Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare notes

The following programs are offered by Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare. Registration is required unless otherwise noted. For details, call CareMatch at (630) 782-7878 or visit www.emhc.org.

Stop smoking: Stop smoking with a hypnosis session from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday at Elmhurst Memorial Hospital, 200 Berteau Ave. and 7 to 9:30 p.m. Dec. 12 at the Center for Health, 1200 S. York Road, Elmhurst. $85.

Holiday coping skills: Coping with the Holidays will be presented from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Monday at the Center for Health, 1200 S. York Road, Elmhurst. The free workshop will offer people who are grieving tips on handling the upcoming holiday season. Registration is required. For details, call Josie Mazzaia at (630) 833-8200, ext. 73541.

Low back pain: Dr. Lawrence Frank, a rehabilitation medicine specialist, will discuss diagnosis and treatment of low back pain at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 20 at the Center for Health, 1200 S. York Road, Elmhurst. Free.

Allergies: Allergy and asthma specialist Dr. Jeffrey Kulik will speak at 7 p.m. Dec. 4 at the Center for Health, 1200 S. York Road, Elmhurst. He will discuss how to manage and improve indoor and outdoor allergy symptoms. Free.

Chinese therapy balls: Learn how to use Chinese therapy balls to improve hand strength and dexterity and decrease stress at 3:30 p.m. Dec. 4 at the Health Education Center for the Community of Villa Park, 318 S. Ardmore Ave. $15, which includes a set.

Sing Your Stress Away: The program will be offered at 3 p.m. Dec. 5 at the Health Education Center for the Community of Villa Park, 318 S. Ardmore Ave. Free. Participants will stretch, do breathing exercises and sing along to old, popular songs to decrease stress.

Healthy holidays: The program will be offered at 2 p.m. Dec. 6 at the Lombard Health Center, 130 S. Main St. Free. The event will include an open house, a presentation about healthy food choices and a free blood pressure screening.

Relax: Relax and Manage the Stress will be offered at 10 a.m. Dec. 6 at the Health Education Center for the Community of Villa Park, 318 S. Ardmore Ave. Free. Participants will learn stress-management techniques that can be used every day.

Safe Sitter: The class will be offered from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 8 at Occupational Health Services, 230 E. Irving Park Road, Wood Dale. $45, Boys and girls ages 11 to 14 will learn how to have fun with children, how to recognize and emergency, injury prevention, first aid and more.

Help for cancer patients: The Health Education Center for the Community of Villa Park, 318 S. Ardmore Ave., has staff who can help cancer patients and their families with support resources, treatment information, financial assistance and beauty aids.

Yoga: Yoga will be offered Mondays or Wednesdays at Elmhurst Memorial Health Education Center for the Community of Villa Park, 318 S. Ardmore Ave. The cost is $44 for a six-week session. Both hatha yoga and chair yoga classes are offered. Call for dates and times.

Blood pressure screening: Free blood pressure screenings are offered at the following times: 10 a.m. to noon Tuesdays at Elmhurst Memorial Health Education Center for the Community of Villa Park, 318 S. Ardmore Ave.; 3 to 5 p.m. Mondays and 10 a.m. to noon Thursdays at Elmhurst Memorial Center for Health, 1200 S. York Road, Elmhurst; 3 to 5 p.m. first Thursday of each month at Elmhurst Memorial Lombard Health Center, 130 S. Main St. Appointments are not required.

Aerobic cross-training: Aerobic cross-training is offered at Elmhurst Memorial Hospital, 200 Berteau Ave., Elmhurst.

The conditioning class uses aerobic equipment, free weights and stretching exercises. The cost is $42 per six-week session. Call for dates and times.

Diet Challenge workshop: The Diet Challenge Workshop, $10. Call for dates and times. A registered dietitian will teach participants about portion control, how to make recipes healthier and more.

Pilates: Pilates will be offered Wednesdays at Elmhurst Memorial Health Education Center for the Community of Villa Park, 318 S. Ardmore Ave. The cost is $44 for a six-week session. Call for dates and times.

Tai Chi: Tai Chi will be offered Tuesdays and Thursdays at Elmhurst Memorial Health Education Center for the Community of Villa Park, 318 S. Ardmore Ave. Cost is $35 for six weeks. Call for dates and times.

Prenatal and parenting: Call for times and locations. Registration required.

• Healthy Pregnancy, Happy Baby, free. One-night class for women in their 20th to 26th week of pregnancy. Topics include anatomy and discomforts of pregnancy, nutrition and exercise, signs of pre-term labor and a tour of the Family Birthing Center.

• Preparing for Childbirth, Option 1, $95. Series topics include signs of labor, breathing and relaxation techniques, common hospital practices, pain relief, epidural anesthesia and Cesarean birth. Breastfeeding, Baby Talk and Caring for Your Baby classes are included with registration.

• Preparing for Childbirth, Option 2, $75. Two evening sessions cover skills to assist parents during labor. Also discusses epidural anesthesia. Breastfeeding, Baby Talk and Caring for Your Baby classes included with registration.

• Birthing from Within, $215. New class based on the premise that childbirth is a rite of passage rather than a medical event. Self-discovery will prepare parents for their baby's birth and beyond.

• Breastfeeding, $10. A certified lactation consultant teaches moms how to adapt during period following birth. Partners welcome. Free with Preparing for Childbirth packages.

• Baby Talk, $10. A pediatrician and a certified car seat technician will discuss topics related to infant health and safety. Free with Preparing for Childbirth packages.

• Caring for Your Baby, $10. Parents and grandparents will learn and practice infant care skills. Free with Preparing for Childbirth packages.

• Individual car seat inspections, free. Appointments required. Call (630) 993-0881.

• Classes for siblings, $8. A brief program for soon-to-be big brothers and sisters about what it is like to have a baby in the family. Classes are arranged by age.

• Calling All New Moms, $35. A five-week discussion and education support group for moms with babies 1 and younger.

• Baby's First Music, $45. Provides early exposure to music to promote language development, creativity and coordination. Classes are arranged by age.

• Mom and Me Pilates, 10 to 11 a.m. Saturdays, $35 for six-week session. For moms and their babies, six months and younger.

• Active You prenatal exercise, $30 for a six-week class. A licensed therapist will teach balance, strength and aerobic exercises to prepare your body for labor.

• Mother and Baby Exercise, 9:30 a.m. Mondays, $30 for six-week session at Wagner Community Center, 615 N. West Ave., Elmhurst.