Meet our Teachers
Kalia Kohut, owner
As a child, Kalia “Lynn” always enjoyed movement. She began studying dance at age 4.5 and was introduced to Hatha yoga at age 8 when her mother became a yoga instructor. Kalia has over 20 years of dance teaching experience and has been a practitioner of the healing arts for over 25 years. Her vast knowledge about the body’s alignment, injury recovery and disease prevention is openly shared with loving assistance. In her private practice, Kalia Healing LLC, she specializes in healing bodywork via CranioSacral Therapy, Lymphatic Drainage Therapy,Therapeutic Aromatherapy, and Prayerful Counsel.
When Kalia was introduced to Bella Kai in 2021, The Original Hot Yoga, 26+2 series, reminded her of ballet barre exercises with its consistent series of 26 postures and 2 breathing exercises. The predictability of this yoga sequence allowed her to witness progress made with regular practice which increased self esteem, flexibility and strength. Kalia, mystified by the healing effects she experienced in her own body, couldn’t wait to introduce her clients to the series! She proceeded to complete her Hot Yoga 26+2 Teacher Certification with Evolation Yoga in February 2022 and immediately began teaching and managing Bella Kai Yoga for the previous owner, Hillary Darby.
In May 2023, Kalia transitioned into Bella Kai’s new mama! She is thrilled to expand the core hot yoga classes with fitness classes and other restorative yoga classes to support this precious community in their wellness pursuits!
Kalia, a 20-year resident of Kailua lives with her husband, Chris, and tuxedo kitty, Puka. When she is not in service at Bella Kai Hot Yoga, she loves to study the Bible, read, write, sunbathe, and swim in the ocean.
Gail Bursell
Gail, E-RYT 500, has been practicing hatha yoga off and on for over 40 years. In 2003, she was introduced to the 26&2 practice (Original Hot Yoga) and quickly discovered that practicing the challenging, hot, sweaty yoga series on a regular basis provided her with the emotional, physical, and mental relief she needed to successfully and gracefully handle her very stressful working-life. Her practice also gave her a renewed sense of joy in her life, in general, which led to her resolving to making it a life-long endeavor.
Realizing that she wanted to be able share her passion for this yoga with others, in Spring 2005, Gail went to Teacher Training in LA in and graduated from the Yoga College of India. Gail has since gone on to also become certified in Trauma Sensitive Yoga from Boston’s Trauma Center, Yin Yoga from Semperviva Yoga with Bernie Clark, Vinyasa Yoga from Maha Yoga Institute with Murti Hower, Adaptive and Trauma Sensitive Yoga specific to military populations from Warriors at Ease, iRest Yoga Nidra level 2, and Children’s Yoga from Kidding Around Yoga.
Gail has found witnessing the transformative effects of the Original Hot Yoga on people’s health and well-being awe-inspiring and feels privileged and appreciative to be able to join others on their yoga and mindfulness journeys. She is deeply grateful to her teachers, colleagues, and students for everything they have taught her, and continue to teach her, about the yoga.
Gail has taught in studios in Massachusetts, California, Hawaii, and Melbourne, Australia. She has been teaching on Oahu for over 17 years. Currently, she teaches on Oahu’s Windward side, where she also lives.
Naomi Lee
Naomi was born and raised in Panama City, Florida but has lived in Hawaii for over 30 years. She has been practicing Hot Yoga since 2017 with Bella Kai. At that time Naomi was a workaholic, running her own business, and found refuge and solace at Bella Kai. She fell in love with the original hot yoga practice as it enabled to heal her overworked body and to help her silence her mind.
In 2023, Naomi completed her 250hr hot yoga teacher certification with Evolation Yoga. She is also Lagree Certified. Being a creative being and artist at heart, Naomi has taken on the role as the "in-house resident artist" at the studio and loves to offer crafting workshops from time to time.
Naomi’s favorite motto is "health is wealth". She is passionate about leading and guiding others to a healthier lifestyle through the practice of Hatha Yoga, inspiring her students to also experience the mental and physical healing benefits of the practice she loves so much.
