FAQ’s ABOUT WWW
Frequently Asked Questions about Womens’ Wellness Walks
What if I need to miss a week?
We know that it won’t work for every person to come every week - that is totally understandable and OK. If you find that you have a conflict in a given week, please either text Mish at 207-592-2453 or email info@happieroutside.com (or reply to any of the emails!)… we will typically head out on the trail within about 5-10 minutes of arriving (quicker if it’s cold!) and will worry about you if you just don’t show up!
What gear do I need to bring?
It depends! If the weather has been snowy or icy lately, you will likely want to wear good robust walking footwear - hiking shoes, boots, that kind of thing. If it’s windy, bring a wind jacket. If it’s hot, be sure to have layers and water to drink. Some people have invested in hiking poles and love them. In wintertime, some weeks, it’s good to bring ice grippers - please use your best judgement.
Having a range of options to pull out when you need it can be a great idea (I have a bag of stuff in my car that I carry with me and I tend to grab what I need on the day as we have so many microclimates in the Midcoast - it can be really different between Rockland, Camden, Rockport and Lincolnville).
That said, if you don’t have any particular piece of gear - don’t worry! Don’t let a lack of fancy gear stop you from coming!
Our group tends to have a range of walking speeds - and, depending on the terrain, we sometimes pod up into different walking speed groups. We make sure to check in with each other regularly along the way, and we’ve found that nobody gets left behind or feels too held back. We sprinkle in some reflective experiences along the way so it generally all works out.
How fast do you walk?
You mention mindfulness and meditation. Explain.
We use mindfulness as a way to connect with nature and to connect with ourselves in nature. If you’ve never felt that mindfulness or meditation has been successful for you - no worries at all. We tend to do short-duration guided breathing exercises, while sitting or standing (weather dependent) - and it’s not at all dogmatic. There’s no chanting (or at least not yet!), and the intention is to connect each person with the rhythm of their own breath and bodies and to provide space for reflection….
What’s with the Wellness Presenters?
We invite local wellness practitioners to join us and impart their wisdom, their insights, their latest readings and research, and to connect with us in an informal way to make connections. The hope is that you learn something from them, and if you happen to be looking for a (insert wellness profession here) expert, that you’ll consider contacting them to learn more. There is no sales pitch, no hard sell, and the people who tend to join us are into the whole Happier Outside vibe, so are really fun to be around. We hope you’ll welcome them each week.
If you know someone who would like to present and be involved who is a wise wellness person that loves nature, please put us in touch!
COVID.
What do you do?
In line with our philosophies of Community, Accessibility, Integration and Fun… we approach our COVID protocols with an attitude of being willing to accommodate all perspectives, while ensuring the health and safety of all.
We will ask that all participants be respectful of each others’ wishes with regards to COVID preferences. Please speak up if you have specific wishes or needs that you would like to be accommodated. For example, if one person in our group would prefer that others wear a mask while talking to them, we’ll wear masks when near that person. And that’s cool!
If you are not comfortable with these protocols, and have already signed up for a program, you can receive a refund if you notify us at least 48 hours before the start of the session.