Teachers – Bliss Body Yoga

Our Teachers

Bliss Body Yoga’s teachers are compassionate, knowledgeable, caring and committed to their own personal growth as teachers and the growth of their students. All instructors are certified with either 200 or 500 hours of teacher training and are Registered Yoga Teachers (RYTs) with Yoga Alliance.

Colby Cooper, E-RYT 500

Colby intention is to provide a safe, nurturing, fun and relaxing space for students to practice yoga.

Colby was first turned on to yoga in 2003 after years of rigorous training in classical ballet. Yoga proved to be a natural transition from dance, but offered stress relief and a powerful integration of body and mind that she had never experienced before. Colby’s passion for movement inspires her classes that incorporate fluid and creative sequencing. Her classes are playful and challenging, yet students will leave feeling pampered and restored. She is also an avid live music fan and peppers her playlists with an eclectic mix of rock, funk, reggae and electronic dance tunes. Colby completed her 200-hour certification with Don and Amba Stapleton at the Nosara Yoga Institute in Costa Rica. In July 2012, she completed her 500-hour advanced training with Tranquil Space Yoga in Washington, D.C.

Kristen Rice-Gira, RYT 200

After discovering first-hand how yoga can transform by reducing anxiety and stress, give clarity of mind, and promote healthful living, Kristen is inspired to bring the joy of yoga to others.

After discovering first-hand how yoga can transform by reducing anxiety and stress, give clarity of mind, and promote healthful living, Kristen is inspired to bring the joy of yoga to others. She dove in head-first into Blue Lotus’ 285 hour teacher training program (earning her RYT 200 certification) and has delved into teaching flow yoga. Her flow classes guide students’ movement with each breath, bringing focus within, quieting the mind, and strengthening body and spirit. She enjoys teaching beginners and experienced yogis alike; offering modifications so that all levels can participate. Yoga does not require flexibility, just a willingness to learn and coming to the mat as you are.

Karley St. Pierre, RYT 200

Karley St. Pierre is an RYT-200. She completed her 200 hour training through Bliss Body Yoga, where she has practiced since 2015.

Karley St. Pierre is an RYT-200. She completed her 200 hour training through Bliss Body Yoga, where she has practiced since 2015. Karley empowers her students to create space in their minds through purposeful movement in the body. She is grateful and excited to share the gift of asana and cultivate a thoughtful, fun space in her classes. Karley enjoys teaching dynamic flow classes that balance personal empowerment and strength with rest and nurturing–and you can always expect some good tunes on the playlist (Harry Styles, Bonobo and everything in between)! When she’s not movin’ and groovin’, Karley spends a fair amount of her time talking about and hanging out with her chihuahua-lab, Louise, who often appears in her livestream classes, too.

Rachel Wright, RYT 500

Rachel’s passion for yoga was fueled by different schools all over the world. Most recently, she returned from Koh Samui, Thailand where she completed a 500-hour Ashtanga-based teacher training.

Rachel’s passion for yoga was fueled by different schools all over the world. Most recently, she returned from Koh Samui, Thailand where she completed a 500-hour Ashtanga-based teacher training. This incredible and intense schooling increased her worth as a teacher by broadening her knowledge base and stabilizing her personal practice. Rachel also received a 200-hour teacher training at New York City’s Prana Flow infused Sonic Yoga. In addition she earned a Kid’s Yoga Teacher certification from New York’s big-hearted, industry leading, Karma Kid’s Yoga. Lastly, she received a Mom and Baby Teacher certification from the experienced Joythi Larson in New York City. Rachel loves the transformative power of yoga on her mind, body, and spirit. She believes the practice will allow you to transcend to a level of higher awareness giving birth to a healthier, happier, and truly free and loving life.

Rochelle Ellis, RYT 200

Rochelle began her yoga journey in the late 1990s as a means of exercise. She quickly learned yoga provides much more than stretching and strengthening, and continued to practice for grounding, balancing, and stress relief.

Rochelle is a speech and language pathologist working with children with disabilities, and a life coach working with adults in transition. Yoga informs her work with these groups, as she uses yogic practices for calming and focusing, and for raising core energy levels. She is passionate about energy work, and has training in Reiki and Theta Healing. She enjoys bringing energy movement and awareness into her classes, and sharing her love of yoga and its many benefits with others. She completed Bliss Body Yoga’s 200 hour teacher training, and is thrilled to be teaching at the studio.

Mary Scudella, E-RYT 500

Mary strives to teach her yoga classes engaging a balance between physical challenge and emotional freedom. Her teaching is very precise and she draws upon extensive training in yoga anatomy and a background in social work. Mary studies with Tias and Surya Little of Prajna Yoga in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Drawing from Buddhist tradition, Prajna incorporates yogic anatomy, chanting, meditation, dharma talks, and asana into the teachings. She is very excited and honored to not only teach students, but also to guide teachers as well. This journey brings Mary so much each and every day and she feels blessed to share this ancient tradition.

Kelly VanDerlaske, RYT 200

Kelly began practicing yoga over 10 years ago, but it became a staple in her life in 2014.