Currently retired, Naomi enjoys traveling around the world, drawing/painting, caring for her two fur babies, and decorating/designing store windows.
Daniel Phillips
At 17, Daniel’s father took him to his first hot yoga class. It was life changing. Practicing Bikram yoga for 15 years now, Daniel Phillips completed his Hot Yoga 26&2 teacher training in November 2023 with Evolation Yoga. Working in Construction for almost 2 years now, the benefits of practice are ever more evident to his lifestyle.
Daniel's background has been in Martial Arts. Trained and taught Western boxing, Muay Thai, Jiu jitsu, and Jeet Kune Do. Yoga has always been consistent in his training, practicing almost everyday for the last 5 years.
Daniel is continually discovering new styles of yoga such as Ghosh Bishnu 84 asanas to expand his practice and exploration of himself. He is passionate that people discover yoga and the myriad of benefits it holds for each and everybody.
If you're in class, chances are he is too!
Erin Cortez
Born and raised in Oregon, Erin moved to Oahu in 2017 and instantly fell in love with the community here on the windward side. She has always found working out as a positive outlet and place to go whenever challenges arise both mentally and physically.
With a goal to share this passion with others, she received her NASM Certified Personal Trainer certification in September 2023 and her Barre Fitness Alliance certified Barre training in February 2024. Her Barre training includes pelvic floor health and hands-on adjustments. She has received continued training in sculpt and cardio Barre.
Her healthcare background, love of fitness, and mission to help others with their overall wellness has created a passion in her to not only teach, but inspire and encourage others in all walks of life through her classes. Erin strives to bring energy, love, and aloha to all of her classes and create a safe and fun community for her students.
Erin feels closest to faith in God through fitness. Physical challenges remind her of life’s obstacles and provides opportunities for prayer reflection and growth. Through movement , she seeks to strengthen not only her body but also her mind and faith. Check out her pop-up class “Sanctuary Barre” which blends faith, fitness and restoration.
When she is not in the office or at the barre, you can find Erin on a mountain somewhere!
Micaiah Ganz
Micaiah is a former professional ballet, jazz, and modern dancer. During her 15+ years dancing professionally, she also worked as a personal trainer, yoga teacher, fitness instructor, and dance teacher - and at this time has over 20 years of teaching and fitness experience.
She also created and taught the leading Barre method in Canada called “Barreworks”, as well as designing their teacher training manual and course for teacher certification.
Micaiah was also the Co-Artistic Director of DeviationDance and the humanitarian program, Healing Through Dance - a 503(c)(3) non-profit organization that brings dance and healing to communities at risk.
As well as being an accomplished dancer, teacher, and trainer, Micaiah earned an Honors BA in Psychology from York University graduating Summa Cum Laude. Micaiah’s background in dance, fitness, yoga, and psychology have all contributed to her striving to provide health, happiness, and the highest possible quality of life to all people.
She is now excited to bring all of these passions to this community at Bella Kai. See you all in class!
Rachel Stone
Rachel was born in Kailua and raised in Kaneohe, Hawai'i. Classically trained in ballet for 10 years, she has always had a passion for dance and movement since she was 2 years old. The Dragon Tales theme song was and (probably still is) her jam.
She has been a licensed and practicing board-certifiedclinical pharmacist since 2020. In July 2024, after being away from home for 10 years, Rachel was finally able to move back home and currently works as a cardiology pharmacist on island.
Rachel became barre certified in March of 2025. Her journey from barre enthusiast to barre-instructor started by attending barre, yoga, and sculpt classes to improve her mental health and increase her physical activity throughout the week. She believes in a holistic approach to wellness by addressing not only one's physical wellbeing but also mental, emotional, social, and spiritual well-being.
Her personal goal is to inspire others to lead a healthy and active lifestyle, and she is so happy she can perpetuate this as a pharmacist and now as a barre instructor.
When she is not in the clinic or at the barre, you can find Rachel spending time with family and friends, taking her shih tzu Lucky Boy to the dog park, or you can find her at the beach!
