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 Certified (Level 3) Sound Healing Practitioner, and a Certified Nutritional Health Coach. Jen completed Dr. Sue Morter’s Remote Healing Certification and all 3 Levels of the Energy Codes (bio-energetics and quantum physics). She also studied 3 Levels of Astrology with Danielle Paige and Meditation Coaching with Deepak Chopra.
Jen is always learning and expanding her studies of self and life. Her yoga classes are intentionally sequenced and can be described as mindful vinyasa flows, with elements of yin. Classes are meant to help students grow in their yoga practice, both on and off the mat. Modifications are offered so that a variety of levels can participate. In every class, Jen provides her students with tools and encouragement to trust themselves and their process, and to be their own teachers and healers.
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.
Ashley Fallon
Ashley Fallon lives, surfs, and teaches yoga by the beach in New York City. Her goal in every yoga class is to help you move with confidence and feel more connected to yourself! Born and raised near the ocean, she believes deeply in the healing power of the sea. As a 200-hr Registered Yoga Teacher and Certified Adaptive Surf Instructor, she has worked to help dozens of people explore their mind-body-ocean connection over the years. She offers a fun, dynamic flow inspired by the ocean waves. Come out to class or connect with her @ashleyfallonyoga!
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.