Kelly began practicing yoga over 10 years ago, but it became a staple in her life in 2014. Beginning with Iyengar yoga, she found that the alignment based practice helped to increase her body awareness as well as decrease aches and pains she was experiencing. In 2015 Kelly found vinyasa yoga, and the meditative movement not only continued to help with body awareness, but also created a peaceful mind. She fell in love with the calmness it created both on and off the mat in her life. She completed the Bliss Body Yoga 200-hour teacher training and currently teaches pre-natal, yin, beginner and vinyasa classes. Her passion lies with helping individuals feel their bodies both inside and out and explore the connection between yoga on the mat and in life.

Ellie Morris, RYT 200, RPYT

Ellie first found the joy of movement as a four year old in ballet class. She found yoga and tai chi in high school and mindfulness-based stress reduction as a grown-up and all of these practices have provided her important tools for riding the waves of life. Ellie has been teaching since 2002. Her early yoga experiences and initial 200-hour teacher training were influenced by Kripalu and Integral styles, and her classes are laid-back, breath-focused, and mindful, with at least a little dose of humor.

Yoga and meditation were important in managing her pregnancy and labor, which led her to begin training in and teaching prenatal yoga in 2015. She completed a 16-hour prenatal yoga teacher training at Asheville Yoga Center in 2015 and an 80-hour training at Blue Point Yoga Yoga in Durham in 2016. She looks forward to sharing movement and mindfulness practices to help mothers find comfort and connection during the amazing transition to parenthood.

Jen Davis, E-RYT 500

Jen began practicing yoga over a decade ago and was hooked from her very first vinyasa class.

Jen began practicing yoga over a decade ago and was hooked from her very first vinyasa class. The desire to deepen her practice and understanding of yoga led her to enroll in the teacher training program at Blue Lotus Yoga. Jen completed the 200 hour training in 2009, Therapeutic Yoga Training in 2013 and the 300 hour advanced training in 2015. Since becoming a certified instructor, Jen has been passing on the blessing of vinyasa, gentle and restorative yoga to adults and children in the Raleigh area. Jen also brings her yoga knowledge along with her understanding of art to children by creating and teaching yoga, meditation and art journaling classes, series and workshops for kids of all ages.

Sara Drumheller, RYT 200

Sara attended her first yoga class in 2011 and fell in love with the practice.

Sara attended her first yoga class in 2011 and fell in love with the practice. After she began practicing more regularly at Bliss Body Yoga in 2014, she desired to deepen her own practice and learn more about all the aspects of Yoga (not just the physical postures). She graduated from Bliss Body’s 200-hour teacher training in 2017. While she loves all types of yoga classes, she is most drawn to restorative yoga as a way to manage stress by calming the body and mind. She has seen a positive change in her own life since practicing yoga and restorative regularly. Sara is honored to be a part of the Bliss Body community and to be a part of guiding students in their yoga journey.

Renée Balyoz, ERYT-500

Renée first discovered the positive impact of yoga on her busy mind in her college years, and has continued to practice and learn ever since! After a decade working as a Montessori teacher with young children, she received her yoga training at Asheville Yoga Center in 2015. She now continues her studies with her main teacher, Michael Johnson, of Clearlight Yoga, delving deeper into yogic philosophy and how to connect the ancient philosophy to the issues of modern society.

Renée’s classes are thoughtfully planned and guided, sprinkled with yogic philosophy, life wisdom, poetry, pranayama and meditation. She seeks to guide students towards a connection with the innate wisdom of the heart and body. She enjoys teaching and learning from people of all ages.

Anna Egleston, RYT 500

Anna found yoga more than a decade ago, but like many practitioners her practice was inconsistent at first. After attending a few yoga retreats and subsequently her 200 hour training in Charlotte, NC with Bella Vita Yoga and NoDa Yoga she started teaching mindful vinyasa flow classes right away. Now she’s completed more than 600 total training + education hours in Yoga, Mindfulness and Healing, including an additional 300 hour training through Wild Abundant Life outside of Chicago, IL. Anna’s classes start mindfully and move into a flow that involves interesting transitions and a cool down with restorative options always offered. Expect an alignment-lead practice that caters to all levels of students, from beginner to advanced with lots of variations offered. Her number one goal is to make all students feel welcome and included in every level of class.

Megan Lott, RYT 200

Megan was first introduced to yoga by her grandmother when she was 6 years old.

Megan was first introduced to yoga by her grandmother when she was 6 years old, but didn’t become a regular practitioner until 2015. She came to yoga again at a difficult and transitional time in her life, finding that the mind-body connection and present moment awareness were the tools she’d been searching for.

Since then, Megan has fallen in love with the practice and enjoys exploring how the different types of yoga serve us in different ways. Megan completed Bliss Body Yoga’s 200 Hour Teacher Training and is excited to have found a place that she can truly call home.

Roxane Banville, RYT 500

Roxane came to the mat as a way to alleviate her chronic back and neck issues and soon became a yoga enthusiast.

