WHAT KEEPS Patrick Dempsey's SPIRITS UP p.6
MA M AII N E
+ THE DEMPSEY CHALLENGE: Opportunities for Everyone
Health&Wellness p. 8
GUIDE 2021
A Happier, Healthier You in 2021 page 4
Rewild Ourselves page 10 Tick Season Tips page 15
The Healing Power of Plants page 18
Plus Events Calendar page 8
Jumping Rope to Run Faster page 20
3 PREMIUM SYNTHETIC OIL CHANGES + 3 TIRE ROTATIONS FOR $170 That works out to:
56.66 EACH
$
*See dealer for details
COMPLIMENTARY AIR CONDITIONING INSPECTION
10% OFF
AIR CONDITIONING SERVICE *See dealer for details
209 Main Street, South Paris, ME 04281 | (207) 743-6341 | www.besseymotor.com Service Hours Monday–Friday 7:30AM–5PM
In This Issue...
MA MAINE
Health&Wellness
G UIDE UID E
9 Susan’s Way, Windham, ME 04062 www.activitymaine.com stan@activitymaine.com (207) 671-7230 PUBLISHER Stanley J. Rintz III ART DIRECTOR Larissa Davis
A HAPPY R YOU H E A LT H IE IN 2 0 2 1 p. 4
HOW T O R E W IL D OU R S E LV E S
KEEPING OUR SPIRITS UP WITH PATRICK DEMPSEY p. 6
p. 10
GRAPHIC ARTIST Kristina Roderick Robin Bean SOCIAL MEDIA MA.NAGER Kristina Roderick MANAGING EDITOR Kay Stephens
Events Calendar page 8
TICK SEASON TIPS p. 15
4 A HAPPIER HEALTHIER YOU IN 2021 by Garrick Hoffman
6 KEEPING OUR SPIRITS UP WITH PATRICK DEMPSEY by Kay Stephens
8 2021 RACEME EVENTS CALENDAR HEALING POWER OF PLANTS p. 18
10 HOW TO REWILD OURSELVES
& find remedies for stress in the forest
by Saisie Moore
15 CHECK YOURSELF! TICK SEASON TIPS by Jaclyn Sanipass
18 THE HEALING POWER OF PLANTS
An interview with award-winning herbalist, Kathi Langelier
by Jenna Lookner
20 OLD SCHOOL RUNNING TIP: JUMPING ROPE TO RUN FASTER
WEB & DIGITAL DESIGN Robin Bean PHOTOGRAPHY Mike Leonard ADVERTISING SALES Stanley J. Rintz CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Garrick Hoffman Jenna Lookner Saisie Moore Jaclyn Sanipass Kay Stephens Heidi Walls OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Kristina Roderick MEMBER Maine Brewers’ Guild Maine Tourism Association Convention & Visitors Bureau Chambers of Commerce FOLLOW ACTIVITY MAINE
by Heidi Walls, MD
ON THE COVER Dempsey Challenge participant Jennifer Jordan gets a boost of energy from Patrick Dempsey during her run. Jennifer was diagnosed with stage 1 invasive ductal carcinoma in September of 2020. Jennifer plans on lacing up her sneakers to run in her 7th Dempsey Challenge 10K this fall – this time as a cancer survivor. Photo by Derek Bissonnette.
2 Spring 2021
SUBSCRIBE NEW
subscription options All prices include shipping
Get the best in Maine adventures in all seasons, mailed to your door! $9.95 (2 issues)
CRAFT BEER • ADVENTURE • RACES & FITNESS
MAINE BREW & BEV GUIDE Maine craft beer and beverages are said to be among the best in the world! Be the first to receive insider’s information! $9.95 (2 issues)
2021 HEALTH & WELLNESS GUIDE A healthy dose of fitness, nutrition, and mindfulness to inspire your pandemic recovery, plus community races and events calendar! $5.95
MAINE BREW & BEV GUIDE, ACTIVITY MAINE, & HEALTH & WELLNESS GUIDE Get it all! SAVE $10 $15.95 (5 issues)
visit activitymaine.com/subscribe to subscribe online If you prefer to mail your payment, please send a check payable to: Activity Maine, 9 Susan’s Way, Windham, ME 04062 If ordering all issues, tell us which issue you would like to start with:____________________________________________
Name______________________________________________ Address_____________________________________________ __________________________________________________
Your subscription choice: Maine Brew & Bev Guide $9.95 Activity Maine $9.95 Health & Wellness Guide $5.95 All Five Issues $15.95
SAVE $10 NOW!
