm Shop on Brampton Lane in Chapel Brampton, near Northampton, celebrating good food and eating well for health and wellbeing.

The free festival, which runs from 10am to 1pm, features Columbian mocktails on arrival, working farm tours, cookery demonstrations and tastings sponsored by Smiths, and advice from nutritional therapists, not to mention local food galore!  There are also games and a treasure hunt with a prize draw to win a hamper of goodies.

Organiser Wendi Jarrett said: “This event is about good food, learning new recipes and tasting good food, and finding out more about where our food comes from. Everyone taking part is passionate about food, so it’s going to be a real treat for the whole family. 

“The event coincides with Open Farm Sunday and Adrian Smith will be around to take visitors on a short tour of their working farm. Inside, there will be free Columbian fruit mocktails, made by members of the Healthy Communities Collaborative, and delicious demonstrations by local cooks. It’s a great opportunity to share a few skills, as well as enjoy the good life!”

The Food4Health Festival runs from 10am to 1pm at Smiths Farm Shop, Brampton Lane, Chapel Brampton, Northampton NN6 8AA on Sunday June 13.

Send us your Wellbeing Festival pictures!

Follow link to see this year's gallery of photographs from the Wellbeing Festival.  If you've taken any fun shots from any of the events, just send them through - we'd love to include them in the show.

Northamptonshire celebrates health and wellbeing

FROM Irish dancing to African drumming, Live band to yoga demonstrations – it’s all happening this Sunday as Northamptonshire celebrates health and wellbeing.

The launch of the Northamptonshire Festival of Wellbeing takes place on Sunday 6 June at Franklin’s Gardens on Weedon Road in Northampton with a packed programme of free entertainment and information for all the family.

The timetable of events starts at 10am with Latin American dancing providing a demonstration and then a dance session for all!  There will also be demonstrations on Tai Chi and Chi Gong, Dhol drums in traditional costume, ballroom to tap dancing by Experience dance and fitness and then an open session of any dance with Northants Dance!  

Taking to the stage for wellbeing

LOCAL performers will be taking to the stage at the Masque Theatre in Barton Seagrave, near Kettering, on June 2  in an evening of free family entertainment as part of the 2010 Northamptonshire Festival of Wellbeing.

The evening features live music, dance and drama, including performances from local singer-songwriter Amy Wyke, band Rage of Angels, street dancers Mirror Image and belly dancers Invocations. There will also be opportunities for the audience to get involved in an interactive drama.

Organiser Sue Jugon from Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said: “Creative arts and performing are a great way to express yourself and there is such a wealth of talent here in Northamptonshire.  We are delighted to be able to showcase some of our local, talented performers as part of the Wellbeing Festival.”

The performing arts evening starts at 7pm. Entrance is free.

Now there are even more events!

Huge thanks to all our partners across the county.  We've now got even more ways for you to enjoy your health and wellbeing.  In fact, there will be something happening every day throughout June!

With more than 130 events and activities taking place, there's sure to be something for everyone - so check out the new, updated festival diary and come and have fun with us!

Coming up in week one of the Northamptonshire Festival of Wellbeing

THE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE Festival of Wellbeing returns this June.  The festival gets under way on June 2 with a sensory walk and den-building day in the glorious Salcey Forest, near Hartwell.

There's something for everyone in the festival diary, including lots of taster sessions so that you can have a go at something new - ballroom dancing, yoga, pilates, power walking, line dancing - whatever takes your fancy!

The diary has all the details, including contacts if you want more information, so why not make a date and join us?  In the meantime, here are some highlights from week one to whet your appetite!

Weds 2 June
Sensory Walk and Den Building in Salcey Forest.
Line dancing in Daventry.
Performing arts evening in Barton Seagrave near Kettering.

Thurs 3 June
Power walking in Abington Park, Northampton.

Fri 4 June
Wellbeing Drop-in at Far Cotton Library in Northampton.

Sat 5 June
Come dancing in Northampton.

Sun 6 June
Celebration Day - the official launch of the 2010 Northamptonshire Festival of Wellbeing at Franklin's Gardens in Northampton.