Staff and Students Strut their Stuff to Launch Health and Sports Week

Mar 22, 2011

Trinity College students and staff performed a dance flashmob on the campus’s Front Square to launch the College’s 7th annual Health and Sports Week (21 – 25 March).  Dance is a new activity added to the programme of events this year which is a great way of taking care of your physical, social and mental well-being, as well as being an activity people of all ages and abilities can take part in.

This year’s Health and Sport Week theme is Trinity, A Healthy Place To Be, encouraging students and staff to lead healthier lives by taking up exercise and eating a more nutritious diet.  Throughout the week a number of free, healthy and fun activities have been arranged for staff and students aimed at encouraging healthy habits that will lead to a better quality of life.

“The choices people make on a day to day basis make a big difference to their health in the long term,” states Director of the College Health Service Health Week, Dr David McGrath.  “Health Week offers a great opportunity for people to try new things and make better choices for their health.  Our aim is that individuals will then build in that new exercise activity into their daily or weekly routine.”

Students and staff dance at this year's launch of Health and Sports Week.

Dr Eva Orsmond of Operation Transformation is the Health and Sports Week guest speaker this year giving a talk on The Importance of Healthy Weight and Diet on Tuesday 22nd March at 1pm in the Davis Theatre, Arts Building.  Other Health and Sports Week activities this year include classes in yoga, pilates, meditation, and mindfulness; dance classes in salsa, waltz and disco; relaxation sessions, fitness theatre inductions and healthy eating options in College catering outlets.

A number of talks are also taking place during the week.  A Grow Your Own workshop entitled From Seeds to Soups and Salads hopes to encourage organic living.  An overview session on Mindfulness including a meditation is scheduled for Tuesday.  A Living Well With Arthritis talk by Arthritis Ireland will take place on Wednesday and a talk on diabetes and exercise will help sufferers manage their condition.

Also this year the College’s sports clubs will be holding fundraising events throughout the week for CRY, the national charity for Cardiac Risk in the Young.  The events include a skipathon organised by the Boxing Club and a penalty shoot out run by the Hockey Club.

The full programme of Health and Sports Weeks events is available at www.tcd.ie/collegehealthweek/programme