Email______________________________________________ activitymaine.com 3
A HAPPIER
healthier you PHOTO COURTESY Jamie
Brown on Unsplash
in 2021
By Garrick Hoffman
Healthy habits to help you ride out the pandemic
T
he COVID-19 pandemic has proved to be paradoxical
Porter. In addition, he said, “Some
for our health: it’s engendered unhealthy habits by
research has found an association
incentivizing some people to eat and drink more, exercise less, and consume more screen time in a sedentary state. Conversely, it also fomented a new culture of self-improvement, inspiring
between exposure to blue light at night . . . and chronic conditions like obesity, heart disease, and diabetes.” To consciously seek out ways to buffer your screen time, consider
people to learn how to eat healthier, and pushing them to use
picking up a book. THE MAINE BOOK CLUB/
their free time to exercise more and get in shape.
DISCUSSION group on Facebook is a great resource to get an idea of what to read, with nearly 2,000 members in the
Here’s how you can be part of the latter
ways, according to Dr. Jordan Porter, a
group offering recommendations and
category if you wish to stay happy and
lecturer with UMaine Orono School of
forming small, online book clubs.
healthy as we continue to ride out the
Nursing.
pandemic.
“Prolonged exposure to blue light
Another way to combat the adverse health effects of the pandemic
emitted from computer screens and
is to head outdoors, where again, we
mental and physical health is by
hand-held devices can suppress
can divorce from our screens and
reducing screen time. Excessive
natural melatonin production, which
delight in all the vitamin D the sun
screen time can languish our mental
upends our circadian rhythm and
offers, which studies show improves
and physical health in a myriad of
often results in sleep difficulties,” said
both physical and mental health.
One way to pursue improved
4 Spring 2021
“It’s time to trade blue light for regular
to socialize—safely. With the warmer
bright light, especially in the mornings,”
weather here, spend time with family
Porter advised. “Exposure to regular
or friends by enjoying the outdoors
bright light during day hours can help
together at a state park such as WOLFE’S
maximize alertness, maintain a regular
NECK IN FREEPORT, or visiting a restaurant
circadian rhythm, and counteract the
or brewery with outdoor seating. With
winter blues, also known as seasonal
more people being vaccinated each day,
affective disorder (SAD).”
we’ll soon be able to spend more time
There’s a slew of ways to be active
with each other, safely.
outdoors in Maine, whether it’s
At the end of the 1994 prison film
mountain biking the 50+ official trails
The Shawshank Redemption, the
throughout the state, paddling along a
character, Red reads a letter from his
lake or river, or hiking in the western
escaped fellow inmate Andy Dufresne:
Maine mountains. Visit NEMBA.org
“Remember Red: Hope is a good
for mountain bike trails and visit
thing— maybe the best of the things—
mainetrailfinder.com
and no good thing ever dies.”
to browse hikes all
Even though it feels like we’ve been
over Maine.
crawling through a 500-yard tunnel
Since the pandemic hit, online fitness and meditation classes have
of horror this last year like Andy did,
multiplied. According to a 2021
just remember: hope is a good thing,
Bloomberg article, “How COVID-19
maybe the best of things, and it’s on the other side of this tunnel.
Has Permanently Affected the Fitness Industry,” 72 percent of fitness club-
One Portland-based cycling studio
owners currently offer on-demand
has mastered the balance of online
and livestream group workouts. Some
and socially distanced in-person
workouts are pre-recorded and allow
training. RÉVE CYCLING STUDIO moved
for pausing or rewinding, and others
their business entirely online in March
are live-streamed to emulate group
2020 and launched an on-demand
exercise.
platform, Réve At-Home. Once the weather got warm, Réve Cycling switched to in-person mode, offering
Garrick Hoffman is a freelance photographer, writer, and graphic designer based in Auburn. Visit his website at GarrickHoffman.com. Follow him on Instagram at @garrickhoffmanphotography and @garrickhoffmanportraits and on Facebook at @Garrick Hoffman Photography.
