Exciting details have been announced about a range of free workshops that will be available at the Westside Wellbeing Festival next week.
The festival, which takes place in Centenary Square on Thursday 25 July, will offer guests the chance to sample ‘Meditation and music’, a ‘Silent disco’ and ‘Mindful reading’.
The events will be introduced by local media personality Lorraine Olley, with other offerings including a ‘Sports massage’ session, ‘Seated yoga’, a ‘Fronds with benefits’ nature game show and a workshop called ‘Creative fun’.
Crystal Rodrigues, a hot stone and sports massage therapist, will be introducing guests to ‘Recover with Crystal’ treatments in her ‘Sports massage’ workshop at 10am.
Crystal said: “You have a choice of either a relaxing massage or sports massage focused appointment that will include a five to 10-minute consultation and postural assessment, followed by some massage therapy.
“We’ll be using variety of techniques including IASTM (instrument assisted soft tissue mobilisation), percussion therapy, soft tissue release, trigger point therapy and assisted stretching.”
Will Crawford, the founder and creative director of Quietnote, explained how his ‘Meditation and music’ workshop would work at 12.30pm.
Will said: “This hands-on session will see participants working with guided musical meditations and open conversation about how mindfulness through music can improve your personal situation.
“With the use of live music, we shall explore how these practices can help us relax, manage stress and anxiety, and calm our busy minds.”
Also running at the festival will be ‘Frond with benefits’, a short game show-style event run by Forij at 1pm. This will see contestants battle it out for a prize by correctly identifying canalside botanicals using their individual senses.
A spokesperson for Forij said: “We’ll be including some mini-mindfulness practises to engage with the audience, discussing the benefits and some fun facts of each plant that is introduced.
“Everyone taking part will finish with a choice of a warm and wild botanical tea or an iced roasted dandelion latte!”
Harriette Luscombe of Coaches for Change, a regular partner in Westside BID’s wellness events, will be running a ‘Seated yoga’ workshop at 1.30pm.
Harriette said: “Learn key moves and breathing exercises to help manage stress and promote focus during the normal working day. This is suitable for all abilities – no previous yoga experience required!”
Local author and radio host Lee Benson will be inviting people to take part in 20 minutes of ‘Mindful reading’ at the festival at 2pm.
Lee, whose publications include Now You’re the Artist, Where’s Your Art Gallery Now and So You Want to Own an Art Gallery, said: “I will be sharing my insights on how to cultivate mindfulness through reading.
“Whether you’re a bookworm or just looking to unwind, this event is perfect for anyone seeking inspiration and relaxation. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to connect with others and nourish your mind in a beautiful setting.”
Another session called ‘Creative fun’ will be delivered by artist Sadie Barnett, who has partnered up with The Exchange, Birmingham University’s city centre venue. Starting at 3.30pm, Sadie will be exploring how artificial intelligence understands the ‘messy, fleshy stuff’ of being a person.
Inspired by The Exchange’s AI Futures and the Stuart Hall Archive Project, Sadie will invite participants to create collages, from a set of words and phrases, based on the prompts a computer would understand.
Finally, at 4pm, Emma Smallman, the founder of Drum n Bounce & Dubstretch Fitness, will be delivering her ‘Silent disco’ workshop.
Emma said: “Lose yourself in music and movement! Through the wonder and safety of silent disco headsets you have full permission to switch off from the day to day and switch on to yourself.
“I will guide you through some mobilising and freeing movement to the background of a quality soundtrack of electronic dance tunes.
“Moving outdoors to quality tunes can be just the shake-up the system needs to get the energy flowing and the face smiling.”
Luisa Huggins, communications manager at Westside BID, explained how the festival was the latest in a series of events that have focused on people’s mental and physical welfare.
She said: “We’re so thrilled that so many inventive and exciting businesses have agreed to take part in our festival, which will be expertly pulled together by Lorraine Olley.
“We’re determined that our ongoing wellbeing programme will help to re-emphasise the importance of self-care and finding time for yourself, as well as having fun!”
To view full details and book a place on the above sessions, visit this Eventbrite link. And for more information about the events on 25 July, email Luisa at luisa.huggins@westsidebid.co.uk.
ENDS
