meet our instructors
Jen Kelleher
Jen Kelleher is the owner of Ocean Bliss Yoga Studio. She has been practicing yoga for over 20 years and teaching for almost 10. Additionally, she is a certified Pilates Instructor, a level 3 Sound Healer, and a certified Nutritional Holistic Health Coach. Jen graduated from Dr. Sue Morter’s coursework on Remote Healing and her 3 levels of the Energy Codes (bio-energetics and quantum physics). She has also completed multiple levels of study in Astrology.
Jen is a forever student, continuously expanding her studies of self and life. Her yoga classes are intuitively sequenced and can be described as mindful flows with elements of yin. They contain breath work, movement through sacred geometric poses, visualization, and sound vibration to harmonize and uplift the physical, mental, emotional, and energetic bodies. Classes also often include intuitive channeled messages for the group. In every class, Jen provides her students with tools and encouragement to trust themselves and to be their own teachers and healers.
Jen is a Taurus sun, Capricorn moon, and Aires rising. She is a native of Rockaway Beach, speaks fluent Spanish, and loves travel and nature. Jen is a mother, artist, healer, teacher, and lover, both in and of life. Join Jen at the studio regularly for yoga classes, pilates classes, and sound baths!
Helen Kilgallen
Helen began practicing yoga 30 years ago and became a teacher in 2009, graduating from the Joschi Institute in NYC with a focus on vinyasa yoga. She began teaching yoga on the beach in Rockaway, NY soon renting space in September, 2009 in a dance studio and then in March, 2017 relocated Ocean Bliss Yoga at the Belle Harbor Yacht Club, a beautiful open space that overlooks the bay.
Helen teaches a fun, creative flow in all her classes with attention to alignment and breathing. She teaches all levels, restorative, yin, gentle and open level classes. Her intention is to teach students to be aware of their bodies and become one with breath, body and mind. Originally from Park Slope, Helen has called Rockaway her home for many years along with her husband Patrick and three grown children.
Sarah Arikian
Sarah has been practicing yoga for over 20 years. She is inspired by the strength, serenity and general feelings of wellbeing that are cultivated by yoga asana, breath work and meditation, and tries to evoke the same in her classes. She was first certified in 2010 with the Long Island School of Yoga, New York, and has since deepened her training with yin certification at Integral Institute of New York, and workshops in Kundalini and Restorative yoga. She is registered with Yoga Alliance (E-RYT), and teaches safe and fun classes locally, always with careful attention to the breath and alignment. She is grateful for all her generous and knowledgeable teachers, and the joy that comes with both practicing and teaching is a great blessing in her life. Although born in London, she has lived over 30 years in Rockaway and considers herself a native. She has raised three children and countless dogs and cats here by the beach and now she and her husband Steve split their time between Rockaway and Hoboken.
Denise Lee
Denise is a 500 hr certified yoga teacher versed in a number of styles including Hatha, Vinyasa, Anusara, Yin, Restorative and Chair yoga. It was her career as a Dental Hygienist and her passion for marathon running that led Denise to try yoga. The linking of movement and breath offered a method to improve body awareness, and reverse patterns from years of repetitive motions. Beyond the physical benefits, Denise discovered how yoga is a tool for transforming the mind, body and soul.
With over 13 years experience as a yoga teacher Denise describes her teaching style as an infusion of precise alignment connected with an easeful flow. Her intention as a teacher is to develop physical strength, and spiritual well-being for any body type, age or ability. Denise has studied with many teachers along the way and extensively with Tara Glazier, owner of Abhaya Yoga, where she completed her 200hr certification. She then completed her 500 hr certification with Cyndi Lee of Om Yoga, NYC. Additionally, Denise is a Holistic Health Coach and Reiki practitioner.
When not on the mat or on the sand, Denise enjoys spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren who are her greatest teachers of all!