to meet clients at Thompson’s Point and cycle next to the ocean. “Beyond all of the amazing mental and physical health benefits that come with working out, we go beyond that and really tap into the community through human connection,” said Marketing Manager Meghan Courchesne. Another critical struggle for people who are pandemic-weary, is staying apart from friends and family, and the toll that has taken on their mental and emotional health. It’s still important
TOP AND LEFT Mami Restaurant, Portland RIGHT Réve Cycling Class PHOTOS by Garrick Hoffman
activitymaine.com 5
Keeping Our Spirits Up
Patrick Dempsey with
By Kay Stephens
P
atrick Dempsey, most known for his role as neurosurgeon Derek “McDreamy” Shepherd in Grey’s Anatomy is a Mainer through and through. Born in Lewiston, he grew up in the nearby
towns of Turner and Buckfield before becoming an actor and starring in the 1980s films Can’t Buy Me Love and Loverboy. His ties to Maine continue to this day. After his mother was diagnosed with cancer, he founded the Dempsey Center for Quality Cancer Care with physical locations in Lewiston and South Portland, and now virtually through Dempsey Connects. And since 2009, he has organized the Dempsey Challenge, an annual run, walk, and cycle fundraising race to benefit those impacted by cancer at the Dempsey Center. What outdoor recreational activity do you enjoy most in non-winter months to stay active and find fun?
Being from Maine, what particular strength of Maine’s people do you connect with most?
PD: Cycling, walks, hikes, time at the
PD: Mainers care deeply for their
Dempsey on what he does to stay
beach.
communities, and when people are in
positive, healthy, and balanced as we
When you’re having a down day, what’s something that picks you back up?
need, they step up and help generously.
PD: I have found that quieting my mind
support at the Dempsey Center. The
really helps when I’m feeling a bit off. I
Dempsey Challenge always highlights
found the simple task of sitting in front
the strength of community and love that
PD: Simple days in the beginning. It
of a fireplace does the trick for me.
the state shows.
was nice to be home and not flying
Do you practice any meditation techniques, and if so, what are they?
What is your favorite area of Maine to visit for adventure and makes you feel refreshed?
As we head into the second year of a pandemic, we at the Maine Health & Wellness Guide are looking to inspire people to find their way back to health. We were lucky to catch up with Patrick
continue to navigate our way through the pandemic this spring and summer.
Can you tell us what you are up to now and what your days in the pandemic look like?
or working— just being together as a family, and then trying to comprehend
They are always last to accept help themselves, but the first to help others. I see this with the incredible
what was going on with so much unrest
PD: I do. It’s important to have time
and fear. We truly just lay around the
to collect yourself in the morning. I
PD: The woods of Maine. The coast. I
house and then as things progressed,
like to wake up before anyone else in
love the wildlife and Maine’s natural
a bit more anxiety grew. We then tried
the house, let the dogs out, and then
beauty.
to keep ourselves busy with positive
sit quietly. I’ve been reading a lot of
activities such as walks, cooking as a
Ryan Holiday's works and have found
family, along with a lot less TV!
his interpretation of stoicism to be incredibly beneficial.
6 Spring 2021
This past year we embarked on a campaign called #keepourspiritsupmaine designed to encourage leaders in Maine to reveal how they found positive ways to handle the pandemic. Check out more of our Industry Snapshots on the craft brew, distilling, and Maine outdoor industries at activitymaine.com
activitymaine.com
7
PHOTO courtesy of Derek Bissonnette, DB Maine Photography
2021 Events Calendar Central Maine DEMPSEY CHALLENGE – Opportunities for Everyone The 2021 Dempsey Challenge will offer both in-person and virtual options to meet you where you are. Run, walk or ride on Dempsey Challenge weekend in Lewiston/Auburn, Maine ~ OR ~ run, walk or ride in your own hometown, anywhere in the world! In 2020, we successfully reimagined the Challenge as people from around the world came together to support the Dempsey Center’s mission to make life better for people impacted by cancer. Together, we move forward with the same unifying spirit as we create a new Dempsey Challenge in a new world; a Global Dempsey Challenge where we all come together on one powerful weekend in September. Register for the Local Challenge or the Global Challenge. You’ll be supported and encouraged every step of the way as you complete your own Dempsey Challenge, regardless of how you choose to participate. Please note: with safety as our priority, CDC and Maine state health practices will be followed for the in-person event. Deadline to register for the Local Challenge is September 1. To Learn more and register visit dempseychallenge.org.
PHOTO courtesy of Dempsey Challenge
Greater Portland & Western Maine THE GRIND RUN COMPANY – 2021 event line-up has something for every trail lover! FMI on race status and registration thegrindrunco.com. TINY TRAIL RACE SERIES – Three 5k trail races, the first one is May 9 in Cape Elizabeth, second one is June 12 in Westbrook, and the third one is in Portland on July 10. Runners who complete all three will receive a commemorative t-shirt. FIREBIRD TRAIL RACE – September 18 – primarily on single track trails in Falmouth, ME. This is a fun, but challenging event, featuring a 13-mile course, and a 50k. Donation to a non-profit is a condition for entry. SHAWNEE PEAK ULTRA CHALLENGE – October 9 – This punishing two mile loop course has a two-hour or six-hour endurance option. No matter which you choose, the elevation will be noticeable.
