The first health day is intended to make the varied offering in Egelsbach more visible

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From: April 29, 2024, 3:00 AM

By: Justus Dietsche

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Tina Higgins-Fischer from senior gymnastics demonstrated dance exercises while standing and sitting. © Dietsche

The Egelsbach Health Pilots have organized their first major event: on a health day in the community center, around 70 people discover ways to improve physical and mental fitness.

Egelsbach – “Balancing is much easier for me with my eyes open,” says Sabine Spee. She is a visitor to the first health day of the Egelsbach Health Guides and is currently completing the balance and symmetry test. It is important to keep your balance sometimes on one leg and sometimes on the other. “And I find it quite difficult for longer than ten seconds and blindfolded.” Visitors can also optionally put on so-called intoxication glasses, which make the whole thing even more difficult because they simulate the influence of cannabis or alcohol on the body balance.

Caroline Haas, who organized the health day at the community center together with Stephanie Beyer and Monique Theuerkauf, explains the background of the test: “The movements are monitored to the millimeter using a measuring device that is worn on the back. The laptop displays the measurement in a diagram and so we can give people tailor-made advice to take home which exercises are useful to train their sense of balance.”

It became clear to us relatively quickly that we did not want to create a new offer in Egelsbach, but rather emphasize the existing one.

The health day is the first major event of the Egelsbach health pilots. The approximately 70 guests are offered a varied program, from exercise to nutrition to relaxation. The health pilot project was launched by the community about a year and a half ago. After an initial event in September 2022, a group of ten people came together and were trained as community health guides in November. This did not cost the community anything: health insurers such as IKK classic, which finances the project in Egelsbach, have been obliged by the Prevention Act since 2015 to promote preventive measures. Egelsbach is the first municipality in Hesse to participate in the project.

“It became clear to us relatively quickly that we did not want to create a new health offering in Egelsbach, but wanted to emphasize the existing one. So much is already happening and we want to make it more visible,” Theuerkauf explains. Beyer adds: “The idea of ​​the health day was to show a selection from the existing offer.”

Singing keeps you mentally fit – and it’s just plain fun. The senior choir led by Michael Zöllner (left) gave a small example. © Dietsche

Cornelia Löffler, ballet teacher at the adult education center, will be present. “Dancing helps against Parkinson’s, dementia and keeps you fit,” says Löffler. With their challenging dance exercises, attendees can gain new experiences in coordination and posture. Tina Higgins-Fischer from senior gymnastics offers a sitting exercise program: under her guidance, visitors move while seated to motivating music.

The senior choir led by Michael Zöllner provides variety. “Why do we sing? You can now explain a lot about the health-promoting effects, but we mainly sing because we enjoy it,” Zöllner emphasizes. As with other Health Day offerings, singing is also about mental health. Concentration, on the other hand, is required in a reaction test; keys that flash suddenly should be pressed as quickly as possible. One participant is happy with her good result: “I’ve been exercising all my life, I think it has kept me fit.” The community representatives are also satisfied: “The health day is a great success, I am happy that so many people came,” says Mayor Tobias Wilbrand. If you would like to know more about Egelsbach’s health offering, you can find out more on the community homepage. And if you want to get started yourself, you can send an email to (email protected).

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