Students of all abilities will be introduced to gentle yoga and functional movement exercises specifically designed to help reduce stress in body and mind. Practices for arthritis, osteoporosis, the lymph system, back care, and breathing will be explored. Please eat lightly before class, and bring a mat as well as a cushion or blanket. Students need to be able to get up and down off the floor by themselves or with the aid of a chair.

Through the movements of Tai Chi and relaxed breathing, you will cultivate, store & circulate your internal energy. The movements are non-impact, smooth and practiced very slowly at first. Western research has shown improvements in heart, bone and muscle strength, as well as large reductions in the effects of stress, and an improvement in overall balance, with regular practice. This is the 20th continuous year of Tai Chi classes through the Five Town Adult Education program!

These ancient Qigong practices have improved the health of millions of people over millennia. The air that we breathe is our most important source of nourishment. There is a mountain of research in western medicine confirming the value of a regular practice of improved breathing for many health conditions, and even more benefits in combination with these movements. Ba Duan Jin, Swimming Dragon & Wu Ming Qigongs will be introduced.

Mindfulness Meditation is a mindfulness of breath, body scan, mindful eating, and loving kindness meditation. Each week you will learn a different aspect of how mindfulness practice and meditation can reduce stress, improve health and promote wellness.

Students of all abilities will be introduced to gentle yoga and functional movement exercises specifically designed to help reduce stress in body and mind. Practices for arthritis, osteoporosis, the lymph system, back care, and breathing will be explored. Please eat lightly before class, and bring a mat as well as a cushion or blanket. Students need to be able to get up and down off the floor by themselves or with the aid of a chair.

Quantum physics states that consciousness, not matter, is the ground of all being. When this is realized, the practice of medicine transitions to being truly holistic. This new approach to medicine requires an awareness of subtle energy that gives us life. Learn what this subtle energy is all about and how to harness it for optimal health. It's time to transition from suppressing symptoms to addressing the underlying causes and healing the mind, body & spirit.

Hike, snowshoe, geocache, hunt, and enjoy the woods and fields of Maine with confidence that you can read a topographic map, understand the symbols, know which way a river flows, plot a course bearing, use online resources, and how to get to safety. Familiarization to using a compass and map outdoors included. Students must have a DeLorme Maine Gazetteer, and a 2-degree baseplate compass.

In this 5-session series you will learn how breathing is different for women and why it matters, how to manage pain and stress through breathing techniques, how female sex hormones influence your breathing and health, how to prevent and treat pelvic floor dysfunction, and how to cope with menopause symptoms. This class will empower you to take charge of your health and well-being by understanding and improving your breathing habits. The full syllabus of topics for each day will be sent upon registration. Class will be recorded so you will get the full class even if you have to miss a day.