2 February 2016
By Bryan T. Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
Explorers of good health and living are invited to the first-ever Ballymaloe Good Living Day this Sunday (7 February 2016).
Organisers say “Come be a part of this dynamic, day-long event devoted to wellness of mind, body, and spirit.”
Talks by seven wide-ranging and thought-provoking speakers will be held in Ballymaloe Grainstore between 10am and 4pm. All talks are included in the €10 entry fee. An abundance of stalls for both learning and shopping will be on hand, while local kitchen heroes will serve up delicious, nutritious food throughout the day.
Another feature of the day is the Ballymaloe Relish 5k Lucky Run to celebrate and reward the joys of movement. Three cash prizes and Ballymaloe hampers will be awarded, and not just to the fastest runners – a bit of luck is involved! Even the last to cross the finish line has a chance to win a prize of €1000, €500 or €250. Only 200 places are available and entry to all Good Living Day events are included in the €15 registration.
“Our objective is for visitors to come away with at least one new life enhancing idea or thought to carry forward in 2016 and beyond,” says Ballymaloe Grainstore proprietor, Rory Allen. “Anyone keen to enhance their lifestyle both mentally and physically will find something of interest at the Good Living Day.”
The day begins at 10am with household advice and a Q&A with Darina Allen, while at noon her daughter-in-law, TV chef Rachel Allen, will lead an informal discussion on the importance of leading a balanced life. Other talks range from music therapy and managing dyslexia to the magic of microbes and universal energy arts.
Kite surfer and self-confessed ‘water man’, Ryan Coote, is a new breed of adventurer driven by the elements. He’ll talk about how he allows the winds and waves to decide his future, believing knowledge of the ocean and the changing weather keeps us feeling alive.
Tickets for the Ballymaloe Good Living Day on Sunday 7 February are €10. Entry for the Ballymaloe Relish 5K Lucky Run is €15 and includes admission to all events. Both may be booked on www.ballymaloegrainstore.com.
BALLYMALOE GOOD LIVING DAY SCHEDULE
FUN HOUSEHOLD TRICKS & TIPS with DARINA ALLEN – 10am
Darina will share fun household tricks and some quick, irresistible and inexpensive dishes to prepare in 15 minutes. Followed by a Q&A.
UNIVERSAL ENERGY ARTS with PAM SKINNER – 11am
Raise your energy, transform your life and increase your happiness factor with the Universal Energy Arts of Yoga, Tai Chi, Chi Kung, healing sounds, meditation and YOGICHILD.
LEADING A BALANCED LIFE with RACHEL ALLEN – 12pm
An informal, relaxed discussion about the importance of leading a balanced life, followed by a 15 minute Q&A.
DRIVING THE ELEMENTS with KITE SURFING TEACHER, RYAN COOTE – 1pm
Ryan Coote admits to living in a different universe to everyone else. The self-confessed ‘Water Man’ lives his life split between land and sea, out in the elements all year round, riding massive ocean swells and harnessing the awesome power of the wind to jump 50-60ft in the air. He is a new breed of adventurer who is driven by the elements allowing the winds and waves decide his future – believing knowledge of the ocean and the changing weather keeps us feeling alive.
MICROBES FOR HEALTH with DR. MARY O’CONNELL MOTHERWAY – 2pm
Dr. Motherway is a Microbiologist and Molecular Biologist at the APC Microbiome Institute at University College Cork. She will reveal the magic and mystery of the trillions of bacteria present in the digestive tract and how these bacteria contribute to human health.
BALLYMALOE RELISH LUCKY 5K RUN – 2pm
Registration begins in The Big Shed.
MUSIC THERAPY with TOMMY HAYES – 3pm
A unique opportunity to learn about the wonderful benefits of music therapy. Tommy has more 30 years of experience as a traditional musician and music therapist, and holds an MA in Music Therapy from the University of Limerick. Learn how this creative intervention can improve cognitive functioning, motor skills, emotional development, social skills, and overall enhance quality of life.
BALLYMALOE RELISH LUCKY 5K RUN – 3pm
5K run over Ballymaloe trails begins from The Big Shed.
DYSLEXIA: THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT with AISLINN RYAN – 4pm
Dyslexia, in its multiple forms, can make school years a difficult time for children. Difficulty with reading and spelling are symptoms, leading many uninformed teachers to wrongly conclude, “He/She is perfectly intelligent but bone lazy”. Qualified Dyslexia screener, Aislinn Ryan, will talk about a new treatment that improves many forms of Dyslexia with the use of coloured lenses.