Kathy Pastina
Kathy Pastina was born and raised in Rockaway and rediscovered her love of yoga right here at Ocean Bliss Yoga, inspired by the deep healing power of asana, breath, meditation and the Yoga Sutras. She trained and became certified at Integral Yoga and continued on to train in Intermediate Hatha, Restorative, Adaptive/Gentle, Neuro-meditation, and Energy Medicine Yoga. She has joyfully attended many workshops, the journey never ends! Kathy studied Reiki healing and is attuned to level 2. Her classes are centered on intention, breath, asana and guided meditation to quiet the energy body, mind, and soul. Her mission is to help support people feel better in their bodies especially as we age and during times of stress. Yoga can be for everyone no matter their limitations.
Kathy live in Rockaway with her husband and is grateful every day for her family and the Ocean Bliss Community who keeps inspiring her every day. Om Shanti Om Peace!
Alex Venier
Alex (Alexandra Venier Ledesma) teaches open level, prenatal, postnatal, Aerial yoga, and children's and family yoga classes. Her classes are core strong and based on individual anatomy. You will flow safely and mindfully through skillfully sequenced yoga asanas. Her teaching will invigorate your nervous system, detox mind and body, and leave you feeling empowered and ready to face the day! She welcomes all levels—beginner and up! Nourish yourself to nourish others. Fierce Self-Care is her motto.
Alex, a mom of two, lives in Rockaway Beach and has taught yoga for over 13 years. She maintained a consistent practice during both pregnancies and can attest first hand to the many benefits of pre and postnatal yoga classes. She loves to teach yoga to all ages, infants to adults. Her classes nurture and empower the self! Her mommy & me style classes are magical, her prenatal classes will get you ready for birth. Alex’s aerial classes will make you feel like a child playful and carefree although the feed back from your core and other parts of your body will be strong!
Certifications: 200 hr (Iyengar, Ashtanga, Viniyoga)+ 300 hr Core Strength Vinyasa, Prenatal and Postnatal certification YogaWorks, Children’s Yoga certificate RCY, Aerialmukti certified.
Christine Walker
Christine is a Nationally Certified and NYS Licensed Massage Therapist helping people for almost 30 years, a professional Yoga Teacher for 20+ years, and a practicing Breath Facilitator for over 5 years. She uses diverse techniques and learned skills with full awareness of her intuition to personalize all of her classes, massages, and breathing sessions. Her understanding and practical knowledge of the human body, along with her welcoming style allows her students and clients to become more aware of their own innate healing abilities, and fine-tune their mindset through the practice of presence.
Christine loves to find her next adventure through travel to experience a new destination, connect with friends, or visit family in Canada. She is always finding ways to care for her own health through diet, exercise, contemplation, and ceremony to ensure that she can be of service to others for many years to come.
Kristin Sluyk
Kristin Sluyk is a 200-hr registered yoga teacher who studied the ancient spiritual practice in Peru under the YA accredited school, Moksha Amazonica immersed in the natural energy of the Amazon jungle. She is certified in vinyasa, yin, karma and restorative yoga.
Fascinated by the ancient Indian healing system that helped her heal, Kristin continues to study and embrace an Ayurvedic lifestyle. She has completed her 650-hr Ayurvedic Counselor training with the NAMA accredited Kerala Ayurveda, under Vaidya Jayarajan Kodikannath and loves blending the ancient sister sciences of Ayurveda and Yoga to bring balance to the mind and body. Her classes are creative, whimsical and embrace freedom of movement. She mindfully aligns classes with nature’s rhythms and incorporates music, meditation, mantra, pranayama, mudras and asana to guide students to connect with their mind, body & breath while embracing and supporting the individuality and needs of each student.
She works full-time in the travel industry and takes her yoga practice wherever she is in the world; learning from brilliant vaidyas and gurus around the world and infusing those cultural teachings into her practice.
Kristin grew up in Rockaway Beach and now resides in Long Beach, NY.
Alexandra Spergel
Alexandra has been practicing yoga for over 15 years and teaching for the last 3. Her personal practice is what guides the classes she designs to share with others. Influenced by nervous system regulation, a trauma informed approach, and emotional healing, Alexandra stays true to the ancient roots of Hatha yoga while supporting the practice with various healing modalities. Her classes have a strong focus on alignment to ensure physical safety and an expansion of consciousness. You can expect breath work, meditation, and yogic philosophy to be weaved into her traditional asana classes. She has completed 600+ hours of certified training and continues to self-study as a part of her commitment to the yogic path.