This month, Mrs. Wilson's Personal and Career Exploration classes visited The Riverwalk Center in Newport to further explore not only careers but also the resources within their community. "Wow...being here makes me just feel so relaxed," one student whispered upon entering. Touring the building was like a walk through a magical palace; it was neverending, with surprises around every corner.
Many folks think of The Riverwalk Center as "the yoga studio near the Cultural Center." Yes, plenty of yoga happens there (including chair yoga and aerial yoga), but The Riverwalk Center celebrates and offers a range of wellness activities: message therapy, fitness activities (Tenacious Heat, Acro Chair Workshop, line dancing, and more!), facials, and infrared sauna. On the fourth Thursday of each month from 3 pm to 6 pm is The Riverwalk Farmers' Market. It is also the home of BLOOM! School for Theraputic Arts, which offers message therapy training and yoga teacher training. A few of our Nokomis Warriors on our staff are currently enrolled in the yoga instructor training and have had nothing but positives to say about the program (and always with a smile on their faces). This April, BLOOM! will be offering their first Reiki workshop.
Here's what Brady Ludden (Class of 2025) had to say about the trip:
"The students in Mrs. Wilson's Personal and career exploration classes went to the Riverwalk Center in Newport, Maine. The reason we went was to find out about different career options and learn about what we had to do to prepare for that type of job. First, we talked with a social worker, then we talked to an acupuncturist. We also talked to the business owner and a yoga instructor [Debra Ricker]. One of the highlights was when the owner talked about how she transformed the building, and she told us that before she bought it that it was going to be demolished. Another big highlight was doing yoga before we left."
Hailey Richards, a junior, joined the trip as well: "The things I found most interesting were the way acupuncture therapy helps the body in multiple ways and how massages and yoga help with stress and the mind, along with other parts of your body, to relax."
Debra Ricker -- owner and licensed massage therapist & registered yoga instructor -- is very passionate about community involvement. "We are open to student suggestions about activities and always love to have students audit or help out at our reception area to learn customer service skills." Debra can be contacted at debra@theriverwalkcenter.com with suggestions or questions.
Mrs. Wilson's PACE students learned so much about careers in therapeutic arts, wellness activities, entrepreneurship and business management, and happenings in their community by visiting The Riverwalk Center. If you haven't had a chance to check it out, give their Facebook page a "like" to keep an eye out for events. There is surely something for everyone at 5 Water Street in Newport!