On the 6th of September, two guest speakers from the Healthy Lifestyle Programme came to visit our school for two days. Jeffrey Allen and Agata Hidalgo came to speak to us about our lifestyles and teach us how to improve on them.
Jeff Allen is a sports inthusiast as well as a life coach. He is a veteran of the Irish Permanent Defence Course to which he joined in 1985. Jeff left school at 16 as he didn't like being in a classroom and had a terrible stammer that made him self conscious. He went to work on a farm until he saw his own brother joining the army. When he finally turned 18, Jeff decided to join the army too. He retired after 21 years, with 5 of those years being in the special forces. The special forces required a one month selection course which tested each solider to his limits. 90% of participants dropped out with Jeff being one of eight left over. While doing this, Jeff also had to take a theory test. After this test, he found out he was dyslexic. At this stage Jeff was 33, so this diagnosis really brought to reality why Jeff didn't like indoor learning. When Jeff finally retired, he opened a special summer camp for mentally challenged children. This camp is still running and is a great success. He also goes to schools with Agatha teaching the HLP to kids which teaches them good practise.
Agatha Hidalgo is a therapist and nutritionalist. Agatha began studying reflexology at the Natural Healing Centre in Cork. Here she learned ways to improve overall health, and track down what foods may cause people allergies without them even realising it. In 2008 she was diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome. She then realised she wanted to make a change in her diet. She recorded the small differences she made and then began her studies with the College of Naturopathic in Cork. After this, she began giving talks and nutritional and dietary advice to anyone looking for help in changing their lifestyles.
The two days involved talks from Jeff and Agatha explaining their backgrounds. They also taught us group dynamics, which should come in useful during our year in TY.
Group dynamics included ;
- storming
-forming
-performing
Later, they showed us the circle of change. This circle involved all the things involved in our daily lifestyles. Then, Agatha explained the nutritional and dietary sides of the wheel, while Jeff explained the physical side of things. Jeff then took us outside where he set up the 'Hunter Games'. These games included the tug of war, relay races etc. We all really enjoyed this part of the day.
Overall, I thought the two days really brought us together as a group. The group dynamics really showed us what we should all be doing as a group and showed us what results we would get if we continued to act as a united group.
Jeff Allen is a sports inthusiast as well as a life coach. He is a veteran of the Irish Permanent Defence Course to which he joined in 1985. Jeff left school at 16 as he didn't like being in a classroom and had a terrible stammer that made him self conscious. He went to work on a farm until he saw his own brother joining the army. When he finally turned 18, Jeff decided to join the army too. He retired after 21 years, with 5 of those years being in the special forces. The special forces required a one month selection course which tested each solider to his limits. 90% of participants dropped out with Jeff being one of eight left over. While doing this, Jeff also had to take a theory test. After this test, he found out he was dyslexic. At this stage Jeff was 33, so this diagnosis really brought to reality why Jeff didn't like indoor learning. When Jeff finally retired, he opened a special summer camp for mentally challenged children. This camp is still running and is a great success. He also goes to schools with Agatha teaching the HLP to kids which teaches them good practise.
Agatha Hidalgo is a therapist and nutritionalist. Agatha began studying reflexology at the Natural Healing Centre in Cork. Here she learned ways to improve overall health, and track down what foods may cause people allergies without them even realising it. In 2008 she was diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome. She then realised she wanted to make a change in her diet. She recorded the small differences she made and then began her studies with the College of Naturopathic in Cork. After this, she began giving talks and nutritional and dietary advice to anyone looking for help in changing their lifestyles.
The two days involved talks from Jeff and Agatha explaining their backgrounds. They also taught us group dynamics, which should come in useful during our year in TY.
Group dynamics included ;
- storming
-forming
-performing
Later, they showed us the circle of change. This circle involved all the things involved in our daily lifestyles. Then, Agatha explained the nutritional and dietary sides of the wheel, while Jeff explained the physical side of things. Jeff then took us outside where he set up the 'Hunter Games'. These games included the tug of war, relay races etc. We all really enjoyed this part of the day.
Overall, I thought the two days really brought us together as a group. The group dynamics really showed us what we should all be doing as a group and showed us what results we would get if we continued to act as a united group.