Calendar

Get happy: The YMCA of Greater Cincinnati and SparkCincinnati will hold two Young Professionals healthy happy hours. The first is from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Williams YMCA, 1228 E. McMillan St., Walnut Hills. 961-7552. The second is from 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 31 at the Central Parkway Y, 1105 Elm St., downtown. 241-5348. Free. Healthy nibbles, fitness and nutrition tips will be featured.

The Williams Y session features Tai chi, salsa aerobics, spinning and boot camp classes. The Central Y session will feature dodgeball, circuit training and Pilates sessions.

Benefit: Sign up now for the fifth annual Mary Steggeman Memorial 5K Run/Walk Sept. 11 at Lakeside Presbyterian Church, 2690 Dixie Highway, Lakeside Park. Registration opens at 7 a.m., and the race begins at 8. Cost is $18 before Friday or $20 the day of the run. Proceeds benefit the St. Elizabeth Medical Center's Hospice program and the STARS Children's Bereavement Program. Information: (859) 392-0088 or www.stelizabeth.com.

Mellow: Cincinnati Yoga Teachers Association will hold a "Day of Yoga" from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sept. 19 at the Milford Spiritual Center, 5361 S. Milford Road, Milford. Cost: $20 for members; $40 for non-members. Registration: Roger Null, 755-0963.

Help wanted

Study: The University of Cincinnati is recruiting men and women with Type 2 diabetes for a 12-month diet study. Diabetics who have been diagnosed within the last six months and who are 30 to 75 years old, moderately obese or overweight and not currently taking insulin might be eligible. Information: 558-5303.

Tips

Smarter: Here are the American Council on Exercise's top 10 gym mistakes:

• The all-or-nothing approach. Even 10 minutes of activity helps.

• Not training all the major muscle groups.

• Bad form, which is the surest way to get hurt. Ask a pro for tips.

• Exercising too much, too hard or too often. Rest is important for safe progression.

• Too little variety. Boredom kills fitness programs.

• Not adjusting machines to fit your body size.

• Distraction during workouts. Focus on exercise, not TV or chatter.

• Not cooling down after workouts.

• Poor gym etiquette, such as hogging a machine.

• Unrealistic goals.

Resource

For parents: The National Women's Health Resource Center and the Consumer Health Products Association are offering a "Back to School" kit for parents of teenagers. Visit www.healthywomen.org to find the kit, which features information on depression, eating disorders, diet and exercise and how to raise a drug-free teen.

Shelf help

Guide: Gut Wisdom (New Page; $15.99) by Alyce M. Sorokie gives those afflicted by tummy troubles ideas beyond diet and exercise for calming their innards.

Contact Peggy O'Farrell by phone: 768-8510; fax: 768-8330; e-mail: pofarrell@enquirer.com.