A week of wellness at Romford's Mercury Mall

Wellness is an active process of making choices toward a healthy and fulfilling life. Wellness is especially important as we age because regular exercise and proper nutrition can help prevent a variety of ailments including cardiovascular disease, obesity, and fall risk behaviours.

 

 

Families visiting the shopping centre at the weekend certainly knew spring was on the way and wellness week had arrived as they got to cuddle up to some farm animals.

 

 

Visitors to The Mercury were given a real treat as staff and young farmers from Wellgate Community Farm, Collier Row, brought with them a mixture of sheep, goats, chickens, guinea pigs and rabbits for children and adults to see and handle. Petting an animal can increase levels of the stress-reducing hormone oxytocin and decrease production of the stress hormone cortisol. These hormonal changes can help a nervous child feel more relaxed about reading aloud. Reduced stress can also benefit physical health, which is an important part of our overall wellbeing.  

 

 

On Sunday shoppers could delighted in a seated massage with local complementary therapist Mike Kelly or try their hand at a relaxing art class with local artist Nigel Hubbard.  

 

During the week on Wednesday (11th March) the centre will be joined by Havering health ambassadors highlighting no smoking day and signposting general health advice and on Thursday the 12th joined by The Royal London hospital team promoting the importance of kidney health.    

 

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