The Health & Wellbeing Day includes a programme of free talks, presentations and demos throughout the day.

You can pop along to any talk and join in if seats are available. However, to make sure of a place, you can also pre-book seats at your chosen sessions by using the form on this page.

Note: To reserve seats at a talk(s) you must first have purchased admission tickets for the event, which can be done by clicking the ‘buy tickets’ button below.

[10.30 am] How to Look After Your Skin in the Winter Months

Joanne Thompson (Skinn Therapy)

Winter is a harsh season on your skin. During this session, Joanne will explain how to create ultimate skin health throughout the winter.

She will explain a basic skin routine and what to add to your routine during the winter. The presentation will include information on skin condition dehydration, psoriasis, eczema, rosacea, acne and sensitivity.

Joanne treats the skin on a 360 degree approach, so expect everything from what we put into our body, what we apply onto the skin and the environment our skin lives in.

There will be a Q&A session at the end of this presentation.

[10.30 am] Breathing for Wellness

Speaker: Patricia Martin: Tricia Wellness

We all breath, but are we breathing to support a healthy body and mind?

Functional breathing supports all of the systems in our body and is intimately connected with the nervous system.

In this session, Patricia will encourage us to be aware of our breath signature and through various breath techniques improve our sleep, anxiety and overall performance in our day-to-day activities both physically and cognitively.

There will be a Q&A session at the end of this presentation.

[11.00 am] Mummy and Me: The First Year

Speaker: Julie Edler (Movement and Milestones)

Julie will be discussing how mums can take care of their health and wellbeing - and that of their babies - through the pivotal first year after birth. This will include . . .

For Mum:

• Changes to your body during and after pregnancy.

• What to expect after birth.

• A few tips on taking care of your wellbeing and physical health in the first year after childbirth.

For Baby:

• Baby milestones - why are they important?

• The first year being the foundation for development.

• A few tips on how to set your baby up for success in the first year.

There will be a Q&A session at the end of this presentation.

[12.00 noon] Are You Constantly Stressed?

Speaker: Dr Garry Carless B.Sc., B.App. Sc. (Chiro) (Holywood Chiropractic)

Do you suffer from neck pain, headaches, migraines, poor posture, stress and low quality of life?

Constant stress can lead to some of the following mental, emotional and physical challenges: neck pain, tight muscles, headaches, migraines, lack of sleep, shoulder problems, hormonal imbalances and digestion issues.

In this presentation, Dr Carless will discuss the chiropractic and neurological tests - including the Neuroinfiniti scan - which check brain wave activity, heart rate variability, heart rate, respiration rate, skin conduction, muscle contraction and hand temperature to determine if your brain and nervous system are in an over aroused or under aroused state. He will also discuss specific chiropractic adjustments and lifestyle advice which can be helpful in these situations.

There will be a Q&A session at the end of this presentation.

[12.00 noon] Breathe Better with Salt Therapy

Sylvia Darragh (Salt Therapy NI)

People are exposed to pollutants, airborne diseases, bacteria, allergens and other irritants on a daily basis. In addition, since the Covid pandemic we have all become more aware of the need to take care of our respiratory system to ensure our lung capacity is at its best to fight off infections.

Salt Therapy, otherwise known as Halotherapy, is a natural and drug-free respiratory treatment. It is a method to cleanse and detox the lungs and invigorate the body with increased lung capacity and oxygen intake.

Salt Therapy is totally safe for all ages including babies and pregnant women.

Salt Therapy can be used to treat all respiratory and skin conditions such as:

• Asthma

• COPD

• Bronchitis

• Chest Infection

• Hay Fever

• Sinusitis

• Psoriasis

• Eczema

During treatment, pure grade pharmaceutical salt is ground down to a very precise particle size and blown into the room where you just sit and relax and breathe normally.

The benefits you can expect from regular salt therapy sessions are:

• Improved lung function

• Increased oxygen levels

• Boosted immune system

• Clear sinuses

• Improved skin condition

• Better sleep

There will be a Q&A session at the end of this presentation.

[12.30 pm] Understand Your Child’s Baby Body Language

Speaker: Anne Matthews (Author of the parenting book: What is My Child Telling Me, That I’m Not Getting . . . Yet?

The concept of Baby Body Language (BBL) reveals how life was in the womb for your child and how delivery and birth leave their early imprints physically, emotionally and psychologically.

