Women's Lifestyle Expo This Weekend At New River Valley Mall

In an effort to provide valuable information for women to improve their lifestyle and health, Carilion Clinic has joined forces with their experts and community partners to host the sixth annual Women's Lifestyle Expo, on April 17 at the New River Valley Mall in Christiansburg.

"Women make 80 percent of the health decisions in the household, and carry the brunt of the health care responsibilities of the family. They usually put their personal health on hold so they can manage everything else," said Mary Arnold, the vendor coordinator of the expo and longtime employee at Carilion Clinic.

The purpose of the Women's Lifestyle Expo is to "encourage women to take a moment.and look at the resources that they can put together that will improve their lifestyle and health," Arnold said. "At the same time, (we want to) help (women) manage some of the difficulties and stressors that they are having in their lives."

The Women's Lifestyle Expo will begin promptly at 10 a.m. and plans to run until 2 p.m. Women will be able to visit more than 70 health-related vendors and exhibitors for information on stress relief, exercise, wellness and much more.

There will be about 40 tables from Carilion Clinic alone. Experts will showcase all the services that are available at Carilion's hospitals, centers and emergency room, Arnold said.

The expo will also showcase an equal amount of community partners and demonstrations that relate to other aspects of women's lifestyles. This includes jewelry and craft vendors, Pampered Chef, insurance companies, life-coaches and non-profit organizations such as the American Heart Association, Arnold said.

The Women's Lifestyle Expo is a non-profit event, and truly a "labor of love," Arnold said. The expo has become "bigger and bigger every year." Six years ago, Carilion Clinic started the expo as a health and safety venue, consisting only of Carilion vendors and a few health-related seminars. Through the years, the expo has doubled in size from around 30 tables six years ago, to more than 70 tables for this year's expo, Arnold said.

Virginia Tech sophomore Susie Kemp plans on attending this year's Women's Lifestyle Expo. Through her health-related volunteer work and her summer internship at a local hospital in her hometown, she has learned about the importance of women's health and wellness.

Kemp said it is important to hold such events because, not only is it a "good way for Virginia Tech and New River Valley women to interact with experts and other women in the community, but the overall importance of the event is for women to find resources to better their lives. There are so many people out there that are willing to help."

As a message to every woman in the New River Valley community, Arnold said that you need "to stop right now today and look at your lifestyle practices that will have a negative impact on you. Decide which you want to change and get more information about. If you can make one small change, and be successful, then you will be motivated to make more changes."

The 2010 Women's Lifestyle Expo is free and open to all women ages 18 and older. Registration for the event will be at the expo's entry table anytime during the event.

For more information or any questions concerning the Women's Lifestyle Expo, please contact Mary Arnold at 540-731-2101.