Greater Portland MAINE TRACK CLUB 2021 RACE EVENTS • Peaks Island Five-Miler – July 24 • Maine Marathon Half Marathon & Relay with In person & Virtual options – October 23 • Maine Track Club Turkey Trot – November 21 To check updated MTC race statuses, in-person and virtual race options, as well as register for races, visit www.mainetrackclub.com. The 2021 Cycle Your Way VIRTUAL TREK ACROSS MAINE is taking place through June 30 and encourages Trekkers to stay active and enjoy time on their bike (practicing safe social distancing) while supporting the work of the American Lung Association, including their COVID-19 Action Initiative. FMI and to register online visit: TrekAcrossMaine.org and follow the prompts to complete your registration.
PHOTO courtesy of Trek Across Maine
At MARTIN'S POINT HEALTH CARE, a daily dose of activity is just what the doctor ordered! As a premier provider of primary and specialty care and health insurance plans in Maine and New Hampshire, they have been preaching about the physical and mental health benefits of an active lifestyle for more than 40 years. And their Sports Medicine providers go the extra mile to help keep Mainers of all ages on the go. As a not-for-profit headquartered in Portland, Martin’s Point serves primary care patients at their seven health care centers located in Southern Maine and Portsmouth, New Hampshire and offer Sports Medicine in Portland and Brunswick. They also offer the only Medicare Advantage plans in Maine and New Hampshire to achieve a 5-star rating from Medicare for 2021, and highly rated TRICARE® Prime plans for military families throughout the Northeast. Industry-recognized for the quality of both their care and coverage, Martin’s Point is driven by their mission to deliver the care every person deserves and is trusted by their patients and health plan members to put their health first.
8 Spring 2021
Home Gyms Start Here!
CREATED TO CELEBRATE PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENTS
EMPOWERMENT·PERFORMANCE·ACHIEVEMENT
WWW.FARTLEKJEWELRY.COM 207-885-9382 Expert Advice & Prompt Service
WORKOUT FITNESS STORE sells top-quality home and commercial fitness equipment. They offer great service and advice to help you meet your fitness goals and turn your home into a great fitness experience. Try their equipment in store before you buy it. They have catered to all levels of abilities for more than 30 years and provide top-quality products that offer the latest technologies to improve and protect your body.
Jewelry for men and women made from precious metals, in the USA, by Pauline Warg. A portion of the profits are donated to cancer research and charities related to helping those with catastrophic illnesses. Using the patterns created by GPS maps a unique keepsake can be made.
Pictured: Beach To Beacon Cuff; Triathlon Earrings; NYC Marathon Pendant
activitymaine.com 9
Rewild
Can the remedy to stressful modern lives be found in the forest? By Saisie Moore
I
f you’ve spent less time on familiar downtown streets and more time among the trails and trees of our public
Into the Woods When John Muir wrote of “going into the forest to lose my mind and find
lands during the past year, you’re not alone. Everyone from
my soul,” he may have inadvertently
seasoned hikers to the previously outdoor-averse responded
described the art and science of shinrin
to a collective yearning for space and calm. Now that we’re
bath.”
learning there’s more to our excursions than just exercise and good views, what knowledge and practices can help us maintain an essential connection to the wild – and in doing so, improve health and well-being?
yoku, the Japanese characters for “forest Forest Therapy Guide and Registered Maine Guide Jeanne Christie discovered this concept of forest bathing for herself one day during a trail run. “Several years ago, I found myself stopped on the trail, looking around at the trees with a sudden desire to stay still,” she said. After completing certification training with the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy, Christie launched her
10 Spring 2021
PHOTO Unsplash.com
HOW TO OURSELVES
Take a break during your workday
■ Silence or switch off your phone and create distance between yourself and your personal devices for ten minutes. ■ Find a quiet space in nature, whether a park, shorefront, or garden. ■ Practice sympathetic breathing, inhaling, and exhaling slowly while engaging the diaphragm. ■ Close your eyes and focus your other senses; tune in to the sounds and smells around you, feel the wind and sun on your skin. ■ If you have space, practice slow stretches and movements to loosen the body and focus the mind. ■ Before you leave, observe an element of nature with fresh eyes and deeper appreciation.
