What are "Arts of Wellness"?

The Arts of Wellness uses multiple forms of the arts - visual, musical, theatrical, literary, or movement-based - to support wellness across physical, emotional, and social dimensions.

MaineHealth Lifestyle Medicine Brunswick currently has opportunities to use visual art and dance to improve wellness and we are working toward adding programs using other arts as well. Current opportunities include:

• Health in Motion
• Neurographic Art
• Intuitive Painting
• Collage Workshop

Please call 207-373-6585 for more information. If you can't find what you're looking for, ask!

What is Lifestyle Medicine?

Lifestyle Medicine is a medical specialty that uses therapeutic lifestyle interventions as a primary modality to prevent and treat chronic conditions. These conditions include, but are not limited to, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity.

Grounded in evidence-based practice, lifestyle medicine takes a whole-person, prescriptive approach that expands the scope of preventive care by addressing the root causes of illness through sustainable behavior change. Its foundation rests on six core pillars: whole-food, plant-predominant diet, physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, avoidance of risky substances, and positive social connections.

• Optimal nutrition - focus on eating more plant predominant whole foods
• Physical activity - engage in regular and consistent physical activity
• Stress management - develop healthy coping skills
• Restorative sleep - allow for 7-9 hours of quality sleep every night
• Connectedness - foster and support relationships that bring meaning and purpose to life
• Avoid risky substances - avoid consumption or exposure to harmful substances

MaineHealth Lifestyle Medicine Brunswick offers numerous opportunities in many of these six pillars. 

We welcome you to explore our currently offered classes and events on this site! 

Please call 207-373-6585 with questions or for more information. If you don't see something you're looking for, just ask!

What is the "Physical Activity" Lifestyle Medicine Pillar?

Regular, consistent physical activity is an important part of overall health and resiliency.

MaineHealth Lifestyle Medicine Brunswick has a variety of physical activity opportunities:

• Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation
• Pulmonary Rehabilitation
• Vascular Rehabilitation
• Running Start Medical Gym
• Running Start Bowdoin College Swim or Track
• Rock Steady Boxing at YMCA-Brunswick Landing
• Walk with a Doc

Learn more on this website or call 207-373-6585 for more information. If you don't see something you're looking for, just ask!

MaineHealth Lifestyle Medicine Social Hub at Parkview 

Please visit our new Lifestyle Medicine Social Hub at Parkview to get some work done, hang out, wait for an appointment, or enjoy our activities when available:

• Wellness Library
• Healthy Cooking Demonstrations
• Art of Wellness Demonstrations
• Livestyle and Wellness Movies
• Social Games
• Mondful coloring and Puzzles

For more information or to volunteer, please call 207-373-6585.

Running Start is a co-ed exercise program for all age groups that incorporates the proper technique of warm-up, stretching, calisthenics, and aerobic exercise tailored to your personal needs. The classes allow everyone to increase or maintain their fitness level in their own way. A clinical exercise physiologist facilitates this program.

Medical Release from a physician and Waiver of Liability are required prior to participation.

Regular physical activity improves your cardiovascular system, muscle tone, and flexibility, as well as reduces the risk of heart disease, the number one killer of adults in the United States. If you increase your physical activity level, you will improve your quality of life. You'll look better, feel better, and have more energy to enjoy your leisure time.

Supervised medical exercise consisting of an initial fitness assessment and progressive resistance training, flexibility exercises, and a cardiovascular program. 

A clinical exercise physiologist facilitates this program. 

* Please DO NOT register prior to completing your Intake and being assigned a class time.

* Medical Release from a physician and Waiver of Liability are required prior to participation. Once your Medical Release has been received, an exercise physiologist will contact you to schedule an Intake Appointment. 

Running Start Swim is a co-ed exercise program for all age groups with shallow-end aerobics and lane swimming. A clinical exercise physiologist facilitates this program.

Medical Release from a physician and Waiver of Liability are required prior to participation.

Regular physical activity improves your cardiovascular system, muscle tone, and flexibility, as well as reduces the risk of heart disease, the number one killer of adults in the United States. If you increase your physical activity level, you will improve your quality of life. You'll look better, feel better, and have more energy to enjoy your leisure time.

IMPROVment® | Improvisational Movement for Brain Body Health

Fun, creative, and lively, this series of evidence-based dance classes encourage participants to build stamina, strength, and confidence all while moving to music in a joyful and non-judgemental atmosphere. No prior experience is necessary, and attendees are invited to take the class at their own pace and slow down or rest at any time. 

Program aims: 

• to build strength and endurance 
• to focus on balance and agility
• to have fun and be creative in a non-judgemental and non-competitive atmosphere

Any adult 65 years of age or older is encouraged to participate in this class series! Those with PD, early dementia, or individuals looking for cardiac rehabilitation are especially encouraged to participate.

Mondays, Sept. 29-Nov. 17, 10-11 a.m.

Registration is Required for EACH session - Participants are welcome to join for one class or all eight! Cost is $8/class or $40 for the series (call to register for all 8 to receive discount). Payment accepted by credit card or check payable to "Community Health & Wellness". Checks may be delivered to the front desk at Parkview prior to the class.

For more information call (207) 373-6585.

About the teaching artist: Jessie Laurita-Spanglet is a dance artist, educator, and arts administrator based in Brunswick, Maine. Jessie’s work at the intersection of movement and health has led to her current role as Intervention Coordinator on a cross-disciplinary dance and neuroscience research team at Wake Forest University. In addition to her work at Wake Forest, Jessie has taught courses on the topic of Dance and Health at Colby College and the University of Southern Maine, where she is currently a Lecturer in the Department of Theater. Jessie holds an MFA in dance from the University of Maryland, and is a 2024 National Arts Strategies Creative Community Fellow.