Events throughout the day Saturday, June 2, will give people the chance to try out healthy alternatives such as yoga and massage. The Great Miami Rowing Center will teach people to row on the river. And a respected doctor will discuss good nutrition and other non-painkiller ways to avoid pain.
“It focuses on having a healthy community through activities, with the alternatives to pain medication,” said Kristina Latta-Landefeld, coalition coordinator with Prevention Partners.
Everyone is invited, but the people organizers most would like to see are those ages 25-45 because those people often need help with physical and mental stress, and that’s also when people are most likely to be addicted to heroin and other opioids.
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There also will be a 12.75-mile bicycle ride, for all skill levels, through eight of Hamilton’s neighborhoods. The event is free.
Here are some of the the day’s events:
Learn more about holistic approaches to pain prevention
Dr. Hal Blatman of Blatman Health & Wellness at 8:30 a.m. will speak at the YWCA Hamilton about nutrition and other holistic approaches to pain prevention, as part of the “Ask your doctor about alternatives to painkillers” campaign. The breakfast lecture will run until 9:30 a.m. and is free. Organizers would appreciate it if attendees would let them know they’re coming, but that is not necessary.
Try new fitness activities
At 10 a.m. in Marcum Park (three blocks north of High Street along the eastern shore of the Great Miami River), with several Hamilton businesses will provide information about fun fitness activities people can try out for 10-15 minutes each, such as massage therapy, yoga, dance, chiropractic and fitness options from Hamilton’s downtown YMCA. Primary Health Solutions, the event’s main sponsor, will have its van there and will do screenings for physical health, such as blood pressure; and mental-health checks for depression.
Learn to row
Also from 10 a.m. to noon, across the river from Marcum Park, there will be a Learn-to-Row event at the Great Miami Rowing Center.
Bike tour through Hamilton
At 11 a.m., the bike tour of the eight neighborhoods will begin at Marcum Park. It will make four stops before ending at Marcum Park.
Roads will be closed for the bike tour, “so it really will focus on safety and people seeing their community,” Latta-Landefeld said. “It’s a slow, visual tour of Hamilton that’s also active. But I do want to stress the point that people should not feel this is a race, in any way.”
People can learn more and RSVP to the event by searching on Facebook for Healthy Hamilton Community Wellness Day. Another way is to call 513-868-2100.
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