Ben Roberts
After years of dealing with chronic pain from a yet-to-be-diagnosed case of Ankylosing Spondylitis, a chronic inflammatory disease, Ben found his way to yoga. He has since used it as a tool to better his body and his mind and teaches from that same frame of reference. He believes healing comes in many different forms and encourages a shape and form that is best for you.
Ben completed his 500-hour yoga teacher training at Modo Yoga International and has continued his education with them in New York. His relaxed vibe and light sense of humor help people approach their practice (and themselves) with more pleasure and less judgment. Ben’s classes are taught in a hot studio environment with an alignment-focused, strength-based approach, paired with instrumental music and moderate intensity to support growth and balance.
He teaches dynamic flows, with sequencing and poses that can be accessed and enjoyed by a novice or long-time yogi. He also brings his experience as a personal trainer, adding focus and awareness to the body, its functional movement, and the mind that moves it.
Janet Steady
Janet is a Registered, Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist, Yoga Teacher, and consultant at CV Wellbeing. She counsels individuals struggling with body image and eating disorders and hopes to create a safe space where you can realign with your inner wisdom, tune out external noise, and live more comfortably in your body.
Janet has her Master of Science degree in Human Nutrition, her 200YTT certification from Sacred Seeds Yoga School, is a certified Intuitive Eating and Balanced Athlete coach, and is trained in ball rolling and Action and Commitment Therapy. After taking her first yoga class in 2010 (just after having her 5th of 6 children) and longing for a sense of community AND self, she was hooked! One of her favorite concepts is that, “…you don’t use your body to get into the poses, but rather the poses to get into your body.”
Her classes are taught in a hot studio environment with a vigorous, alignment-focused approach, complemented by instrumental music to support a strong and mindful practice. Powerful and aligned, Janet hopes to create a fun and uplifting environment where you feel comfortable learning.
Isabella Vakkur
Isabella first tried yoga in elementary school through a Yoga Kids workshop, but her love for the practice really grew many years later. She struggled with disordered eating, over-exercising, and body image in high school, but in college, she found that yoga was a form of movement that brought healing and acceptance. Isabella found that on her mat she learned to be kinder to herself and celebrate all that her body CAN do, rather than harping on limitations or imperfections. Her classes are taught in a warm studio environment with an alignment-focused, moderate intensity approach, and are complemented by upbeat music to inspire and energize students of all levels. She loves how yoga can be accessible to anyone regardless of disability, size, injury, or prior experience.
Now, Isabella teaches yoga to help others find their strength and learn to love themselves as they are. She hopes her students leave class feeling challenged, but stronger than when they started.
Gretchen Campos
Gretchen has been a student of yoga since 2000 and appreciates the continual a-ha moments her own practice provides both on the mat physically and off the mat energetically. Initially completing a 200-hour teacher training in Cambridge MA in 2007 and seeking out further instruction, training, and knowledge since then, the same process of evolving as an instructor keeps her classes fresh and interesting.
Her classes are alignment-focused and accessible to all levels, set in a warm studio environment with instrumental music to foster a supportive and reflective practice. She knows that this is a long term approach to wellness and inner connection and she commits to holding the space for her fellow community members to get on their own mats and explore.
Heidi MacVane
Yoga, a physical and energetic practice that helps us to connect breath and movement within our bodies in a way that allows us to find our authentic self and shine even brighter. Heidi fell in love with this powerful practice for both the physical and energetic magic that quickly became apparent as she found her first mat in Boston, MA. Growing up in a unique island community she was always athletic whether it be as a lobsterman or as a collegiate rower and believes the practice just makes sense, it combined her loves for both movement and emotional healing.
Heidi grew up on Cliff island, Portland Maine. She moved away, received her BSW from Syracuse University and MSW from BU and is a license independent clinical social worker. After practicing for a number of years she took her first 200 hour teacher training from Prana Power Yoga. She later took a second with the Sacred Seeds School of Yoga, and completed a 300 hour with Illumina Yoga. She has pursued a variety of trainings in Yin, Nidra, and Restorative Yoga, as well as advanced trainings including a 40 hour training in Trauma Sensitive Yoga with the Trauma Center in Brookline, MA, a 100 hour training in Soulful Yoga Therapy, and 45 hour training in the psychology of the chakras. Heidi is grateful for her yoga instructors including Taylor and Philippe Wells, Jacqui Bonwell, Johanna Bell, Kate Graham, Ame Wren, Seane Corn, Dana Flynn, and Anodea Judith who have influenced her growth and teaching. Her classes are vigorous and breath-focused, taught in a hot studio environment with upbeat music to energize and inspire transformation.
Heidi moved back to Maine in 2007 and opened Greener Postures Yoga with her business partner, Danielle Toolan in 2010. For her, Greener Postures is truly a dream come true, and is honored to spread the light and love yoga brings to ones life. Heidi feels fortunate to be part of the yoga community in the Portland area and deep gratitude for all her teachers which not only include yoga instructors, but also her family, friends, students and colleagues as she continues her journey on and off her mat!
Danielle Toolan
Danielle started practicing yoga regularly at Prana Power Yoga in 2004 where she met her current business partner, Heidi MacVane. In 2007, she completed her first teacher training and taught full time with Prana Power Yoga in the Boston area, where she loved being part of a yoga community. In the fall of 2009 she decided to make the move to Maine to be closer to her family and open Greener Postures Yoga with Heidi.
Danielle graduated from James Madison University with a BS in Health Assessment and Promotion, and completed a 10-month program to become a certified Holistic Health Counselor at the Institute of Integrative Nutrition in NYC. Since her first teacher training she has completed multiple advanced teacher trainings. She studies regularly with Erin Ehlers, who she views as one of her most brilliant yoga teachers and mentors. Danielle strives to continue to learn about the vastness of yoga by exposing herself to different workshops and instructors. Her classes emphasize strength and alignment, offering a moderate intensity practice in a warm studio environment, energized by beat-driven music to motivate and inspire students. Her intention is to lead informative classes with clear explanation where students can delve into their own physical experience, learn more about themselves and their bodies, and leave their mats with a greater sense of strength and clarity.