Today we’d like to introduce you to Carlene Benelli and Marisa Granger.
Carlene and Marisa, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Our friendship began long before SOULFIRE was even a thought! We met on the local Pop Warner football field while cheering for our sons and volunteering our time on the board. We enjoyed each other’s company and realized we spoke the same languages – sarcasm and humor! We spent many years supporting our sons, encouraging each other and laughing along the way. Our yoga paths began very differently. In fact, we were both very surprised to learn the other actually practiced yoga. Marisa found yoga as a physical practice to help rehabilitate a fractured ankle. She was hooked from day one. Over time, her yoga practice began to show up in her life and, ultimately, leading her down the path of yoga teacher training as a way to expand her own understanding. As life got busier and more complex, the practice became an integral part of her life and necessary to maintain grounding in a life of multi-tasking. As a mother, wife, occupational therapist, volunteer, and all the other daily things that pull us all, her mat was her home base. Her yoga practice was a time to reconnect and be clear about what is important.
My path began differently. I found yoga completely by accident. I was invited to try a class by a neighbor who opened a studio near my home. I “won” three classes and felt compelled to power through all three classes out of support for her. The gift she gave me was a shift in my life for which I couldn’t be more grateful. At some point, in those first few classes, I too became hooked on the practice! Each time I went to my yoga mat, the ideas and limits I had believed about myself for years began to dissolve. We all have the idea of who we are. I believed I was the anxious, uncoordinated, tall girl. I suffered in silence with anxiety my whole life; yet, I would leave my yoga mat feeling accomplished, strong and clear. I loved how my yoga practice was making me feel physically and mentally. I pursued yoga teacher training and shared by love of yoga as a teacher. When I was 45 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I left teaching and my physical practice to have surgery (bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction) and chemotherapy but my practice never left me. All the benefits of yoga were still there for me even on the days I could not get out of bed. I learned something different about myself.
Fast forward about 14months, I was ready to come back to teach and practice but the studio I loved was closing. We remember those first few conversations about what will we do without the heated power yoga studio to practice and teach. Yoga practice, training and teaching had had such a profound impact on both of us and we felt completely adrift. SOULFIRE was born (reluctantly at first) out of a need to have a yoga home. Marisa works as an occupational therapist full time and I was just building strength and a new head of hair after many months of treatment; therefore, the idea of opening a yoga studio was not on our radar. I guess necessity is the mother of invention and eventually, all signs pointed to us! The foundation of SOULFIRE is community and connection, we could not have created this studio or community without these first introductions to yoga, so many other teachers sharing a similar passion with us and encouragement to step well out of our comfort zone. We want to do that for everyone who comes into the studio. We want to share a practice that can brighten the path for each person’s individual soul fire! We want to be a yoga home of love, support and possibility for everyone who walks through the door!
Has it been a smooth road?
The road has not been smooth. Neither of us has a background in owning a business. Also, as with most small businesses, we wear all the hats, usually at the same time! We are juggling many roles at once and trying to learn and become proficient in each one – owner, bookkeeper, mentor, leader, marketing, maintenance, scheduling, community outreach, social media, finance, all while continuing to maintain other jobs, family life and growing in our own yoga practice and teaching. We are answering the business line while sitting at the pediatrician and buying supplies for the studio with our toothpaste and toilet paper for home. The entire experience has brought us back to the clarity our yoga practice provides and shows us daily opportunities to grow and stretch beyond our perceived limits. Owning, nurturing and growing SOULFIRE has taught us to show up completely, even when we feel defeated, unsuccessful or unsure.
