instructors

JANESSA HERMAN

Hello it’s nice to meet you, I’m Janessa (she/her). I’ve been practicing yoga for over 10 years and it grows sweeter with each year. My classes are grounded with an invitation to explore how shapes can impact us physically and mentally. I offer mindful practices like breath technique and subtle body cues to cultivate internal connection. I share from a space of curiosity and openness, knowing that yoga practice looks different for everyone. My goal is to create a space where you might practice authentically within the support of community. Alongside my E-RYT 200, I have further training in yin, restorative, aerial, pranayama, and trauma informed yoga. As a forever student, I’m always expanding my understanding of yoga traditions and holistic practices. When not in the studio with you, I’m out in the woods looking for moss with my dog or reading with my cats.

BRITTANY FAY

I guide students through yoga classes that connect breath with movement to enhance strength, flexibility and centeredness. I love to create fun, challenging sequences that support students of all levels. My husband and I are recently recovered Seattleites and are loving every minute in Bellingham. When I am not on the mat you can find me hitting the trails, on the water or chowing down on an oversized salad, accompanied by an even bigger beer.

CARA HEARTWOOD

I first discovered yoga in high school P.E. circa 2005 and have been a dedicated practitioner ever since. My background in the Classic 26 series and vinyasa has given me a solid foundation in the practice which I wish to bring to my teaching style–a blend of the discipline and intense focus of the former with the playfulness and freedom of the latter. At home my two small children dabble in yoga with me, and their curiosity and joy inspire me every day. I aspire to infuse that same sense of sincerity and playfulness into my teaching, encouraging my students to approach the practice with childlike curiosity and enthusiasm. I believe yoga asana is the perfect compliment to any movement practice and is an invaluable means to find greater balance, strength, peace, and joy in anyone’s life.

RACHEL SCHEIB

Hi! I'm Rachel and I strive to make a comfortable place for you to move, breathe, and maybe try something a little different. I am from California, but have lived in Bellingham mostly since moving in 2014 to attend WWU. I received my 200 hour YTT in 2021 from Yandara Yoga Institute in Baja Mexico. My classes are often structured in a vinyasa-like style, where ample time is given to settle in and warm up, before moving into breath-to-movement standing sequences. My teaching style is informed by my own practice, and especially my experience with yoga since breaking my back in 2016, which was an experience that showed me how essential a personal yoga practice can be on the road to recovery.

I have found that yoga is not only useful in a recovery sense, but also in a preventative sense, as well as in a very present sense-- and now I aim to hold a space where people can benefit from all of these aspects. Three areas I love to explore in my classes would be: 1. breathwork, 2. playful transitions, and I will always gravitate towards 3. low-back care and spinal awareness. Students are always welcome to follow their intuition; I want people to feel like they can show up to their yoga practice on any day, in any way, and find something to meet their needs. My favorite part of teaching at VITAL is the people who show up to class.

FELICIA DOUGHERTY

Hi! My name is Felicia, pronouns she/her; I am a thinker, seeker, and creative who feels privileged to live, learn, and adventure in the beautiful Pacific Northwest on Coast Salish ancestral land. I received my 200hr yoga certification in 2021 and study psychology at Western Washington University. I aim to help others feel good in their bodies by creating a space where students can tune in to their unique intuition about them with curiosity, empathy, and self-compassion. The intersection of embodied movement and somatic psychology inspires my class design, sequenced with accessibility in mind through a trauma-aware lens. As a result, my classes are breath-focused, grounding, playful, and powerful, with ample room to move how you need.

KYLEE HAZELGREN

Yoga has been integral in my life since my teen years. In 2022, I accomplished my 300-hour YTT through Yoga For Life in Portland, Oregon, where the exceptional guidance of my instructors amplified my passion and commitment to yoga. Within my classes, I frequently integrate mudras and breathwork, emphasizing the cultivation of bodily equilibrium. I provide a supportive and welcoming environment for individuals of all levels, encouraging a profound exploration of each posture and creating a space where each individual can explore and connect with how each pose feels within their body.

XANDER HEATON

I have been a lover of movement for my entire life and was drawn to yoga in high school because of my background in martial arts and competitive swimming. Throughout the years, my practice has continued to evolve, and my focal point has been on therapeutic modalities in order to help overcome overuse injuries and compensation patterns from everyday life. Kinesiology-based movement training, leveraged tools, and flow state principles have been significant influences on my practice and my inspiration to help others become more mindful and embodied in their everyday movements. I am passionate about the educational aspects of movement coaching and strive to create an atmosphere of accessibility in my classes where people of any background and ability level can deepen the connection with their bodies and find freedom through movement. I have completed a 40hr Iyengar Yoga teacher training, am a certified Steel Mace Vinyasa Coach and facilitator for its 100hr Teacher Training at Flow Shala, and specialize in mobility and functional movement coaching. I studied massage at WCC and hope to use my understanding of massage and bodywork as a clinical practice to create movement classes that include somatic principles and deepen the subjective understanding of the nervous system. As a writer and lover of language, I bring a unique understanding of rhetoric and ethos to my coaching style. I hold a BA in Business and Sustainability from WWU and believe that leading with fierce compassion, an ethical decision-making framework, and a focus on social justice for the most vulnerable members of our society are critical for a sustainable future. Bringing this paradigm into movement coaching and teaching yoga is something that I have identified as my personal purpose and strive to empower my students.

