Most of us were taught as children that it's never a good idea to poke other people with sharp objects. But such admonitions will be moot Sunday at the Biltmore Hotel, where up to 1,000 people are expected to gather for the first Acufest, an acupuncture and healthy-living expo.

The festival will include acupuncture sessions and an acupuncture exhibit hall; organic food and wine tastings; culinary demonstrations; classes in tai chi, medical qi gong, yoga and meditation and a ``Feng Shui Lounge'' where people can just relax and soak in the good vibes.

``This started out as a plan for a much smaller festival, one focused solely on acupuncture,'' says co-chairman Dan Nevel, an acupuncture physician. ``But we found that so many different people wanted to be involved that the event needed to be expanded to include healthy living, period.''

Among the participants are Florida's six accredited acupuncture colleges, the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, makers of healthful foods and beverages ``and even environmental health experts from the Sierra Club to Everglades advocacy groups,'' Nevel says.

One sports-related feature is a holistic golf clinic in which golf pros from the Biltmore will team with yoga and acupuncture experts to help amateur golfers adjust their swings in ways that improve their game and strengthen and balance their bodies.

Yvonne Roberts, director of the Biltmore's Premier and Cellar clubs, will oversee a culinary team that will prepare and present organic food and wine samples throughout the day.

``Food is what powers our bodies,'' Roberts says. ``And I don't think people consider just how important it is as a complement to other elements of healthy living, like proper exercise. Even people who do understand the importance of food, don't always get the importance of organic food that is free of unhealthy additives and chemicals.''

Roberts says she most looks forward to educating festivalgoers about organic wines.

``When I started in the wine business, I was surprised to learn how many wines were organic, but weren't labeled as such because the wineries that produced them didn't want to be misconstrued as `tree hugging,' '' she says.

``But times have changed, and in anticipation of the public being eager to learn about healthy alternatives, lots of wineries are proudly labeling their organic offerings now.''

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