ABOVE Showshoeing with Registered Maine Guide Jeanne Christie. Photo courtesy Jeanne Christie.
business, CONNECT TO WILDERNESS, and
season, and the group participating
began leading guided forest therapy
since “not everyone is ready to talk
sessions throughout southern Maine.
to the trees,” said Christie.
“If there’s a therapist, it’s the forest,” she said. “I’m simply a guide.” Each forest bathing session is unique, tailored to the woods,
“The practice is to really experience where you are on a deeper level,” she said. “I’ve heard it described as ‘outward meditation’.” The idea of healing and release simply through quiet reflection in a forest may seem abstract and intangible, but Christie assures it’s a human necessity. “We’ve lost our connection to the wilderness, but it’s still within us,” she said. “Simply taking time to be in nature without agenda or motive— just an existential awareness of the forest—is an ancient instinct we’ve learned to suppress.” Her guidance for a self-directed forest bath? “Gently push aside your ‘talking’ mind,” she said. “Experience the world through all of your senses. Close your eyes and observe the world through your other senses. Your mind will start talking again – don’t worry. Just allow these
ABOVE Forest Therapy Guide and Registered Maine Guide Jeanne Christie leads a forest bathing outing. Photo courtesy Jeanne Christie.
thoughts to move past. Wander at will!” (Continued on next page)
activitymaine.com 11
“The land is the real teacher. All we need as students is mindfulness.” – R O B I N WA L L K I M M E R E R
For anyone eager to take the plunge, Rasor suggests beginning in August when the ocean water is warmer (by Maine standards) and timing your swim for fair conditions. “The wind is typically lower and the water is calmer at dawn and dusk,” he said. Whether you opt for a lake, river, or ocean, there are inherent risks associated with wild swimming. “You need to be aware of your surroundings, tides, waves, temperature, and currents,” said Rasor. “You’re aligned in the moment. It’s just you and the water.”
ABOVE Mitchell Rasor at Cape Elizabeth, Maine. Photo courtesy Mitchell Rasor
Wild Swimming For a truly immersive experience in
during a difficult period. Today, it’s a year-round practice he describes as
nature, plunging into the bracing waters
“mentally and physically cathartic.’’ Even
of Maine’s rugged coast is an invigorating
while traveling for work, Rasor is always
approach – if you can work up the nerve.
on the lookout for a nearby swim spot. “I
Yarmouth landscape architect and artist
try never to miss a day between May and
Mitchell Rasor first gave it a try seven
October,” he said.
years ago, while looking for a new focus
12 Spring 2021
Gaia’s Classroom In the woods beyond East Blue Hill, a collective of alternative educators have established Way of the Earth, an inclusive school that teaches Earth skills and ancient arts – from hide tanning to herbalism to survival skills. Students “find skills to build an everyday functional and positive relationship with the surrounding world, and other people,” said instructor and outdoor educator Colby Smith. Much of the curriculum is centered around a Whole-Earth approach that recognizes the need for indigenous knowledge and leadership at its forefront. “We’ve been creating increasingly ‘artificial’ humanconstructed environments without considering most other species in this
ABOVE Cousins Island. Photos courtesy Mitchell Rasor.
process,” he said. “Indigenous or native people have always lived with the natural world at the forefront of their consciousness.”. Sign up for short courses in traditional arts, or if you’re feeling a real wanderlust, sign up for their immersive five-month summer wilderness program at an on-site primitive village. For anyone with a desire to rewild but without months to spare, Smith offers some practical advice: “Returning to health and balance is a process – it takes time. Make small, but sure steps. Plug in to the place you live and learn about the interconnections that exist there. Quietly observe how this stream has slowly shaped the ground and how the mink is influenced by these shapes as it travels upstream. Observe how you too are shaped by the mink’s movements, the sound of the stream, and the shape of the land. Rather than just moving through nature, look around, move slowly, start a relationship with something there Maybe it could use your help. Maybe it could help you.”
ABOVE Building lodging. Photo courtesy Way of The Earth.
