Meet our Teachers
Kalia Kohut, owner
Kalia Kohut was first introduced to Hatha yoga by her mother at age 8. Since then, yoga has been a consistent part of her daily life, alongside dance in which she has over 20 years teaching experience. Kalia loves to share how a regular yoga and meditation practice can become a doorway to the deeper yoga of self-realization. In 2019, Kalia became certified to teach Kundalini Yoga with the Kundalini Research Institute.
When Kalia was introduced to Bella Kai in 2021, Bikram Yoga replaced her beloved ballet barre exercises with its predictable series of 26 postures. As a practitioner of the healing arts for over 25 years, Kalia became mystified by the healing effects she experienced in her own body and couldn’t wait to introduce her clients to the magic! So, 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 when the doors re-opened to the public in April!
Kalia has been a practitioner of the healing arts for over 25 years. In her private practice, Kalia Healing LLC, she specializes in Energy Healing via CranioSacral Therapy, Lymphatic Drainage Therapy, and Therapeutic Aromatherapy. She loves to share self-healing tools that have impacted her life in profound ways. Keep an eye out for her workshops on the Bella Kai Yoga Events page. Kalia is currently writing her autobiography which focuses on healing from betrayal, discernment along the spiritual path and forgiveness.
Now that Kalia has transitioned into Bella Kai’s new momma, she is thrilled to expand the core hot yoga classes with complimentary wellness offerings to grow this precious community!
Kalia lives in Kailua with her husband, Chris, and tuxedo kitty, Puka. When she is not in service at Bella Kai Hot Yoga, she loves to dance, read, write, sunbathe, and swim in the ocean.
Katherine Kane
Practicing Bikram Yoga for 22 years now, Katherine Kane completed her Hot Yoga 26+2 Teacher Certification with Evolation Yoga in April of 2016. She really enjoys guiding and assisting people through this wonderful yoga practice, that opens up, strengthens, renews and uplifts the body, mind and spirit to greater levels of health, ease and joy! She majored in Dance at Ohio State University, and Florida State University studying Ballet, Modern and Folk Dance, with in depth study of movement , rhythmical analysis, history, etc. While at FSU, she was thrilled to study and perform with the Florida State University Flying High Circus, learning the Cloud Swing, Tight Rope, Trapeze , Sky Pole, performing the Spanish Web and the Bicycle Act for 5.
Her marriage to a submarine officer, being stationed for 2 years in Italy, introduced her to a former Ballet Russe Prima Ballerina, Regina Karoly, who taught her privately for 2 years. She also performed Ballet and starred in plays and musicals with Naples Little Theater there. Ballet continued as she and her family moved to the Washington D.C.area, where she also started learning and performing Irish Dancing locally and competing in the Feis’s. Then, while California living, Katherine continued Ballet and Irish Dancing and began Alexander Technique, an Inner Awareness Study. Moving to Hawaii in 1989 began formal Tai Chi training with Sifu Andrew Lum, a Certificate of Hawaiian Healing Bodywork with Kalua Kaiahua in 1994, Shamanic studies, and in depth Metaphysical Training, with license in 1997, Massage and Reflexology License in 2015, and a 1 ½ year stint with Korean Yoga.
Katherine loves the kind, supportive, nurturing teachers, students and environment at Bella Kai Hot Yoga Studio, and is happy to welcome everyone to this wonderful, rich and life changing yoga to all who attend!
Naomi Lee
Naomi Lee has been practicing Hatha Yoga for 6 years with Bella Kai. She was a workaholic running her own business and found refuge and solace at Bella Kai. She fell in love with the practice as it enabled to heal her overworked body and to help her silence her mind. Being a creative being and artist at heart, she has also become the "in-house resident artist" at the studio.
She was born and raised in Panama City, Florida and has lived in Hawaii for 29 years. She is Lagree Certified and is currently teaching Lagree at Komo Studio.
Naomi recently completed her 250hr hot yoga teacher certification with Evolation Yoga. Her favorite motto is "health is wealth". She is passionate about leading and guiding others to a healthier lifestyle through the practice of Hatha Yoga. She loves the mental and physical healing benefits of the practice.
Currently retired, she enjoys traveling around the world, drawing/painting, caring for her two fur babies, and decorating/designing store windows.
Gail Bursell
I am certified in Bikram Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga, Yin Yoga, and Trauma Sensitive Yoga and have taught extensively in studios in Massachusetts and Hawaii, as well as in California, and Melbourne, Australia.
When I attended my first Hot Yoga class, even though I was completely unprepared for, and aghast, at the high temperature and physical intensity of the class, I knew immediately that this hot, sweaty, yoga was something extraordinary that I wanted to permanently incorporate into my life. After several months of regular practice and experiencing first-hand the many healing benefits of the yoga, I went to Teacher Training and graduated from the Yoga College of India in Los Angeles in June, 2005.
I love teaching Hot Yoga and my passion for this powerful, life-changing yoga continually grows. I am humbled by its mental and physical challenges, am inspired by its innumerable benefits, and awed at how it develops physical strength and flexibility concurrently with mental focus, inner strength, self-confidence, creativity, spirituality, and overall good health and well-being. I am so appreciative to have the opportunity to share this transformative series and am honored to be able to join others on their yoga journey.
I am deeply grateful to my many teachers and all my students for everything they have taught me, and continue to teach me, about this practice. Can’t wait to see you in the Hot Room!
