Freebies galore at Wellness Week

Don't forget to diarise the next Wellness Week, a veritable cornucopia of exhibits and practitioners, all on hand at the Graduate School of Humanities quad from March 31 to April 2 (11h00 to 15h00) to advise you about your health and well-being.

In addition to the experts advertised in last week's article, several new exhibitors have come on board, according to HR's Ottoline Clapham (organisational health).

If you're suddenly squinting at your terminal, or finding age is affecting your eagle-like vision, you're probably due for an eye test. Occuvision is offering staffers a second pair of single vision spectacles with every pair approved by the medical aid.

What better time to consult a dietician about your food groups and energy intake than during lunchtime on these days? A trained fundi will be on hand to put you straight on what you should and shouldn't eat. So carnivores, hide those Big Macs and cross your fingers they won't prescribe a lifetime of lentils.

On Thursday, April 1, one of UCT's most oft-quoted academics, Professor Tim Noakes, will be on hand to advise how you can reverse your cardiac risk - this at 12h45, in the quad.

If you enjoy freebies, visit the Sports Science Institute stand for health and lifestyle checks. You will get a complementary day pass to their gym (and probably rub shoulders with the latest Super 12 team in town) or you could even win a complimentary three-month membership. Planet Fitness and Virgin Active will also give out complementary gym vouchers, rucksacks (randomly) and Body IQ packs (which include Tim Noakes' book on wellness).

There's plenty of entertainment, too. Virgin Active will give an aerobics demo, Plant Fitness will demonstrate V/core ball methods, where core muscles (stomach, etc) are put to work in a series of movements and exercises using big balls as support. They will also hold lucky draws for two heart rate monitors, each worth R1 000.

Weigh-Less are offering free goal weight assessments, Smoke Enders will be on hand to advise and encourage you to get rid of the habit for good.

The Cape Institute for Allied Health Studies, the training institute for complementary therapies, will provide free reflexology, aromatherapy massage and therapeutic massage sessions, which sounds a whole lot better than playing Solitaire at lunchtime.

You can also have tests for cholesterol, blood pressure and diabetes every day. Freebie incentives will be given.

Don't forget to book for all these services, especially the very important Direct AIDS Intervention (DAI) voluntary counselling and testing services provided. Fifteen-minute sessions can be booked on e-mail at oclapham@bremner.uct.ac.za, or in consultation with the DAI consultant at the event. Make it your business to know your status.