Anne will guide you in how to read and interpret BBL by sharing captivating stories from parents she has worked with therapeutically over the past 35 years. Expect to be offered insightful reasons and solutions to the range of challenges that children have in reaching many of their developmental milestones.

Such common challenges are seen in the unsettled newborn who cries excessively or has issues around sleeping, feeding, colic, reflux and poo-ing; the older baby who dislikes tummy time, crawling and sleeping on their back; the toddler who has emotional meltdowns and shows early signs of developmental delay; and the older child who has difficulty with coordination, balance, behaviour regulation and learning.

Look forward to being more empathetic and compassionate for the journey that your child has made in being born. This session facilitates more wholesome and connected relationships, as reading and interpreting your child’s Baby Body Language is an invaluable gift for parents.

There will be a Q&A session at the end of this presentation.

[1.30 pm] Everything You Want to Know About Prediabetes and Weight Management

Speaker: Louise Bowman (Bespoke Diabetes Care Ltd)

The silent condition affecting over 73,000 of us within Northern Ireland.

In this session, Louise will discuss:

• What is prediabetes?

• Risk factors for developing prediabetes and the stigma attached to a prediabetes diagnosis.

• Why is it so prevalent today and is a person likely to develop prediabetes if they have a close family member with the condition?

• Can prediabetes be reversed?

• Is there a role for GLP-1 Receptor Agonists under their weight loss licence for people with prediabetes?

• Steps you can take to give yourself the best chance at a diabetes-free future.

There will be a Q&A session at the end of this presentation.

[1.30 pm] Ayurveda For Physical and Mental Health

Speaker: Dr Oscar O’Duchon (Ayurvedic Practitioner)

Ayurveda is one of the world’s oldest medical systems and is based on a natural and holistic approach to physical and mental health.

In this presentation, Dr. O’Duchon will show you how to access secrets of natural healing, holistic wellness, and time-tested remedies that have been passed down through generations in India’s rich tradition of Ayurvedic medicine.

Dr O’Duchon will discuss:

• The main differences between Ayurveda and Modern Medicine?

• The key principles of Ayurveda?

• Why choose Ayurveda when there are so many other options available?

• Common herbal medications used in Ayurveda

There will be a Q&A session at the end of this presentation.

[2.00 pm] Kintsugi Healing: Strong at the Broken Places Releasing Long-Term Chronic Stress and Trauma

Michelle McMaster, Trauma Recovery Consultant (MRes; BSc (Hons); MBASW; CCTP)

Kintsugi Healing is inspired by the beautiful Japanese Art of repairing precious broken pottery with gold. The principles and process of Kintsugi provides a powerful metaphor for approaching the human journey of recovery after deep hurt and pain.

This talk will introduce you to some practical and effective physiological exercises that can help us release the impact of long-term chronic stress or trauma from our bodies. Modern research has demonstrated how we can reduce or overcome the impact of negative experiences in our lives by understanding how our nervous systems store our history, and how communication between body and brain can be improved to help us feel more confident and engaged with life again.

Michelle has decades of experience helping people of all ages recover after some of the most challenging situations, and uses her training in somatic healing, applied neuroscience and psychological based therapies to offer a patient, skilful and effective method for promoting compassionate healing and lasting change.

There will be a Q&A session at the end of this presentation.

[3.00 pm] Mind, Body & Breathing for Overcoming Stress and Trauma

Speaker: Clare Byrne (Space4Yourself) Certified Mind-Body Medicine Practitioner, Breath-Body-MindTM teacher, and Registered Psychologist.

An introduction to self-care skills which assist you in overcoming stress and trauma - and enhance your wellbeing.

Clare will give an overview of mind, body and breath-based practices that have been shown to support good mental health, build resilience, and help people cope with stress and other challenges.

She will explain how stress and trauma affect the workings of your Central Nervous System - and from there the workings of your whole body. Simple mind, body & breathing skills can help us undo these effects and rebalance our systems. Clare will highlight the work of two not-for-profit organisations she has trained with, whose mission is to share worldwide, effective practices that anyone can use to counteract the effects of stress and trauma and boost mental and physical wellbeing.

And, for those who wish, there will be a chance to experience a simple practice for yourself.

There will be a Q&A session at the end of this presentation.

[3.00 pm] How to Have Happy Feet!

Speaker: Gerardette McGivern (Happy Feet Podiatry Services)

In this session, Gerardette will discuss common foot conditions - and how to have healthy, happy feet!

There will be a Q&A session at the end of this presentation.

NOTE: Talks last approx. 30 minutes and Sessions may overlap.