Saisie Moore is a freelance writer and gardener living on Munjoy Hill in Portland. activitymaine.com 13
NORTHEAST RUNNERS ALLIANCE (NeRA) is an alliance of road and trail runners located in the Northeastern United States. Our primary mission is to build and connect a community centered around running that encourages engagement and collaboration, stewardship, and responsible use of shared spaces. Our secondary mission is to foster diversity, inclusion, and access to the sport of running in all forms. Road or trail, recreational or competitive, we believe there is a place for everybody. Our current initiatives include Shared Miles, an effort to remove barriers in the running community at large, to supply aspiring BIPOC runners in the Greater Portland, Maine community with technical clothing, quality running shoes, gear, and assistance with payment of entry fees to races. We are actively seeking funding, donations, and runners to partner with. We are also in the process of planning an upcoming roundtable discussion around access to trails, environmental stewardship, and how engagement can be encouraged on a broad scale. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit.
14 Spring 2021
CHECK YOURSELF! IT’S TICK SEASON Tips on Ticks & Prevention By Jaclyn Sanipass
L
ike so many people who
disease existed here in the Northeast.
am back running trails, backpacking, and
live for the outdoors, I’ve
Yet, I didn’t know its devastating effects
practicing martial arts in the elements
when I developed the familiar bull’s eye
again.
spent much of my time in the woods and waters of Maine
rash in 2006. I wished I'd known more
The cool, fresh mornings of spring in
before becoming bed-bound for more
Maine open up so many opportunities
than two years and succumbing to a
to go outside and focus on healthy
desperate search for my health. Luckily
activities. As green begins to return in
after seven years, I fully recovered
the forests, it seems to draw people from
with the help of a team of doctors,
their homes and call them back to the
As a trained wilderness guide and a
neurological rehabilitation, and support
great outdoors. (Continued on next page)
Maine native, I was well aware that Lyme
through adaptive sports programs. Now I
until, at age 26, an unexpected rash brought my life to a screeching halt.
activitymaine.com 15
PHOTO courtesy Jaclyn Sanipass
Staying healthy outdoors while maintaining the proper social distance
Avoid Bushwacking; Stay on Trails Try to stay out of the long grass as
to feel one more easily than being able to see it. Use a mirror to check your
is still on the minds of many fresh-air
many ticks stand on the end of the
back. Then, throw your clothes in the
seekers hitting the trails this summer
blades of grass reaching up with their
washer and dryer. Be sure to check
season. Yet, there is more to think
legs, ready to attach to whatever
thoroughly. Favorite places for ticks are
about beyond the current pandemic
happens to walk by. They will attach
behind the knees, armpits, waistline,
when heading out on that next
to a pant leg, shoe, or sock and then
groin, and scalp.
adventure.
migrate upwards, looking for warmth.
Whether you are hiking, backpacking,
What if you find an attached tick?
camping, trail running, participating
Tick Checks are Extremely Important
in one of the new virtual trail races,
I do quick tick checks along the trail,
or gardening—there is potential for
especially if I travel through low brush,
can find at most outdoor stores or use
tick exposure. Children are most
leaf litter, or tall grasses. I do another
regular tweezers. Grasp it as close to
susceptible because they tend to play
check once I return to my car. Then
your skin as possible and pull with a
outdoors the most, and people who
once back at home, I do a thorough
gentle tug. Try to avoid breaking the
spend time outdoors are at a higher
tick check. Use your hand to rub along
tick. If broken, the head of the tick will
risk. Pets let outdoors can also pose
your skin as it may be easy to mistake
be left inside the skin and may cause
a risk, as they are likely to carry ticks
a tiny deer tick for a freckle. A tick will
irritation. If you suspect infection,
back into the home.
be raised slightly so you might be able
consult your physician right away.
16 Spring 2021
Remove ticks as soon as you see them. There are tick scoops that you
BE TICK AWARE The Global Lyme Alliance, a research and education organization based in Connecticut, gives suggestions on their website to help people to “Be Tick AWARE,” which is an acronym for the following: ■ AVOID areas where ticks live. Ticks thrive in woodpiles, leaf litter, long grass, beach grass, bushy areas, stone walls, and perimeters where the lawn meets the woods.
PHOTO courtesy Jaclyn Sanipass
Take a picture of the embedded tick. Write down the day and time that it was found embedded in case you need to have it examined or keep records for a doctor. Watch the area for any signs of rash and note any developments of other symptoms such as headaches, nausea, malaise, diarrhea, fever, etc. In short, always be mindful of where you walk this summer. Not all ticks carry infectious diseases and not every bite will lead to disease. But better to be careful, educated, and aware. Consult your physician if you suspect you may have a tick-borne illness. Jaclyn Sanipass is a survivor in complete recovery of neurological Lyme disease and Babesiosis. After a seven-year battle, she returned to the wilderness and led women’s retreats for more than 10 years. Her newly released book It’s In Your Dreams is a novel about her life as a wilderness guide and her journey of healing from Lyme disease.
