Pure Outdoors

Pure Outdoors Outdoor Grit. Inner Peace. Retreats + wellness for veterans & recovery communities. Rafting, hiking, yoga, meditation.

Led by a Maine Guide & psychologist/yoga teacher.
📍 Maine | ✉️ pureoutdoorsmaine@gmail.com
🌐 www.pureoutdoorsmaine.com

What a beautiful day for skiing! We took the folks from  El Rancho  De La Vida on a cross-country skiing trip. This acti...
12/17/2025

What a beautiful day for skiing! We took the folks from El Rancho De La Vida on a cross-country skiing trip. This activity is a metaphor for recovery, demonstrating the importance of perseverance and the value of support from others. Thanks to Skowhegan Outdoors for the skis!

🌧️ Storms Outside, Strength Within 🌿With the storm rolling through, we took our practice indoors to Somerset Sports & Fi...
12/10/2025

🌧️ Storms Outside, Strength Within 🌿

With the storm rolling through, we took our practice indoors to Somerset Sports & Fitness — but the energy stayed strong.

We started with a yoga session led by Jill, where residents explored heart-opening poses and took time to connect inward. Those who have been at El Rancho de la Vida for a few months are showing so much growth — trying new postures with confidence and deepening their practice week after week.
After yoga, Greg led residents to a strength and cardio workout in the fitness center.
In recovery, every small act builds strength , whether it’s stepping into a new pose or lifting a little heavier. We’re proud of the progress we’re witnessing.

🧘‍♀️ Yoga in an old school classroom. Not glamorous — but it’s not supposed to be.Yoga is about turning inward. It’s abo...
12/04/2025

🧘‍♀️ Yoga in an old school classroom. Not glamorous — but it’s not supposed to be.

Yoga is about turning inward. It’s about learning to feel at home inside yourself, no matter what’s going on around you.

After a steady, calming practice with Jill, Greg led the residents on a hike through the Father Rasle trail. History, fresh air, and movement under open skies.

We did eagle arms in class — then walked under eagle nests. That’s the kind of alignment we love.
A group of people showing up for themselves, and becoming freer with every week that passes.

Each time we gather with the residents of El Rancho de la Vida, we get to witness something powerful. You can see the light coming back. Shoulders drop. Faces soften. There's laughter. Curiosity. Confidence.

Recovery is a process of blooming. Of remembering who you are, and discovering new parts of yourself along the way.

🏞️ Finding Joy and Serenity on the Trail! 🧘What an incredible day we had supporting the wonderful residents from Rancho ...
11/19/2025

🏞️ Finding Joy and Serenity on the Trail! 🧘
What an incredible day we had supporting the wonderful residents from Rancho de la Vida!

Here at Pure Outdoors, we believe in the transformative power of nature and movement in the journey of recovery. Today, we put that belief into action with a beautiful hike, utilizing the strength and focus found in the outdoors as a powerful tool for Recreation Therapy.

Hiking is more than just exercise; it's a chance to build self-efficacy, practice mindfulness with every step, and forge strong community bonds in a supportive, natural environment. We are so proud of everyone for embracing the challenge and celebrating the small victories along the way!

After conquering the trails, we smoothly transitioned into a peaceful session of yoga and meditation. This combination helps to integrate the physical energy of the hike with a deep sense of calm, providing tools for self-regulation and emotional balance that extend far beyond the mat.

Outdoor Experiences: Building strength, resilience, and connection.

Yoga & Meditation: Cultivating peace, clarity, and self-compassion.

Thank you, Rancho de la Vida, for allowing us to be a part of your residents' path to wellness. We can't wait for our next adventure!

💪🧘‍♀️ Lifting, Breathing, and Building Resilience 🧘‍♂️💪While Pure Outdoors is rooted in fresh air and forest trails, som...
11/12/2025

💪🧘‍♀️ Lifting, Breathing, and Building Resilience 🧘‍♂️💪

While Pure Outdoors is rooted in fresh air and forest trails, some days call us inside to strengthen our foundation for life outside.

Today, we brought the residents of El Rancho de la Vida to Somerset Sports & Fitness for a full-body reset that blended strength, breath, and mindful movement.

We started with optional cardio to build physical stamina. Then, we had the gift of practicing pranayam and meditation with Shamkar from Sat Manav Yoga Ashram. His calm presence and guidance reminded us that breath is a tool for healing, no matter where we are.

Jill followed with a yoga practice that focused on flexibility, mobility, and creating space in the body. It was a powerful balance to the morning’s energy. Then, some residents went with Greg to take advantage of the weight room.

Recovery is about learning new ways to be in the world. Some days that means hiking. Some days that means pumpkin carving. And today, it meant moving our bodies, calming our minds, and showing up fully.

11/05/2025

Another day, another beautiful recovery-focused yoga practice El Rancho De La Vida

🎃🌧️ Rainy Days & Recovery Seeds 🌧️🎃At Pure Outdoors, we believe recovery lives in the everyday moments—especially the si...
10/22/2025

🎃🌧️ Rainy Days & Recovery Seeds 🌧️🎃

At Pure Outdoors, we believe recovery lives in the everyday moments—especially the simple, seasonal ones.

