Published: February 11, 2010 02:38 pm      

Dance Your Health Out promotes cardiovascular health awareness in Gordon

CALHOUN — Gordon Hospital’s Spirit of Women program plans to help the community learn how to get moving for better health.

Through “Dance Your Health Out,” a special, free event planned for Saturday evening on February 20, Spirit of Women will promote cardiovascular health awareness through dance demonstrations, health screenings, and educational booths. The event will be held from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Calhoun High School “old” Gymnasium, Yellow Jacket Drive. For more information, please call 706-879-4764.

“This is not your typical health fair,” said Karen Shaw, coordinator of the Spirit of Women program at Gordon Hospital. “This will be a high-energy event that promises to be fun for the whole family.”

With music and encouragement provided by Emcee/DJ Richie Parker, the attendees will not only enjoy demonstrations by local dance groups, exercise groups, cheerleaders, and more, they will also be asked to join in the fun.

“We’re going to do everything from the Cha Cha Slide to a Congo line,” Shaw added. “We may even throw in the Chicken Dance, Electric Slide, or the Hustle. There will certainly be something for everyone at this event!”

Demonstrations will be presented by Cherokee Promenaders, Calhoun High School Cheerleaders, Calhoun High School Majorettes, Expressions School of Performing Arts, Gordon Central High School Cheerleaders, Get Your Groove On from Absolute Health by Autumn, Group GROOVE from Firehouse Gym, Renegade Athletics, including the Shooting Stars special needs squad, and Sonoraville High School Cheerleaders.

While all the demonstrations are going on, attendees will also be able to take advantage of some free health information. Educational booths will include Absolute Health by Autumn; BeautiControl; Calhoun Multi Sport; Firehouse Gym; Cancer Prevention Study 3; Gordon Hospital’s Cancer Resource Center; Gordon Home Care; Gordon Urgent Care; Gordon Urology; North Georgia Eye Care; NWGA Orthopedics and Sports Medicine; Northwest Georgia Regional Cancer Coalition, Inc.; Gordon Hospital Nutritional Counseling; Owasa Skin Care and Fitness, a division of Owasa Family Medicine; Gordon Hospital’s Sleep Disorders Center; Spirit of Women; Gordon Hospital Rehabilitation Services; The Factory; Travis Martin’s Thrive Weight Loss; and others.

Health screenings to be offered include blood pressure checks, blood sugar checks, body mass index, cardiovascular risk assessments, and cholesterol labs.

“We will also be offering some healthy snacks, door prizes - including a $100 Visa gift card - and other giveaways,” Shaw said. “We hope everyone will come out and dance their health out!”

This is the first event sponsored by Gordon Hospital’s Spirit of Women program, which is part of an integrated partnership of hospitals and healthcare systems across the country that aim to drive health action for women and their families.

According to Gordon Hospital’s Chief Nursing Officer Amy Jordon, Spirit of Women will enable the hospital to continue to focus on the specific needs of the Gordon County community while drawing on the strength and support of a national network.

“We are extremely excited about this partnership with Spirit of Woman,” she said. “Through this program we will be able to offer many community-wide events that are exciting, fun, and informative for the whole family.”

As a Spirit of Women hospital, Gordon Hospital has committed itself to a comprehensive list of National Standards for Excellence in Women’s Health. Because women make up to 85 percent of household healthcare decisions, the educational and motivational Spirit of Women efforts are expected to positively impact the well-being of the entire family and community as a whole.

“This program fits perfectly with a lot of the programs Gordon Hospital has offered the community for many years,” Shaw added. “Using the Spirit of Women resources, we plan to build on those programs and add new ones that will help everyone in their healthcare decision-making.”

The Spirit of Women Hospital Network is a national coalition that inspires health and wellness on a local level by leveraging national resources. Hospitals and healthcare facilities in more than 80 U.S. communities create the core through which Spirit of Women reaches women and seeks to inspire access and action for better national health. Utilizing a variety of means, including educational events, national awards and promotion of research, Spirit of Women addresses health topics such as menopause, cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, healthy pregnancy and many others. Visit www.spiritofwomen.com for more information.