■ WEAR light-colored clothing to spot ticks more easily, long-sleeved shirts tucked in at the waist, long pants tucked into high socks, closed-toe shoes, and a hat with your hair tucked in, if possible. Do not walk in the grass barefoot or in open sandals, even if it’s cut short. ■ APPLY EPS-approved tick repellent (such as DEET or picaridin) and insecticide (such as permethrin) to skin, clothing, and shoes as directed. ■ REMOVE clothing upon entering the home; toss into the dryer at high temperature for 10-15 minutes to kill live ticks. Putting them in the washer, however, will not.
ABOUT SIZE Tick larvae are less than 1 millimeter long (the size of a poppy seed) while nymphs are 1-2 millimeters long, about the size of a pinhead. Adult ticks can range from about 2 - 6 millimeters long when unfed and can grow up to 10 millimeters long after feeding. Source: www.domyown.com
activitymaine.com 17
The Healing Power of PLANTS An interview with award-winning herbalist Kathi Langelier
Photo by Kathi Langelier
S
pend a day with Maine
herbalist Kathi Langelier and soon you’ll discover you can create your own power to heal what troubles you and maintain wellness throughout your body, mind, and spirit.
By Jenna Lookner
PHOTO Making fire cider. Courtesy or Erin Little.
Langelier’s farm and apothecary,
Her first book, titled Herbal Revolution:
The recipes featured in Langelier’s
Herbal Revolution is the result of 25
65+ recipes for Tea, Elixirs, Tinctures,
book make preparing and consuming
years of hard work honing her skills
Syrups, Foods + Body Products that Heal
beneficial foods delicious and easy.
with plant-based medicine. She arrived
was released in December of 2020.
at her calling on a winding path with
“I wanted to create something that
“If people are missing an ingredient, I want them to feel empowered to get
one destination: wellness. She pursued
connects with people, encouraging
creative,” she said. “I wanted to say,
a variety of educational opportunities
the use of everyday products most
‘here is a recipe, but feel confident to
including apprenticing on farms
of us have in our kitchen,” she said.
not follow it exactly.’ So I wrote recipes
throughout the country, eventually
Basics such as garlic, thyme, ginger,
that are really accessible.”
deciding to attend massage school,
honey, and lemon are among those
while gaining knowledge and reliance
approachable staples.
on the healing power of plants. “I
“Many of the herbs we use daily have
A favorite recipe that encompasses medicinal benefits is a Ginger and Elderberry Hot Toddy. This tasty
realized I am not built to be inside,”
historically been used in medicine,”
concoction is enjoyed warm and
she said.
she said.
includes ginger, elderberry, and reishi
After buying her farm, Langelier
Langelier added she believes that the
mushroom. Langelier explained
began growing the variety of plants
value of Western medicine dovetails
that these ingredients combat
that she uses in Herbal Revolution’s
with herbal remedies and that she
inflammation, while boosting the
line of products, which have gained a
values the traditional medical system
immune system. Enjoying them in a
steady following and loyal customer
immensely.
hot toddy helps activate the ginger
base, and her business now boasts
“I definitely do not want to discount
a production facility on Route 17 in
the medical system," she said. “These
Union. While this facility is not open
alternatives enhance the ability for
to the public, Langelier said she has a
people to take charge of their own
vision for the future.
health.”
and cinnamon, which maximizes circulation. (Continued on next page)
Ginger + Elderberry Hot Toddy
with Elderflower Brandy
Makes two cups of Elderflower Brandy and 3 (3⁄4-cup) servings of Elderberry Hot Toddy INGREDIENTS
■ ¼ cup dried elderflowers ■ 2 cups brandy ■ Ingredients for Elderberry Hot Toddy ■ 1– 2 tbsp fresh grated ginger ■ Zest from one lemon (about 1-2 tbsp) ■ 2 tbsp dried elderberries ■ 1 tbsp cinnamon chips or one cinnamon stick ■ 2 tsp dried Reishi powder ■ 4 cups water ■ 1 tbsp Lemon juice, divided ■ 1 ½ tsp maple syrup or elderberry syrup, divided ■ 1 ½ tsp – 3 tbsp Elderflower Brandy (optional), divided
TOOLS
PHOTO courtesy Erin Little
■ ■ ■ ■
Pint jar Strainer Microplane 3-quart cooking pot
DIRECTIONS FOR ELDERFLOWER BRANDY Place the dried elderflowers in the jar; pour in the brandy to the very top of the jar. Cover and let sit for four weeks. Strain into a labeled jar, and sip on its own or make into a hot toddy below.
