Our Teachers
Margaret McChesney
For over 45 years, Margaret thrived in the restaurant business, spending 26 of those years running her own restaurant alongside her husband. As a wife, mother of three, and entrepreneur, she knew stress intimately. But when she found yoga, everything shifted. What once felt like a constant struggle for time and resources became an opportunity to embrace joy and gratitude. Yoga transformed her perspective, and with it, her life’s direction.
Margaret is a 500-hour (Heart of the Village) certified yoga instructor with a deep passion for helping others find balance and abundance in their lives. In 2022, when she and her husband built a new catering facility for *Haystack Catering*, she saw an opportunity to bring her passion for yoga to others. She built *From the Ground Up*—a name that reflects not only the studio’s physical construction but also the personal growth yoga cultivates. Her teaching blends Ashtanga, Yin, Restorative, and Vinyasa Flow with humor, storytelling, and real-life wisdom, creating classes that are as fun as they are transformative.
Set against the backdrop of Vermont’s peaceful countryside, the studio is just the beginning. Margaret envisions outdoor yoga classes in the garden where she grows herbs and vegetables or down by Flower Brook, where the sound of flowing water and the scent of pine create a natural sanctuary. Her studio’s motto—"You practice yoga to work on yourself, you practice yoga together to lift each other up"—captures her mission to build an inclusive, welcoming community where all can find their path to happiness and abundance.
Margaret’s journey is proof that transformation is possible—if it can happen to her, it can happen to you. Through *From the Ground Up*, she invites you to step onto the mat, shift your perspective, and embrace the joy that comes with mindful movement and connection.
Kristin Powers
Kristin Powers is a passionate yoga instructor dedicated to guiding her students on their journey to strength, balance and inner peace. Kristin graduated from Pure Warrior Yoga School in 2016, which provided her with knowledge of many different philosophies and styles of yoga. Presently, Kristin combines mindful movement, breath work, and meditation to create a holistic mind-body experience for her students.
Her teaching philosophy emphasizes self-compassion and personal growth, ensuring each student feels supported on their mat. Whether you’re looking to deepen your practice, build strength and flexibility, or simply find a moment of stillness amidst your busy day, Kristin offers a welcoming and nurturing space to explore a yoga practice that feels best for you.
When she’s not teaching, you can find Kristin gardening, creating, skiing, walking, reading and enjoying time with her husband, Chris, dog, Luna, and three quirky cats. She believes that yoga is far more than just the physical practice - it’s an opportunity to bring a sense of balance and overall ease to your life.
Emma Weatherhogg
Emma delightfully brings her playfulness, contagious smile, and kindness into the world. She is currently in an era of investing in herself and following her heart. She values conscious community, embodied presence + movement, and making love to life. Emma is exploring what is possible when we return home to ourselves. She is a spaceholder, teacher + facilitator.
Leo sun, Gemini moon, Sagittarius rising.
Manifesting generator.
Professional training:
500 hr YTT, yoga alliance (Maui Yoga Shala + Heart of the Village) Mindfulness + Meditation Teacher (Mindfulness Meditation Teaching Certification Program) Trauma Informed, Somatic Experiencing, Breathwork Facilitator (Liberate Your Body - Lydia McClain)
Brooke Hughes-Muse
Brooke has been practicing yoga since the early 2000s when a roommate introduced her to her first class. In 2017, she achieved RYT200 certification through Heart of the Village Yoga. Her classes prioritize mental and emotional clarity, fostering a deep connection between the mind and body. Brooke’s extensive knowledge of the body is evident in her healing arts work, which also includes massage therapy. She enjoys teaching yoga to people of all ages and life stages. Brooke resides in Pawlet on her family’s organic sweet potato farm and is a Vermont-certified massage therapist.