Today, the rain kept us indoors, but the spirit of connection and purpose was alive and well at El Rancho de la Vida.

We carved pumpkins together, sharing laughs and memories—and then we took the guts and seeds and planted them right into the earth. A little Seva (selfless service) to future residents: maybe next year, someone will stumble upon a pumpkin patch and feel the care we planted today. 🌱

Afterward, we gathered by the firelight for gentle yoga—moving through postures, breath, and rest.

These kinds of days are what build community in recovery. Revisiting old traditions, creating new ones, and practicing joy and presence without substances.

It’s not just about staying sober. It’s about remembering there’s something beautiful worth staying sober for.

🧘‍♂️🍂 Nature. Movement. Recovery.

🍎✨ Today we visited Lemeiux’s Orchard with the residents of El Rancho de la Vida — and it was a perfect Maine fall day. ...
10/15/2025

🍎✨ Today we visited Lemeiux’s Orchard with the residents of El Rancho de la Vida — and it was a perfect Maine fall day. Crisp air, rows of apples, and lots of laughter.

As we wandered through the corn maze, we noticed someone had clearly blazed a trail right out the side — a reminder that recovery doesn’t always follow the expected path. Sometimes it’s messy, nonlinear, and a little wild — but it’s still progress. 🍂

We picked apples, shared stories, and soaked up the beauty around us. These simple moments — feeling the sun, moving the body, being present — are powerful in recovery. They remind us of joy, connection, and the sweetness of life without substances.

Thank you to everyone who made the day so meaningful. 🍏❤️

🌧️🧘‍♀️ Rainy Day Reset at the RanchToday’s much-needed rain invited us to slow down and cozy up. We started our morning ...
10/08/2025

🌧️🧘‍♀️ Rainy Day Reset at the Ranch

Today’s much-needed rain invited us to slow down and cozy up. We started our morning with a warm, grounding yoga practice in front of the fireplace at El Rancho de la Vida—leaning into stillness, breath, and the comfort of the indoors.

Then we ventured into Skowhegan to visit our friends at Skowhegan Outdoors for a special fly-tying lesson—complete with some laughs, learning, and connection over coffee and tea at Flat Iron Joe’s Café ☕️🎣

Recovery isn’t always about adventure. Sometimes it’s about noticing the quieter beauty, the steady rhythm of breath, and the peace found in presence—especially on rainy days.

The residents of El Rancho de la Vida engage in seva at Lake George, preparing for the Maine Garlic Fest.
10/01/2025

The residents of El Rancho de la Vida engage in seva at Lake George, preparing for the Maine Garlic Fest.

10/01/2025

🍂🧘‍♀️ Yoga + Seva at Lake George 🧄💪

Today’s adventure brought us back to beautiful Lake George for movement, reflection, and a little hands-on service.

After a grounding yoga practice on the water’s edge — where we breathed into the changing season and watched the light dance on the lake — we shifted from inner work to outer work. Our group joined together to set up tents for the upcoming Maine Garlic Fest… because seva (selfless service) is yoga too.

🧄 In yoga, seva is an act of giving without expectation — a practice of humility, purpose, and connection.
💛 In recovery, it’s a reminder that we’re part of something bigger, that our hands and hearts can be of use, and that giving back feels good.

Service reminds us we belong, that we matter, and that our recovery isn’t just for us — it’s for the communities we help build.

To our crew today: your energy, presence, and willingness to show up — both on the mat and in the world — is everything.

🛶💫 We moved. We served. We laughed. We healed.

Thank you to the residents of El Rancho de la Vida, to the team at Maine Garlic Fest, and to the land and lake that always hold us.

Stay tuned — the season isn’t over yet 🍁
We’ve got more movement, more service, and more joy to come.

📩 pureoutdoorsmaine@gmail.com
🌱

09/17/2025

🌿💛 How do we keep people sober and actively engaged in their recovery?

We expose them to joy.
We help them reconnect to the world — not just in a clinical or sober living setting, but in life itself.

Recovery isn’t just about staying away from substances. It’s about discovering that there’s something worth staying sober for. That’s why we bring residents outside. Into the woods. Onto the water. Onto their mats.

🧘‍♀️ Yoga and meditation help people slow down, tune into their breath, and notice the emotions and sensations they’ve learned to dull or escape. This builds the capacity for self-awareness and self-regulation.

🌲 Therapeutic recreation offers a chance to feel strong, connected, and empowered. Whether we’re hiking, paddling, or watching the sun set over a lake, participants are reminded that the world is beautiful — and they belong in it.

We give people opportunities to be present, to be themselves, to feel alive — and to practice being sober in real life, with all its mud, beauty, laughter, and challenge.

Want to bring this experience to your program?
We offer 2–4 hour sessions, day retreats, or seasonal partnerships.
And yes — we now have transportation. 🚌

📩 pureoutdoorsmaine@gmail.com

🌎 pureoutdoorsmaine.com

Address

62 Page Terrace
Hinckley, ME
04944

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Pure Outdoors posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Pure Outdoors:

Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share via Email
Share on WhatsApp Share on Instagram Share on Telegram