Pua Sablan-Lee
Meet Pua - a born-and-raised Kailua girl -raising her family nearby in Kāneʻohe for the past 13 years, Pua is a proud mama of four and has been married for over 21 years. By day, she anchors her community roots as the finance manager for a local non-profit dedicated to providing vital workforce development for youth and young adults in the justice system. Dedicated to leadership and local service, she also serves on the church council at Anchor Church in Kāneʻohe. While she loves managing numbers and serving her community, fitness has simply always been something Pua has enjoyed and found genuine joy in.
A natural encourager long before stepping into the professional arena, she spent years lifting up others in their health journeys before cementing her expertise as an ISSA Certified Personal Trainer and Glute Specialist. With over three years of explosive experience commanding high-energy Strength & Conditioning and Boxing Fitness classes at Hibred House alongside targeted Group Sculpt sessions at Uplift, Pua is constantly sharpening her craft and is currently pursuing her professional Barre Certification to bring a truly comprehensive movement experience to Bella Kai.
Pua is the architect behind the Sanctuary Strength + Sculpt method—a signature, multi-generational format engineered to bridge the gap between high-performance fitness and deep, grounded intention. Driven by the philosophy that movement is about stewardship rather than vanity, her method empowers clients to shift away from superficial trends to build a resilient, powerful body primed for life's greater purposes. To serve every member of the community, Pua delivers her signature method through two distinct class formats:
Sunrise Grit: Built for the early morning group, this high-energy, efficient format masterfully fuses raw physical grit with heavy compound lifts and explosive bursts of boxing cardio set to the beats of R&B, hip-hop, and rap. It is a fast-paced, transformative safe haven designed to challenge the muscles and release external stress.
Sanctuary Grace: Utilizing her core strength and sculpt principles, this dedicated faith-and-fitness format transitions the room into a space of inner grace. Set entirely to contemporary worship music, it removes the heavy cardio bursts and slows down the pace, incorporating intentional, reflective pauses, praise, gratitude, and prayer to restore the mindset and honor the body.
Madison Jasperson
Madison is a mom of three and a military spouse who believes in the power of movement to build both strength and connection. Originally from Corpus Christi, Texas, she brings an inviting, community-focused energy to every class she leads.
She became an AFAA certified group fitness instructor in 2020 and specialized with a certification in Upbeat Barre in 2021. Her classes are thoughtfully designed, music-driven, and accessible to all levels—blending low-impact strength, intentional movement, and a steady burn that challenges both body and mind.
Madison is known for creating an uplifting, inclusive atmosphere where clients feel supported, energized, and fully present. Her goal is for every person to leave class feeling stronger, more confident, and deeply proud of what their body can do.
Katherine Kane
Certified by Evolation as a Hot 26+2 Yoga Teacher in 2015, Katherine delights in making each class an oasis where students can practice and learn Hot Yoga through clear instruction and gentle cueing. Katherine is particularly gifted in accepting each student where s/he is on his/her yoga journey, supporting them, and guiding them to where they want to be. She is also certified in Yin yoga (Bernie Clark) and loves to offer the nurturing practice which complements the yang of the hot practice..
Katherine has been dedicated to learning and practicing movement and healing throughout her life, in many different forms. She danced Ballet for over 34 years, majoring in Dance in College (Modern, Ballet, Folk). She studied circus arts and performed in the Florida State University Flying High Circus. She got to practice the Sky pole, Cloud Swing, High wire, and Trapeze and she performed the Spanish Web and the Bicycle built for 5 both on the road show and at the home shows. Marrying a submarine officer took her to Italy, where she studied ballet privately with a former World renowned Prima Ballerina, Regina Karoly. She performed and taught ballet to children and adults there as well.