DIRECTIONS FOR ELDERBERRY HOT TODDY Use a microplane to grate the fresh ginger root and lemon zest and place in the pot. Add elderberries, cinnamon, reishi, and water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then, reduce the heat to low simmer for roughly 25 to 30 minutes. Reduce the mixture by about half. Remove from the heat and strain. Divide the liquid into three serving cups. Add 1 tsp of lemon juice and ½ tsp maple syrup to each cup and stir. If adding Elderflower Brandy, add ½ tsp to 1 tbsp to each cup.
Cheers!
activitymaine.com 19
Langelier lights up when she talks about another popular
“I want people to enjoy these recipes whenever they feel
Herbal Revolution product, Fire Cider. The spicy infusion
like it,” she said. “It’s preventative care; why get a cold or
contains garlic, onion, ginger, horseradish, honey, and hot
flu when you might be able to use it in your diet to avoid it
peppers in an apple cider vinegar base. Langelier said that
all together?”
many drink a shot of it straight for health, but she also
Herbal Revolution: 65+ recipes for Tea, Elixirs, Tinctures,
encourages using it in salad dressings, soups, and various
Syrups, Foods + Body Products that Heal can be found on the
savory recipes.
Herbal Revolution website, and on Amazon where a Kindle
“Every year, I add it to the salsa I make,” she said. The potent formula provides an umami flavoring when mixed
version is also available. Langelier also suggested checking with local, independent bookstores.
into a recipe. Langelier said her recipes are designed to be enjoyed anytime, not simply as a reaction to illness.
Jenna Lookner lives on her family farm in Camden. Always curious, she enjoys exploring her natural, cultural and epicurean surroundings with her husband and three rescued mutts.
Jumping Rope
TO RUN FASTER By Heidi Walls, MD
Fitness trends come and go, but jumping rope might be one exercise for runners to adopt. Plyometric training—a form of intense training that generates strength at a high speed—leads to neuromuscular adaptations, including increased power and stiffness, which can improve running performance. Jumping rope requires quick rebounds that recruit mainly the foot muscles and joints, a type of plyometric training that would be useful for runners. A recent study in the International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance set out to investigate this. A group of amateur runners were randomly assigned to an experimental group or a control group. The experimental group modified their regular warm-up routine to include jumping rope for two to four sessions per week with a total time of 10 to 20 minutes per week. After 10 weeks, runners in the experimental group had greater arch stiffness and statistically significant improvement in their three-kilometer run time compared to the control group. So, for runners looking for a way to increase their speed, incorporating jump rope training drills into their warm up may be a great way to do so. Dust off that jump rope and get going!
PHOTO Getty Images
20 Spring 2021
Reference article: García-Pinillos F, Lago-Fuentes C, Latorre-Román PA, PantojaVallejo A, Ramirez-Campillo R. Jump-Rope Training: Improved 3-km Time-Trial Performance in Endurance Runners via Enhanced Lower-Limb Reactivity and FootArch Stiffness [published online ahead of print, 2020 Mar 12]. Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2020;1-7. doi:10.1123/ijspp.2019-0529
activitymaine.com 21
Coaching & Training Opportunities • Group Runs Fun Social Events • Volunteering Opportunities Website & Newsletter with Run Calendars & Tips from Experts Annual Membership Banquet & Awards • Active Wear Early Registration for Maine Track Club’s Mid-Winter 10 Mile Classic Participation in Race Bib Lotteries for TD Beach to Beacon 10K, Boston Marathon, and Mt. Washington Road Race
Peaks Island 5 Miler July 24, 2021 Maine Marathon, Half Marathon & Relay In-Person & Virtual Options October 3, 2021 Farm to Farm Ultra Run & Relay Fall 2021
Maine Track Club Turkey Trot November 21, 2021 Mid-Winter 10-Mile Classic February 13, 2022 Frostbite 2.5K February 20, 2022
Portland Sea Dogs Mother’s Day 5K Cancelled for 2021 Pat’s Pizza Clam Festival Classic 5 Miler Cancelled for 2021
To check updated MTC race statuses, in-person and virtual race options, as well as register for races, visit www.mainetrackclub.com
Maine’s Largest Running Club - Est. 1979 For more info email mainetrackclub@gmail.com or visit
MaineTrackClub.com