ASHIA RADKE

My life has been enriched tremendously by yoga and acro yoga and I’m thrilled to share these lovely practices with others. I discovered yoga in 2015 and have found it to be an incredible avenue toward health, healing, growth, curiosity, and a more compassionate relationship with myself. I gravitate toward strong, playful sequencing and teach with a focus on innate wisdom, skillful alignment, exploration, perseverance, and joy. I’m enamored with acro because of the opportunities it provides for laughter and play, safe and supportive collaboration, physical challenge, learning, and connection. As an acro teacher, I use gentle guidance, problem-solving, and oodles of encouragement to create a space in which students can find balance, flow, and a sense of fulfillment. My personal yoga and acro practices are complemented by other movement modalities including climbing, cycling, and hiking. When I’m not in motion, I can be found sleeping in, chatting with friends over a beverage, or admiring something blue.

KATIE DAVIS

Hi! I’m Katie (she/her) and I love all forms of movement. I’ve dabbled in yoga for over 10 years but really fell in love with it in early 2023 when I took my 200 hour YTT in Baja, Mexico. With so much focus on productivity and hustle in the world, I like to make my classes an inviting space to slow down and reconnect with yourself. I love both the physical aspects of poses and helping students find alignment that feels good in their own bodies as well as the connection to breath and mind. I was born and raised in Bellingham but it took living elsewhere to make me appreciate just how special Bellingham is. After a decade traipsing around the West Coast I was stoked to move back here in 2021. Outside of the studio you’re most likely to find me doing something active outside or curled up on a couch with a good book and a mug of tea. I enjoy mountain biking, skiing, paddling, climbing, hiking, jogging, or any adventure with my energetic rescue pup.

DARCEY MAHER-PETERSON

My yoga background is in Iyengar and Ashtanga Yoga. I apprenticed for years under the Iyengar tradition and received my 200hr certification in Rocket Yoga. As a former sailing captain and rock climber, I have longed used yoga as cross-training to awaken body, mind and soul.

My teaching style favors specific cues and attention to stability. I like to guide my students into alignment, and then invite freedom to express their version of a pose. In my class you can expect to be guided safely to your happy edge, and then find some fun and weird way to balance on it.

My personal practice includes lots of inversion play and experimentation. Most days I spend in the garden, adventuring with my 3 kids, or exploring the forests and seas of the Northwest. My favorite place is under a tree or over a wave, with good company.

DAN LITVIN

I started exploring yoga in high school as cross training for hockey and martial arts, but fell in love when the philosophy and mindfulness practices supported me through hard times in my early 20’s. After 15+ years of practice and 10+ years of teaching, my love for yoga has grown deeper, and I hope I can inspire the same affection for the practice in you!

I guide sessions with a focus on mindfulness, breath, and body awareness using invitational language to create an accessible yet challenging experience. I aim to provide a safe and dependable setting for practitioners to sink into their inner experiences in a supportive communal space. Outside the yoga studio, you can find me bouldering next door, on the slopes at Baker, or perched at a local coffee shop.

MELANIE ACEVES

I began practicing yoga in 2007, but my study of the body and posture and lines of energy began far before that, through many years of dance. I recognized my love of practicing and learning and sharing yoga, and vowed to keep it in my life forever. After completing a Bachelor's degree in 2011, I could not resist also earning a certificate in yoga instruction. My 200hr yoga training ended in September of 2012 and I’ve been teaching ever since. In 2020, I completed my 500hr yoga teacher training. One of my hopes is to create opportunities for my students to turn their attention inward, to learn about their own abilities and desires.

SAM SHAFER

Hi! I’m Sam. I was first introduced to the practice of Yoga asana about 8 years ago. Yoga was always there for me when I was ready for it, providing a grounding experience that supported me through tough times in my late teens and early adulthood. My practice has grown deeply over the last 3 years, becoming an integral part of my being. It has always been a supportive practice to me both physically and mentally. Yoga has offered me an outlet to be curious about my body and mind, encouraging play and growth. I particularly have an immense love for Aerial and Yin yoga, though I also deeply enjoy Hatha and Vinyasa style practices.

