Know of something missing from our health & fitness listings? Send it to The Arlington Connection, e-mail it to arlington@connectionnewspapers.com, mail to 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102, or fax to 703-917-0991. Deadline is 2 p.m. the Thursday before publication. Call Rebecca Halik at 703-917-6407 with any questions. Photos are welcome.
NAMI-Northern Virginia is sponsoring two free 12-week courses on mental illness beginning the week of Jan. 7 in Arlington. Each course offers a comprehensive overview and is for relatives of persons with mental illness. For more information on the separate courses, contact Betsy Greer at namiarlington@gmail.com or at 703-525-8616.
The Vajrayogini Buddhist Center will continue to offer meditation classes on Monday evenings from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Griffin Center, Suite 5, 3800 Fairfax Drive in Arlington. Classes will resume on Jan. 15 and will cover introductory meditation techniques. Cost is $10/class; no registration is required. Visit www.meditation-dc.org or call the Center at 202-331-2122 for more information.
Tammi McKinley, local homebirth midwife (www.naturalbeginnings.org), invites you to attend the monthly Northern Virginia Homebirth Gathering on Saturday Jan. 13, 2007 at 4 p.m. at St. Ann Catholic Church, 5300 North 10th St., Arlington, in the Parish Hall. Gatherings are free and open to the public. This gathering is at a special time so that the whole family can attend, featuring a potluck dinner. Bring your spouses and children and a dish. RSVP to Tammi at tammi@naturalbeginnings.org or 703-237-6136.
NAMI-Arlington support group for individuals who have a parent or sibling diagnosed with a serious mental illness — depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or obsessive compulsive disorder — will meet Thursday, Dec. 21, 7-8:30 p.m. in Arlington. For more information and meeting location, contact Christina Kozyn at 703-892-2197 or ckozyn@gmail.com.
The Animal Welfare League of Arlington will offer Pet Loss Support Group meetings at the animal shelter at 2650 South Arlington Mill Drive on the second Tuesday and fourth Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. beginning in January. Call the League at 703-931-9241 x246 or visit www.awla.org.
The Parkinson’s Disease Support Groups (Patient Discussion, Carepartners and Wilber McBay Exercise Program) meet weekday mornings at the Cherrydale Baptist Church, 3910 Lorcom Lane, Arlington. The Parkinson Foundation (PFNCA) invites persons with PD and their carepartners. Interested participants must call ahead. For schedules and more information, contact Leon Paparella at 202-966-4450.
The American Cancer Society Relay For Life represents the hope that those lost to cancer will never be forgotten, that those who face cancer will be supported, and that one day cancer will be eliminated. From being a committee member to forming a team, there is an opportunity for everyone to get involved. Planning for the 2007 Relay is just beginning, and we are looking for people with a variety of interests and skills. Contact Sara Anderson, Income Manager at 703-937-1903. Visit www.acsevents.org/relay/arlington.
NAMI-Arlington sponsors a support group for parents of children, teens and young adults with a psychiatric diagnosis. Meetings are held the third Sunday of each month at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 5533 N. 16th St., Arlington. Contact Naomi Verdugo at 703-862-9588.
Northern Virginia Epilepsy Group meets every Wednesday from 7-8 p.m. at Falls Church High School Entrance 1, Career Center-Room 100, 7521 Jaguar Trail.
Schizophrenia/Schizoaffective Disorders Support Group meets on the first and third Wednesday of each month from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute, 3302 Gallows Road, Falls Church. Call Loren Booda at 703-524-9474.
The Parkinson’s Disease Support Groups (Patient Discussion, Carepartners and Wilber McBay Exercise Program) meet weekday mornings at the Cherrydale Baptist Church, 3910 Lorcom Lane, Arlington. The Parkinson Foundation (PFNCA) invites persons with PD and their carepartners. Interested participants must call ahead. For schedules and more information, contact Leon Paparella at 202-966-4450.
Whitman-Walker Clinic of Northern Virginia announced it will offer expanded testing for sexually transmitted diseases. Testing for syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea and hepatitis A, B and C will be available Mondays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Wednesdays from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Testing for HIV is now available at the Northern Virginia facility Mondays and Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The Nia Technique, a mind-body workout is taught by certified instructors Randi Cohen and Lisa Farcas at Cherrydale Fire Station, 3900 Lee Highway, Arlington, on Monday Nights at 7:30 p.m. and Thursday Nights at 7:30 p.m. Cost is $15 a class.
ZUMBA fitness is a cardio workout based on Latin music and dance steps. All fitness levels welcome, no dance experience needed. Thursdays at 6 p.m., Arlington YMCA, 3422 N 13th St.. First class free, then drop-in guest fee $8. Call YMCA at 703-525-5420 or arlingtonzumba@yahoo.com.
The International Cesarean Awareness Network Inc. (ICAN), is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve maternal-child health by preventing unnecessary cesareans through education, providing support for cesarean recovery, and promoting Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC). Meetings are held on the 3rd Wednesday of every month at 7 p.m. at Tysons Pimmit Regional Library, 7584 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church. Call 703-790-8088.
The Epilepsy Foundation sponsors the Support Groups and Classes for Parents of Children (all ages) with Seizure Disorders, Adults diagnosed with Seizure Disorders, and Caregivers. Free of charge. Call Dana at 703-425-6660.