Instructors
Kathleen Swinbourne – Owner
Kathleen Swinbourne has owned and operated The Yoga Exchange since 2001. With beautiful color and form combined with the talent of her father’s craftsmanship she has created a sacred space (please note, we have moved to a new location, 251 Congress Street) to practice yoga in downtown Portland, Maine.
Kathleen’s unique teaching style blends 11 years of extensive study of Kripalu, Iyengar, Ashtanga and Anusara Yoga traditions. She is a nationally certified yoga instructor. She is committed to the path of studying and teaching yoga and is currently pursuing training in Yoga Therapy and continues to study with the founder of Anusara Yoga, John Friend and Senior master teachers, Amy Ippoliti and Deb Neubauer.
She has a strong background in athleticism, martial arts and physical rehabilitation. Her understanding of anatomy and the body’s energy systems provide both introductory and experienced students with a special way to explore, heal and integrate the body, mind and spirit.
Kathleen’s desire is to bring an awareness of the power of the individual through movement and inner enlightenment. She encourages her students by setting an example of strength and conviction. She is known for her heart-felt connection with students allowing playfulness to mingle with compassion.
Kathleen’s heart and soul is filled with gratitude to her parents, her partner, Matt, her four siblings and their spouses and her 6 nieces and nephews. Her family is her true teacher of living yoga, one filled with love, laughter, compassion and kindness.
Kristy Scher
Kristy Scher teaches a heart-centered practice inspired by her on-going study of Anusara yoga with Todd Norian, and her training in Kripalu yoga. Her classes are inspired by the principles of Anusara yoga, Tantric philosophy, mindfulness practices from Eastern and Western traditions, as well as the wisdom and insight of spirit warriors and poets past and present.
Kristy is passionate about yoga as a mind-body-spirit practice, one that allows practitioners to experience the joy of embodied living and realize their connection to Source. Her classes combine a variety of asanas appropriate to beginning and experienced practitioners, as well as pranayama (breath work,) and chanting. Kristy completed the 200-hour yoga teacher certification at Kripalu in 2005 and is currently workingtoward a 200-hour yoga teacher certification with Anusara teacher Todd Norian.
Kristy thanks her many teachers – among them, her children, husband, family, and students – who continue to guide her in the practice of living from the heart both on and off the mat.
David Vaughan
David has been studying yoga for the past 10 years and is an Anusara inspired teacher. His initial 200-hour Anusara teacher training was with Master Teacher Deb Neubauer, and he has an additional 100 hours of teacher training with Sianna Sherman and Noah Maze as well as Level One Anusara teacher training with John Friend. David brings a strong understanding of anatomy and physiology to his teaching based on 20 years of teaching biology at the high school level. After finding tremendous healing of a long-term back problem through the practice of yoga, David has a keen interest in the therapeutic applications of yoga and has studied Anusara therapeutics with Anthony Bogart, Sianna Sherman and Jenny Otto, and he received his Yoga Therapy Certification through the Ananda Seva Mission in Santa Rosa, CA.
Gentle and encouraging in speech, David offers classes that are safe, fun, challenging and thoughtfully sequenced. With his unique blend of focus on the breath, the body and the spirit, David’s teaching provides every student the chance to bring the inner and outer bodies into alignment.
Shannon Fallon
Shannon was introduced to Ashtanga Yoga at the age of 16. Surprised by the subtle, unconscious changes occurring in her daily life and how it further supplemented her athletic lifestyle, she eagerly studied Ashtanga and many other styles; including, Anusara, Bikram, Jivimukti and Vinyasa. In the summer of 2006, Shannon became certified in Vinyasa at Core Power Yoga in Boulder, CO. Having been a dedicated athlete, competing for 15 years in Sailing and Downhill Skiing, Shannon understands the importance of finding balance in a competitive world and hopes to inspire others as well. As an Instructor, Shannon invites her students to meet “their edge,” while promoting a fun and safe environment to explore the Human Body.
- Avoid eating 2 hours before class.
- Wear comfortable activewear to class.
- Bring your own mat (mat rental available).
- Bring a towel.
- Drink lots of water throughout the day.
- Arrive at least 5 minutes before class. Do not enter once class begins.
- Make sure to turn your cell phone off before entering the studio.
- No shoes on the studio floor.
- Please refrain from wearing perfumes, and please bathe prior to class.
- Only water bottles with caps allowed on the practice floor. No tea, coffee, juice etc.
- Tell the teacher before class if you have to leave early, and make sure to exit the studio quietly.
- Let the teacher know if you are pregnant, have an injury or are new to the studio. (If you are pregnant make sure you consult with your doctor prior to attending a class.)
- We are not responsible for your belongings.
- We welcome your enthusiasm and positive attitude.
- Prepare for a vigorous practice.