Brunswick, ME Health and Fitness

Yoga classes, dance classes, healing arts, and related workshops take place in a studio that operates under the philosophy of being "devoted to raising the vibration of both our community and our planet.” On the hardwood floor of the 900-square-foot studio, yoga instructors and dance instructors shepherd participants through full schedules of drop-in yoga classes and dance lessons designed for all ages. Limbs and antennae twist into Vinyasa and Kripalu-inspired poses, and dancers take classes such as Ecstatic Dance—set to the tunes of a DJ—and Journey Dance, which focuses on free movements and self-acceptance. The center’s healing-arts practices are there to help clients restore emotional balance with techniques that include Thai massage, chakra clearing, and crystals; workshops introduce attendants to shamans and yoga pros.

After a summer spent paddling a cumbersome aluminum canoe through northern Canada, two college students founded Lincoln Canoe & Kayak in an effort to design a lighter, more ergonomic vessel. Although ownership has switched hands since the brand's inception in 1959, the company continues to craft lightweight canoes and kayaks from fiberglass, Kevlar, carbon fiber, or feathers dipped in water repellent. From their retail shop, they also corral new and experienced kayakers into tour and expedition groups that explore Casco Bay, Deer Isle, and Muscongus Bay. Knowledgeable guides lead paddlers to discover Maine’s myriad waterways, where no river, inlet, pond, or kiddie pool is off-limits.

Lost Valley Ski Area founder Otto Wallingford was known for creating innovative solutions to everyday problems. Winter came around each year and left him with nothing to do on the family orchard, so he turned the surrounding area into a ski center in 1961. With that problem solved, Wallingford moved on to tackle a few other issues. He put together the state's first snowmaking system, introduced the locals to night skiing, and developed a powder maker by towing a cylindrical steel grate behind his tractor.

Skiers and snowboarders can reap the benefits of Wallingford’s efforts at Lost Valley Ski Area, which encompasses 15 trails and a terrain park. The ski area also hosts lessons and a shop offering gear tuneups and yeti decoys.