Returning to the USA, Katherine studied and performed Ballet and Irish Dancing for 4 years in Connecticut. Then, in California, she began studying the Alexander Technique, a body/mind alignment awareness study, which helped her tremendously. Upon arriving in Hawaii in 1989, Katherine began learning inner healing work with Dr. Susan Gregg, and studying Metaphysics. She also studied Tai Chi with Sifu Andrew Lum and was practicing and performing with his group for 14 years. Katherine still practices Tai Chi today, which feels to her like Alexander Technique in motion. She also has enjoyed studying Korean Yoga and performing Irish Dance with the Celtic Pipes and Drums of Hawaii all over the Island - especially on St. Patrick's Day!
Katherine began her practice of Hot Yoga in 2000. She found the practice challenging and intriguing. She found each class opened her energy centers more and more, and strengthened her as well. Like Tai Chi, her Hot yoga practice worked to bring the body, mind and spirit into balance within oneself. It helped to grow her inner strength as well as her outer one, bringing a greater balance and wholeness to her life.
It was a dream come true for her to gain her teaching certification in 2015, as she could now share this yoga with others! Her varied and intense studies in so many different areas of movement, in addition to her study of healing arts (she has her certificate of Hawaiian Healing and is a Licensed Massage Therapist) helps her to assist others, especially new students, to more fully incorporate the sometimes "challenging" postures into where their body might be on any given day, as all bodies are wonderful, they just need more understanding from time to time! Katherine loves the kind, supportive and nurturing Teachers, Students and Environment at Bella Kai Hot Yoga, and is so Happy to Welcome you for your first class, or to continue your practice of this Wonderful, Life-Changing Yoga!
Michelle Chow
Michelle started practicing Hatha yoga in high school using a VHS tape. Over the years, she built a foundation in multiple yoga disciplines, eventually finding a home in the 26+2 series in 2024. She finds comfort in the routine of the 26 poses and views the sequence as a true moving meditation. She appreciates seeing how her body feels from one day to the next, embracing the opportunity to explore something new with each practice.
Michelle received her 200-hr yoga teacher certification with Odyssey Yoga in 2026. She believes that yoga is for every body and strives to create a welcoming, supportive space where students can show up exactly as they are. This intention helps students discover the physical and mental benefits of the sequence while moving at their own pace.
Teaching at Bella Kai is particularly special to her, as the studio is located just across the street from the neighborhood where her grandparents lived for over 60 years. During the day, she works as a marine biologist focused on supporting ocean communities across the Pacific. Her love for the ocean started right here on Kailua Beach, and she carries that same spirit of care and connection into the yoga studio every day.
Hannah Smith
Hannah brings over a decade of experience in movement, rooted in a personal weight loss journey of 100 pounds that reshaped not just her body, but her relationship with it.
She holds an ACE Group Fitness certification and has spent years building her teaching foundation; volunteering to teach kickboxing to youth through a local non-profit, and most recently assisting with cardio kick/box instruction here at Bella Kai. Her classes draw on a strong background in kickboxing and strength training, weaving together functional core work, compound movements, and cardio bursts that challenge you without leaving you behind.
A dedicated student herself, Hannah has been practicing hot yoga at Bella Kai for the past year and a half. This practice has continued to deepen her understanding of breath, body awareness, and showing up consistently.
She teaches from a belief that movement should feel like coming home. In a world full of noise and distraction, her goal is simple: to create a space where you can show up exactly as you are, connect to your body, and find joy in what it can do.
Jess Johnson
Jess was introduced to 26&2 in 2015 at a studio in Mililani, dragged there by a coworker despite her protests that she "didn't do yoga," and was shocked by how hard, and how fast, she fell for it. As a diehard CrossFitter, she found the postures were a great complement to the heavy lifting and intense workouts she was accustomed to, helping her appreciate how slowing down could also build strength and help her body recover more quickly.
After losing touch with the practice due to multiple moves, she came back in the fall of 2025. Perimenopause had her rattled even on good days, her body was screaming for some good stretching, and her soul knew she needed to learn how to slow down again.
There's nothing quite like the 26&2 postures in a 105 degree room to make that happen. No rushing, no skipping ahead, no cheating your way through it. You show up, you pay attention to exactly where your body is that day, and you survive the heat by listening to your body instead of arguing with it.