We have a “why”, and that is what keeps moving us forward. Our “why” is the touchstone when things are difficult. It creates inspiration and clarity everyday. We created SOULFIRE and continue to grow because we are dedicated to sharing Baptiste Power Yoga with anyone that would like to learn and practice with us. We know yoga works to transform lives (including our own) in a powerful way. We are committed to sharing this is our community and beyond. We want to be a place of personal inspiration, where a person can come in, feel seen and heard, inspired and supported. We believe in the power of transformation and that the moment is right now. You don’t need to know more, have more knowledge, the right pants or touch your toes. We experience yoga working in our lives everyday and we share from that place.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with SOULFIRE POWER YOGA – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
We teach transformational yoga that reaches far beyond the physical shape of any pose. We believe yoga is a practice that occurs everywhere. How you are on your mat is how you are everywhere! We create connection from the inside out. We are committed to learning about ourselves – in relation to others, our contribution to the community and leading by example for our students…
We are focused, welcoming, growth oriented and global. We are a yoga studio focused in Baptiste Power Yoga (we know it, live it and teach it). Baptiste Power Yoga was founded by Baron Baptiste and incorporates the physical practice, meditation and inquiry for a powerful transformative experience. We provide a heated (95degrees) challenging class that will support all levels of yogi. We are committed to building community both locally and globally. We are growth oriented, we support our teacher’s growth, student growth and community growth. We are global – part of a bigger network connected by Baptiste Power Yoga and Africa Yoga Project. With Africa Yoga Project we mentor and welcome teachers from Kenya, as well as the broader continent of Africa, to the United States to teach and further their skills to earn a living back in their country.
We believe that there is a yoga practice for each individual. The reason we believe in the Baptiste Methodology and teach it at SOULFIRE is because it gives us tools to actively create what we want to have happen in our lives. Your mat is a playground and opportunity to show up and see for yourself what is possible. The practice is for anyone and, not for everyone. It is a challenging flow in a heated room. It can be modified to fit anyone, just as they are. All that is needed is some sweat appropriate clothes, a mat, towel, water and curiosity. You can purchase all those things in the studio, maybe even curiosity if you are willing.
We are most proud of what people tell us the SOULFIRE practice and community has done for them both on and off their mat and in their lives! We hear how much they not only love how they feel as a result of their yoga practice but just walking through the door gives them a sense of home and community. They feel powerful and capable in their practice which translates to feeling more powerful and capable in their lives.
Heated Power Vinyasa Yoga may sound a little intimidating to someone who has never tried it before. Our message is that this yoga is for every BODY. The yoga will meet you right where you are whether you have been practicing for years or feel like you have two left feet. You do not have to touch your toes or know anything about the practice to begin. Our instruction is given to guide all in the room. We want newbies and experienced yogis practicing and moving right beside each other. We believe in growth for all, students and teachers. We believe to be a strong teacher you must be a devoted student. You will see our teachers practicing, sweating and sometimes just taking child’s pose in any class!
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
We love our location because we have yogis that come from all over. We are minutes off I-95 so we have regular yogis from Maine, Massachusetts and across New Hampshire. We love being so close to Boston and will often take a yoga field trip to the Boston Baptiste Yoga studio to refuel our inspiration tank!
The NH seacoast is a beautiful place to be located. We have easy access to the ocean, mountains, lakes and cities (i.e. Boston, Newburyport and Portsmouth). There are so many healthy places to eat, local artists to visit and scenery to admire. There is a strong yoga community on the NH Seacoast. Without a doubt, a person can find the style of yoga that works for them. There is free yoga in Portsmouth’s Prescott Park every Tuesday afternoon during the summer overlooking the water and sponsored by SATYA (Seacoast Area Teachers of Yoga in Action).
There is not much to dislike about the seacoast… other than maybe winter lasting just a bit too long! We joke about the long down coats and boots… there is a winter uniform in NH and a few have been known to wear someone else boots or coat (or both) home after leaving practice!
Pricing:
- New Member Special $39 for 14 consecutive days
- Drop in $16
- Students, Military and First Responders $10 / Free weekly class for Military/First Responders
- We have multi class passes and monthly unlimited pricing options to fit any yogis needs
Contact Info:
- Address: 13 March Farm Way
Greenland NH 03840 - Website: www.soulfirepoweryoga.com
- Phone: 857-301-8860
- Email: info@soulfirepoweryoga.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soulfirepoweryoga/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SOULFIREPOWERYOGA/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/soulfirepwryoga
- Other: https://clients.mindbodyonline.com/ASP/su1.asp?studioid=298918&tg=&vt=&lvl=&stype=&view=&trn=0&page=&catid=&prodid=&date=7%2f31%2f2018&classid=0&prodGroupId=&sSU=&optForwardingLink=&qParam=&justloggedin=&nLgIn=&pMode=0&loc=1
Image Credit:
Amber Clair Photography
Avelon Art & Photography
Raya on Assignment
Getting in touch: BostonVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
