The Sports and Health Promotion Department of Ames has launched weekly sessions of taichí/chi kung and healthy walks through its Health School programme, SaludAndo. These activities began on 1 October and aim to enhance sports participation and emotional wellbeing among residents.
Currently, 50 participants are engaged in the taichí/chi kung sessions, split evenly between Bertamiráns and Milladoiro. The healthy walks attract an average of 15 participants each Thursday, with some sessions reaching up to 25 people.
This year marks the fifth consecutive year that the Health School has offered taichí/chi kung classes. Sessions are conducted outdoors, weather permitting, at the sports pavilion in Milladoiro on Mondays and Wednesdays from 17:00 to 18:00, and in the gardens of the Pazo de la Peregrina in Bertamiráns on the same days from 10:00 to 11:00. Classes are available for all skill levels and will run from 1 October 2026 until 9 June 2027.
Traditional Yang taichí requires complete focus and constant movement, providing health benefits by strengthening the immune system and enhancing physical structure. Chi kung, on the other hand, promotes flexibility, relaxation, and mental calm through dynamic and static exercises, as well as meditative and breathing techniques rooted in traditional Chinese medicine.
The SaludAndo programme also commenced on 1 October, featuring healthy walks that start from health centres in Milladoiro and Bertamiráns. These walks are organised every other Thursday throughout the academic year, concluding in June. They are medium to low difficulty routes lasting approximately one to one and a half hours, with a total of 33 walks planned—17 from the Bertamiráns health centre and 16 from Milladoiro.
Susana Señorís, the Councillor for Health Promotion, emphasised the significance of these activities: “These are well-established activities within the community of Ames that promote sports participation and emotional wellbeing. In addition to physical health benefits, these activities positively impact the mental health of participants, facilitating socialisation and the creation of emotional bonds. The group of individuals attending these activities is well established.”
The Municipal Health School was established to implement strategies aimed at developing tools and skills for effective health management from a holistic perspective. It also seeks to promote the adoption of healthy habits and lifestyles while encouraging individuals to take responsibility for their health, ultimately leading to improved quality of life. Through the activities offered by the Municipal Health School, participants will have a space to engage with experts on various topics related to self-care, prevention, emotional wellbeing, and positive parenting, among others.