I received my RYT-200 through Bellingham Yoga Collective in early 2025. This experience helped me ground deeper into the wider perception of Yoga as a philosophy, mindset and lifelong journey. My intention as a teacher is to encourage exploration, curiosity, play, and challenge. As a forever student, I am constantly looking to deepen my practice and understanding of Yoga and of life. Thank you for being a part of this journey! In addition to my RYT-200, I have a specialization in Aerial Yoga. Off the mat I am often practicing aerial dance, flow arts, cooking, reading, creating sonic or physical art, or spending time outside in the mountains, forests, or near the water. I look forward to practicing with you!

ALICIA LOVE

Alicia has been practicing yoga since 2000 and teaching since 2004. This practice has been an anchor in her life and has led her to many bits and pieces of wisdom, inspiration and insight. Stepping on the mat is always an invitation to face oneself and find places that were covered by the maya (illusions), that well themselves inside of each of us, so that they may be unveiled to reveal more and more of ourselves to ourselves. In her classes, you can expect to be asked to tune into your embodiment and the felt sense that arises from your practice, going deeper than just the exercise practice. This alongside a strong flowing class you will experience her deep desire to share the gifts that she has been blessed with. A student for life and a devotee to the human body, you will experience a kinesiology, somatic, and nature connected practice.

BRIDGET ANGELICA

I discovered yoga in 2014 when I stumbled upon a small asana book in a thrift store. I undertook my 200hr YTT in 2016 and soon after completed my 500hr YTT, Kids yoga certification, and Ayurvedic lifestyle certification.

I spent four years living in community at an ashram to deepen my meditation practice and lead yoga teacher trainings. My trainings are rooted in Hatha and Vinyasa practices as well as somatic mindfulness. I love to emphasize personalizing yoga to make it my students' own; I encourage students to engage at a level where they feel comfortable and safe, yet challenged. Supporting students as they connect to their inner self, exploring movement and breath, deepening awareness, and growing together is a gift I am profoundly grateful to be a part of.

My love and passion for yoga shine through my playful teaching style, which encourages lightness and laughter!

If you see me outside of Vital it will likely be zooming by on my bike to find a tucked away spot in nature to dance rest, write, read, do yoga, slack line and be with the trees and creatures. But if you do, come say hi!

REN SKOLNICK

Ren has been devoted to yoga for over a decade. Yoga has always been their most direct path back center. It felt natural to step into sharing their personal practice through teaching, and they completed a 200 hour YTT in 2023. In Ren’s classes you can expect to connect to your breath, move slow and learn about biomechanics. As a LMT, they are well versed in kinesiology and anatomy and love to bring this knowledge into yoga. Their practice focuses on longevity and building strong foundations for functional daily movement.

PAUL KALIFATIDI

My father introduced me to climbing when I was quite young. At six years-old, Devil's Lake became home-away-from-home. Those cliffs will always be home. I only started climbing in the gym once I left for college. I worked at the UMN Center for Outdoor Adventure as a trip leader and clinic instructor. My first summer of college was spent back at Devil's Lake, living out my dirtbag daydreams. I lived out of my Honda Element and worked as a trail builder for the park service and as an instructor for Devil's Lake Climbing Guides. Funny story, my seventh grade teacher became my coworker when she recommended I become a climbing guide.

After college, I moved to Bellingham to be closer to mountain biking. I work as a freelance photographer and wanted to be closer to that industry. Climbing is my social sport, riding is my alone time. I started coaching our youth climbing teams shortly after arriving here and have loved every moment of facilitating community. My goal is to help people accomplish theirs, whether that be competing at USAC Divisionals or climbing to the top of the wall for the first time. There is beauty in both.

. When I'm not at VITAL, you can find me taking the worst lines on the local trails or arguing with my photo editing software in some quiet corner of a coffee shop.

MILO MILLER

Hello! My name is Milo, and I started slacklining with my brother when I was about 10. I have been avidly playing with slacklines ever since and I absolutely love them. I appreciate how well slacklining translates into body awareness when climbing and in everyday life. I started instructing on slacklines this year but I have been teaching my friends and members of the gym for far longer than that! I hope to see y’all soon.

Alle Cromwell

Howdy! Im Alle,

I’ve been climbing for around 2 years now. I started climbing just as a new and fun way to get outside and moving and then I absolutely fell in love with it!

I’ve worked with kids for years having been a nanny and then a preschool teacher. Being able to combine my passions has been such a blast. Whether a kid is just starting to learn how to climb or experienced on the wall, I strive to create an environment for them to thrive and develop their skills. Most importantly have fun and catch the climbing bug.

SARAH BERG

I started climbing in the summer of 2019 and it's been a huge part of my life ever since. My years as a gymnast definitely helped me as I was starting out, but as every climber does, I hit a plateau. While discouraging as it was, it only increased my love for climbing and the desire to improve. I know first hand how intimidating climbing can be and how hard it is to overcome that plateau. My goal as an instructor is to get you comfortable on the wall and help you reach your personal climbing goals! Every climber is on their own journey and I would love to be a part of yours!