About Arcana

Healing Arts. Local Craft. Soulful Yoga. Home of Arcana
School of Yoga. Crystals, Botanicals, Magic.

“Arcana always feels a bit like home when I go there. From diverse yoga offerings to an incredible crew of body workers to an amazing crystal and herbal remedy selection I can always find something to lift my spirit here. This is a studio and shop that has offered safe space to protesters, amplifies the voices of marginalized people and welcomes all to who enter.” B. L. 


ar·ca·na

/ärˈkānə/

noun

  1. Secrets or Mysteries
  2. A supposed great secret of nature that the alchemists sought to discover.

Shop Hours

FALL SHOP HOURS 2022

OPEN Wednesday- Monday 11am-5pm

CLOSED Tuesday

 

*Above hours are for our shop and healing arts center, for our yoga class schedule (outside of the above hours) click here. Doors open 15 minutes before yoga classes. 

**For cancellations due to weather and other Arcana updates, check out our Facebook page & Instagram


Parking

  1. There is generally plenty of street parking on Market street and Exchange street, right by Arcana. There is also plentiful parking nearby at the city court house  available at current city of Portland rates. Directly around the corner from Arcana on Newbury Street FREE one hour parking can be found.
  2.  We also recommend the Top of the Old Port lot, about 2 blocks from Arcana or at the Free Street Garage by the Nickelodeon
  3. There is additional FREE parking available on Commercial street and on Franklin Ave, both are about a 5-10 minute walk from Arcana.
  4. Nearby bus stops include Middle Street and  Temple Street & Fore Street.

We suggest accounting for about 15 minutes or so in your schedule to find street  parking in the Old Port, especially in our busy summer season. 


Jennie Joan: The Story behind Arcana’s Executive Director

In 2014, Jennie hit a bottom. Her life hadn’t fallen completely apart from drug and alcohol use, she was teaching yoga, going to school- but she was losing dignity and hope daily. Her heart was aching for more joy and less shameful mornings, desperate pleas, and lost relationships. So in June of 2014, Jennie had her last sip of alcohol. And the end of that story was the start of a whole new one: a story of recovery, growth, and deep, inter-generational healing.

Since giving up mind altering substances, diving deeper into yoga and getting help from the recovery community, Jennie has gained a life she never knew possible as a rural Maine- born girl with a family history of addiction and poverty.

A college degree, a plethora of certifications in yoga and wellness, a yoga school and over 60 graduates in over 4 years, a shop in the Old Port, a healing arts center, an incredible team at Arcana, and two beautiful children.

Jennie was blessed to carry the torch of leading Arcana’s team after Kate Hebold – Arcana founder and original visioner, passed it along to her in 2016. In early 2021, Arcana’s Creative Operations  & General Manager, Amy Vogt, became Jennie’s first partner on the road to transitioning to a more cooperative business model. In 2022, Avril Williams and Hayley Costell joined Amy and Jennie as co-owners of Arcana.

Since shifting her life around, Jennie has experienced great loss as well;  A close friend to a drunk driving accident, a divorce, a cousin and friends to overdose, and even the friend and yoga student who built Arcana’s yoga studio in 2017.

Arcana’s humble yoga studio was lovingly created by two men, free of charge, from the spirit of service and the skill in their hands. Just a few short months later, one of these blessed souls, John, passed away from an overdose, like far too many souls have, too soon here in Maine. John believed in Jennie’s vision, and  his memory and care live on in our walls and hearts. Our yoga studio is truly a tribute to the power of recovery.

A Business with A Mission

Here at Arcana, we try to honor our roots, and we take our role in the community seriously. We offer healing because we emerged from our own healing and helping.

Arcana was built from hard work, love, faith & service. And so, we are committed to a few essential things.

  1. Giving back to the recovery community. Overdose deaths in Maine are still on the rise. We’ve lost yoga students at Arcana to overdose and  incarceration- AND we’ve built this community on recovery and redemption. That’s why we offer discounted yoga classes to individuals on all paths of recovery. We make regular charitable contributions to two  local nonprofits aiding this community: Sea Change Yoga and The Family Restored. Mention that you are in recovery to our front desk for $6 off any yoga class and sliding scale options for bodywork. We also give out partial scholarships in yoga teacher trainings to individuals finding sobriety. And, we commit to hiring individuals in recovery and who have been incarcerated or have criminal records that might prevent hire elsewhere.
  2. We promote constant re-evaluation and energy towards social justice for others who have been oppressed. We believe conversations about healing must include social justice. This is why we also commit to hiring and training individuals whenever possible  in the LGBTQ* community, BIPOC community, refugees, survivors of trauma, individuals with diverse bodies, people from different socioeconomic backgrounds, new parents and more. Our yoga teacher training includes content on appropriation, privilege, social justice, diversity and ally-ship. We also commit to doing more, learning more, looking inward and trying harder.
  3. Our yoga teachers recognize that trauma affects up to 70 percent of the population and perhaps more. That’s why our yoga instructors are explicit when it comes to touch and emphasize consent. We also hire trauma informed body-workers available for massage and energy work.
  4. In an industry that utilizes tools from around the world and all too often appropriates them, we commit to supporting healers who honor the roots of the practices they utilize and teach. We also commit to constantly checking in on language and action to honor original cultures. We aim to appreciate, not appropriate.
  5. Finally, Arcana’s WORKERS are the heart of our community, that’s why in 2021, we transitioned to an employee- owned company.

How can we talk about healing without addressing societal samskaras (habits, scars)?

We can’t. We take healing seriously over here and hope to continue to do and be better.

 

Thank you to Savannah Daras for many of the beautiful photos on our website. You can find her work at:

https://www.savannahdaras.com/

This is an amazing one-stop metaphysical shop. Pop in for gifts, stones, jewelry, yoga classes and/or a massage. And more! Support local small business and head to this beautiful Old Port shop today.
Kelsey Munksgaard
Kelsey Munksgaard
July 29, 2022.
Awesome people awesome business.
Melissa Wolford
Melissa Wolford
May 16, 2022.
Amazing store for all of your witchy and metaphysical needs. Forging the way for healthy work culture and equality in Portland. Their outreach and dedication to keeping Portland free of bigotry is inspiring. Definitely a go to location whilst in the city.
Luke Zatarra
Luke Zatarra
May 15, 2022.
Excellent place with excellent people <3
Anna Marie LaChance
Anna Marie LaChance
May 15, 2022.
beautiful space, amazing vibes.
Liane Souter
Liane Souter
May 15, 2022.
This place is FANTASTIC! The entire staff is down-to-earth will ALL their customers and their service is the BOMB! I will MOST DEFINITELY be coming back! Thank you again to the entire Staff at Acrana!
Tiffany Kane
Tiffany Kane
May 15, 2022.
Such a welcoming place, wonderful staff.
Nina R
Nina R
May 14, 2022.

Get in Touch

Address
81 Market Street
Portland, Maine

Contact
207.773.7801

Follow Us
instagram
facebook
Book Now