Things to do now that summer is fading fast

Fall is bearing down on us and as we head into cooler months I am aware of the fact that soon all my favorite outdoor activities will begin to require more clothing, more gear and will be just a little harder.  I have loved my walk in the woods with my dog, Belle, and my late summer mushrooming foraging.  I have rejoiced being able to kayak every morning to see the sun rise and several nights this summer I have been able to kayak at Sebec Lake in the full moon.  What a joy.

While many people enjoy the cooler months and stay active with walking regularly, hunting, and hiking, in preparation for the change of season some people look for  indoor activities to keep active and healthy.  Fortunately in our region we have multiple indoor options for people who just don’t want to sit in a chair all winter.  These include the YMCA, Friends of Community Fitness in Guilford and Millside Fitness in Dexter where people can do yoga classes, weight lifting, exercise groups, spinning, and use various other exercise machines, and swimming.

There are other groups such as Bone Builders, and the Skeleton Crew where people can exercise and make new friends.   If you prefer formal programs taught by an experienced teacher, a workshop,  A Matter of Balance, Managing Concerns About Falls will start in October on Tuesdays and Thursdays from the 6th through the 29th; noon to 2 p.m. Refreshments and workbook are provided. There is a $10 fee total with scholarships available if needed.

Now also there will be an exciting new pilot class in Qigong (pronounced Chee gung) starting September 30th and held each Wednesday morning from 8:30-9:30 at the Center Theatre lobby free to the public.  Anyone wanting to know more about this ancient practice please just come ready to have fun.  To watch a brief video demonstration go to https://nccih.nih.gov/video/taichidvd-full.   An announcement will appear in the paper mid-September with more details about the workshop.  We are hoping to make this a year-round event.

If you are interested in staying fit mentally and physically, prepare for the cooler weather by planning to spend some time doing some of these activities.  (Then when the snow comes we can go skiing, cross country skiing and snowshoeing.)

We invite readers to offer feedback about this column and to suggest topics for future articles. You may do so by contacting Meg Callaway of the Charlotte White Center at (207) 947-1410 or meg.callaway@charlottewhite.org or Lesley Fernow at (207) 992-6822 and lmfernow@rcn.com.