Never one to take herself too seriously, Jess enjoys bringing a lightness to both her practice and teaching, and can often be seen high fiving herself after the standing series like she just won something, because she kind of did! She is an Army Veteran and former trauma therapist who pivoted to (life) coaching in 2017 and now works with women to help them stop managing their emotions and start using them, so they can step into the unknown and get their what-ifs answered.
She completed her 200-hr yoga teacher certification with Odyssey Yoga in 2026, and she's determined to age with love for herself and the body that lets her CrossFit, hike, and adventure through life. When not at the studio, you can find her on the trails with her partner or cuddling with her cats whilst reading a spicy fantasy novel.
Victoria Pak
Victoria was first exposed to yoga at the age of 5 when her ballet instructor would lead the class through a series of stretches and holds before each class. These fundamental movements became the foundation of her personal practice from that point forward.
It wasn’t until 20 years later at San Francisco State that Victoria began to explore and formally train in Hatha Yoga, as well as Buddhist Studies, Taoism, and Chinese Medicine out of personal interest. She holds Master’s degrees in Liberal Arts & Sciences and Human Development, has taught developmental psychology for many years, and worked at the Center for Integrative Psychology, where she deepened her understanding of mindfulness and the mind-body connection.
Victoria’s previous training and education found its perfect synthesis in the Yin Yoga classes at Bella Kai, where her passion for yoga truly blossomed, and she undertook her CYT-200 along with separate certificates in Restorative Yoga and Yin Yoga. Victoria’s classes focus on mind, body, and spirit, offering a meditative journey to soften the body and lighten the spirit. She creates a supportive space for students to slow down, release tension, and reconnect with themselves through deep, intentional practice.
Victoria currently lives on the windward side with her family and two dogs. She works in the technology sector and cherishes the reprieve and balance that Yin Yoga offers in her daily life.
Angela Bellerose
Angela is a 200-hour certified Hatha and Kundalini yoga teacher, Reiki Master, and lifelong student of healing. After completing her initial TTC in India, she continued exploring the many paths of self-discovery through meditation, energy work, nature, and mindful movement. She is currently completing an additional 20-hour certification in Yin and Restorative Yoga, to deepen her understanding of the nervous system, stillness, and the art of holding space. Her journey on this path has taught her that healing isn’t about becoming someone new or someone “fixed”, its about honoring who you are in this moment, and remembering who you have always been beneath the external noise that tells you otherwise.
Specializing in Yin and Restorative Yoga, Angela offers slow, intentional classes designed to regulate the nervous system, invite much needed rest, and create space to go inwards for deep reflection. She believes that in a busy world full of expectations and hard emotions, there is profound medicine in simply being. Through long held postures, conscious breath, meditation, and moments of stillness, she gently guides students inwards, to help them reconnect with their bodies, quiet the mind, and return to themselves with greater clarity and compassion.
Living on the Windward side of Oahu, Angela finds inspiration in the rhythms of the ocean and the natural world, with nature being her greatest teacher. Her classes are infused with a sense of grounding, softness, and presence, inviting students to move with intention and honor the wisdom already within them. Her hope is that students leave each class feeling a little lighter, a little more connected, and reminded that everything they need has been within them all along.
Christine Wytrwal
Christine’s first 26 & 2 yoga class in 2017 left a lasting impression. Accustomed to high-intensity exercise and strength training which made her body feel tight and stressed, she was surprised by the deep relaxation and peace she felt after her first practice. She knew she had discovered something special.
Christine completed her Hot yoga teacher training at The Foundry Yoga in 2019 and has since embraced yoga as both a practice and a way of life. Her passion for holistic wellness led her to become a certified Holistic Health & Nutrition coach and Pilates instructor. She is also a certified Yoga Nidra teacher, deepening her knowledge of yoga’s restorative power.
Christine loves sharing the transformative benefits of yoga with others, helping students deepen their practice, find greater ease in their bodies, and cultivate a healthier, more balanced way of living.