With over 10 years’ experience teaching yoga and over 1000 hours of teacher training, Roxane draws upon her broad yoga education and knowledge to better help her students. She has trained in many styles of yoga – hatha, vinyasa (flow), hot, restorative, advanced and yin yoga – and has certifications from several well known yoga institutions including Modo Yoga International, Bija Yoga and Hot Asanas.

Chloe Oliver, RYT 200

Chloe was first introduced to yoga while a high school senior in the drama program at UNCSA.

Learning yoga as part of a drama curriculum clued her into the knowledge that, in addition to the physical benefits, a yoga practice can help us uncover and understand our rich inner lives. As a teacher Chloe continues to place value on the individual, inner experience of practice. She encourages students to be curious and open, to trust their instincts, and to know that we are each the foremost experts of our own practice. She strives to lead classes that are accessible and joyful. Outside of the yoga studio Chloe acts in local productions around the Triangle, and shares her mat space at home with her two cats.

Rebecca Sink Smith, RYT 200, RPYT

Rebecca has been practicing yoga for over 15 years but once becoming pregnant and experiencing prenatal yoga, decided that she would pursue her dream of becoming an instructor. She earned her 200-hour yoga certification in 2019 from Midtown Yoga and her 85-hour prenatal/postpartum certification in 2021.

In addition to teaching yoga, Rebecca works in maternal public health social work professionally. She is also an avid athlete, a voracious reader, and a lover of crisp, bubbly champagne, and a delicious meal. Rebecca lives in Raleigh with her husband, Doug, two sons, David and Sammy, and two dogs, Jackson and Blitz.

Allison Bell, RYT 200

Allison’s love of yoga started in sixth grade when she bought a yoga class DVD to help her become flexible enough to make the middle school dance team. She made the team and hasn’t looked back since! Allison became an RYT-200 in 2013 through Be Yoga & Wellness in Charlotte, NC.

Allison loves to teach classes that allow students the very needed space to chill out and take a step away from their often relentless to do lists. Allison is also a mental health therapist who specializes in the treatment of OCD and anxiety. She loves to incorporate the principles of yoga and mindfulness into her therapy practice. She is incredibly grateful for all yoga has done in her life and is looking forward to sharing that with you!

Allie Norman, RYT 200

Yoga has been a grounding force in Allie’s life since she began practicing in 2015. Initially she turned to yoga during a challenging time as a way to stay active, but quickly discovered the amazing effects yoga had on her emotional and mental health.

Allie is an RYT-200 and completed her training at Bliss Body Yoga, where she has practiced since moving to Raleigh in 2023. She loves the fluidity of vinyasa flow yoga but equally values the nurturing qualities of a restorative practice. Her classes reflect this balance—offering energizing, dynamic flows followed by restorative shapes to leave you deeply relaxed. She’s all about a good playlist, funky transitions, and a savasana assist! Outside of Bliss, Allie works at Welcoming America, helping to build more inclusive communities for immigrants and refugees. In her free time, you can find her scrapbooking, caring for her plants, or spending time with her partner, Héctor, and their two cats, Luna and Pepper.

Allison Willet, RYT 200

Allison Willet has been teaching yoga since 2017 and is certified in Bikram, Yin, and Aerial yoga. She is a professional musician and has taught music lessons for almost 20 years. It was easy for Allison to transfer her knowledge as a music educator to the instruction of yoga. In her class, you will learn how you can physically, mentally, and emotionally benefit from a regular yoga practice. If you attend a special class with violin, you can also explore the gifts of sound meditation.

Allison graduated summa cum laude from Appalachian State University with a degree in violin performance. She went on to graduate school at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and earned a master’s degree in violin performance. After struggling with chronic pain from playing the violin from an early age, Allison started exploring yoga. She also tore an ACL, and through the journey of surgery and rehab, has an extensive understanding of knee injuries. Yoga is for everybody, and can even help you heal from injury.

Jenna Pastorella, RYT 200

Jenna discovered yoga her first day of college at Florida Gulf Coast University’s recreation center in 2018. She instantly fell in love with the practice due to the never ending learning yoga offers both on and off the mat. She completed her RYT200 training at Yoga Bird in Fort Myers, Florida, and additional Trauma-Informed Yoga training at Vibe Yoga in Fort Myers to better create an inclusive environment for students of all levels and backgrounds.

Jenna strives to create a safe environment for students where they feel fully present and empowered to explore their practice through her intentional, invigorating flows. She hopes students carry the magic they obtain on the mat, into their everyday life.

Julia Vaughn, Children's Yoga Teacher

Julia taught preschool for 20 years, incorporating yoga into her classroom. Through mindfulness, students were given tools for conflict resolution, building self confidence, and body awareness. After witnessing the positive effects of this practice, she decided to become certified in teaching kids yoga with Little Guru Kids yoga and began teaching kids classes at Bliss Body.

Julia brings yoga children ages 3-10 through fun poses and games coupled with breathing and relaxation. At times yoga can be wobbly and hard. Julia’s hope is to give children the confidence to try hard things!

Join Our Team

Bliss Body Yoga is always searching for talented people to join our team. If you are a yoga teacher with at least two years teaching experience, please click the button to apply!