Melanie Naone
Melanie was born and raised in Los Angeles, California and moved to Oahu after Yoga Teacher Training because of her deep love for the beauty of the islands and aloha spirit of the people. She began practicing hot yoga after a debilitating injury in 2015 that left her unable to walk for a year. Through hot yoga she got her health back, eventually radically transforming her physical, mental, and spiritual health. She holds a deep appreciation for the power of pranayama deep breathing and teaching the class as a moving meditation. She loves that yoga meets you right where you are at all you have to do is show up on your mat.
Melanie is a certified Reiki Master, Healing Touch Student and Registered Nurse that currently works as a Holistic Nurse sharing yoga, pranayama deep breathing practices, meditation, health coaching, Reiki, and Healing Touch with patients and healthcare staff. She is passionate about helping share with others the gift of yoga that has helped her in her own healing journey. Through her yoga teacher training at Evolation she met her life partner and they have a 1 year old son and 1 year old pup. Melanie loves to be outdoors with her family surfing, hiking, beach lounging, catching sunrises, and cooking.
Esther Oh
In 2005 Esther was working as an addictions & mental health clinician and part time fitness model. A close friend told her one simple thing: “Esther, you need yoga”. It was love at first sweat! Because of her background in social work and mental health she quickly realized the parallel paths of mental & physical healing that yoga offered. She felt her practice start to spark change within her and attended her first teacher training in 2006 so she could extend that gift to her clients and patients. She evolved from there to serve as staff and faculty for future teacher trainings, overseeing posture clinics and co-instructing CPR and First Aid certifications from 2008- 2010. She now finds joy as a contributing trainer/teacher for Evolation Yoga Teacher Training; offering various workshops; and teaching in studios locally.
When Esther isn’t in the hot room you’ll probably still find her sweating. She loves to hike, play in the ocean and spend as much time as possible with her dog, John Bubba Wick. In her class you can expect an energetic practice with focus on precision, form and breath. Esther firmly believes that yoga is for every BODY and will work to help make your practice work for YOU. Come to class with an open heart and open mind. Work hard, laugh, and the rest will take care of itself.
Certifications/ Trainings:
500-Hour Bikram Yoga with Bikram Choudhury 2006, Bikram Advanced Series with Bikram Choudhury & Emmy Cleaves 2009, RAD Yoga – Self-Myofascial Release Level 1 Certification with Chelsea Lee 2016, Yin Yoga with Bernie Clark and Diane Batts 2016, Trauma Informed Yoga with Nicola Mosley 2016 and PyroPilates with Missy Jones 2017
Life Highlights: Master of Social Social UBC - 2000, Owner/Director Bikram Yoga Burnaby 2010-2015, and Lululemon Yoga Ambassador 2013 & 2014
Mary Hellstrom
Hey there, I'm Mary! I've been practicing Hatha Yoga for 8 years and teaching 26&2 Hot Yoga for 6 years. This practice is deeply meaningful for my mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional well-being; I often refer to hot yoga as one of the great loves of my life. After I fractured my spine cliff jumping on Oahu in 2019, I returned to the hot room as soon as possible and found deep healing for my body and soul within both the yoga practice and community. I also work full time as a psychotherapist with the LGBTQ+ community. My view of healing is holistic and my experience as a therapist informs my approach to yoga instruction and vice versa. When I'm not working or practicing yoga, I'm often reading at the beach, exploring the island, or hanging at my home with my tabby cat, Willow. See you in class!
Stephany Hanohano
Stephany was born and raised in Hawaii.
She started practicing Bikram yoga over 20 years ago.
Eight years ago she became a certified Hot Yoga instructor with Evolation Yoga.
Stephany is a full-time project coordinator for the state government.
She enjoys traveling, walking the beach and hanging out with her grandson.
Suzette Cruz
Suzette began teaching Prenatal classes many moons ago for Kaiser Permanente Kapiolani and has never stopped teaching fitness classes since. She fell in love with the Hot room in 2007, and became an Original Hot Yoga Series 26+2 Postures Teacher in 2010. Her favorite reply to her students is, "It's Not Hot Your Hot!" She also teaches Yin, Barre, Pilates, and TRX Series.
Suzette is a graduate from Nevada State College, with a Major in Nursing and emphasis in Psychology. She is a Board Member of Southern Nevada Breastfeeding Coalition, and an (IBCLC) International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, and she is also in private practice for both the 9th Island-Nevada and Hawaii. She has been helping mothers, babies, and breastfeeding since 2007.
See you on your mat! Namaste.
Hillary Darby, original owner
In August 2012, I took my first hot yoga class as a reluctant beginner. Soon, I was fully committed to my hot yoga practice. The intense workout appealed to my “type A” personality, and the physical benefits were immediate and quantifiable. Plagued by chronic neck and back pain from over 2000 hours of helicopter flying, the symptoms became manageable and controllable.
But those weren’t the only benefits. Although efficient and effective from a physical perspective, yoga also created space for mindfulness, reflection and gratitude. It was such a powerful experience, I began sharing the benefits with anyone that would listen, Sailors, Marines, friends and family. When our local studio came up for sale in 2015, our family leapt at the opportunity to have a platform for sharing on an even greater level. I became certified to teach the following year, and I have witnessed firsthand the healing that comes from the inside out as a person develops a committed yoga practice. Not only is yoga a great complement to any athletic discipline, it is energizing, empowering and quiets the mind. It is for me, a moving meditation that gives me a calm oasis in the midst of life’s challenges, and a way to constructively integrate and process difficult experiences.
I’m never going to be on the cover of a yoga magazine holding a perfect pose, but when I’m practicing regularly I feel better. I know I’m a better wife, mother and leader. It’s not about being perfect, it’s about being the best I can be. That’s what I want to share with the Bella Kai Ohana.