- Your Teachers
Jan Allen
I founded Bikram Yoga Seacoast in 2008, a manifestation of my passion for not just yoga, but also for the development of physical and mental strength. Since then, the studio has come to be a place of spiritual peace, sanctuary, clarity, and strength for an ever-growing community of the most wonderful people I have ever known.
Growing up as the 8th child in a family of 10 children, my physical and mental strength has always been my beacon. I thrived on challenges, from various Outward Bound programs as a young woman, to college at Marquette University. At age 19, I faced the hardest challenge of my life as both my parents passed away within a week. My family, faith and determination sustained me, and more than ever, physical fitness became my outlet. So I realized at a young age how powerful the unity of body, mind and spirit can be, and from that realization comes my dedication to supporting others in their own struggles.
You will often hear me in the hot room encouraging students to "just do the best you can for today." That is enough. Over the years, thousands of them have amazed me with their strength, determination, and spirit. I now draw so much of my strength from YOU!
As proud as I am of the studio, my greatest source of pride has been launching my daughter and five sons into the world. They each hold a medal I received for running a Boston Marathon shortly after each was born, as a reminder of the strength and perseverance that will sustain them on their own journeys, as it continues to sustain me. They have supported and participated in their mother’s dream over the last 10 years, and each of them has worked at the studio in some capacity. I thank them for being such a huge part of making my dream come true.
Over the last decade, we have created a loving community of support for one another. From my view at the podium, watching students transform themselves over time has been so rewarding. This has also been a team effort. To my teaching staff over the years, I will be forever grateful for the gifts of instruction, compassion and love that they have given to our community. I see the results in every person who walks through our doors. They have made all the difference, and I am truly grateful to all of them. As I always say, "Together we are better."
Evelyn DeRosa
Evelyn started her practice here at Bikram Yoga Seacoast in 2011 and 6 months later went on to teacher training in Los Angeles. She received her B.S. in Nutrition at the University of New Hampshire in 2019. She is certified to teach Bikram Yoga as well as Kundalini Yoga, with additional training in Superhealth Yogic Science to Break Habits and Addictive Behaviors, as well as Y-CBT Yoga Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
Evelyn favors traditional yoga disciplines to achieve optimal mind/body relationships. She is most interested in yoga for the therapeutic purpose of mental and behavioral enhancements. She aspires to participate in the growing body of scientific research that supports yoga interventions as valid and measurable treatment methods for self-care. Her special focus relates to the reduction of stress, anxiety, and addictive behaviors through yoga and meditation practices.
Kelly Mara
Kelly has been studying mind/body health for nearly 20 years. Kelly was the Founder and Owner of Yoga Crossing in Waltham, MA, which was recognized as “Best of Boston” for 7 consecutive years, including “best yoga instruction” in Boston. Her yoga certifications include Bikram Yoga, Ashtanga Vinyasa, Baptiste Power, Kids Yoga, Yoga for ADHD and Autism, Stand Up Paddleboard Yoga, and Hot Pilates. Kelly is the founder of THE YOGASPORT, a Boston-based company offering teacher training and development programs. Her curriculum is certified and registered with Yoga Alliance. Kelly's teaching is accessible to all levels and abilities – professional athletes, busy professionals and people ages 6 – 80. She has been actively involved as a yoga coach in many schools, and is an advocate of mindfulness education to encourage the positive relevance of yoga for everyday life.
Beyond the mat, Kelly is always studying various wellness practices. She is certified in Clinical Training in Mind/Body Medicine as well as Positive Psychology with Benson-Henry Institute. Kelly is also a volunteer research panel member for the IRB at Massachusetts General Hospital. During her free time, she enjoys landscape photography, creatively capturing the beauty within nature. Kelly holds a B.A. from Colgate University and a Masters degree in Sport Psychology from Boston University.
Briana Roberge
Hi - I'm Briana. I was born and raised in New Hampshire and moved back in September 2020 with my fiancé and dog, Yeti. I have always loved being active, playing sports as a young girl and college student. I realized the power of yoga when I was working through a sports injury. A friend suggested I attend a yoga session with her and I was hooked! I went the next day, and almost every day after that for 3 months. I knew after 6 months I wanted to become a teacher. I realized that over time, without even trying, the yoga allowed me to view myself and everyone around me with softness and compassion. My mental and physical health flourished, and I could move with ease. Since then, yoga has saved my body and mind again and over again. Through injury, losses, and changes all around me. I had no idea when I attended teacher training in 2011 that I would grow so much with this practice, and I love sharing that with those around me. I am thrilled to share my love for yoga, movement, and fitness with all of you!
Christina Nice
Christina has been a student of yoga for 20 years, and yoga has offered her peace, strength and rest. It has helped her overcome aches and pains that she thought were just part of being a devoted athlete. Over time, her yoga has been life changing and completely transformative. Christina completed her 200 hour teacher training with Tricia Philpott Master Teacher @Empower Yoga Studio. Her training is Baptise, but she pulls from other forms of yoga and is influenced by her teachers on and off the matt. Her classes will purify the mind, be physically challenging, refreshing, and fun-loving. They are appropriate for beginners and for yogis of all levels. Her students are taught to modify poses to meet their own needs. Her students are encouraged to listen to their bodies and follow intuition. She hopes that you leave her classes joy-filled, loved, and supported. Christina is also a Reiki 2 practitioner which brings another element to her teaching.She hopes to bring her love for yoga and that sacred healing space to all that come to her classes. Christina lives in Amesbury with family.
Teachers Currently on Leave
Constantine Kadel
Constantine Kadel began taking yoga classes at the Bikram studio on Lincoln St in Boston, where he witnessed the changes within himself from consistent practice. He has now been teaching for 8 years. In 2015 he moved to Greece, and volunteered at a refugee camp on Lesvos as a rescue diver. At the camp, he also introduced Bikram yoga to many refugees, again witnessing the substantial empowering effects of the yoga. Constantine was recently in India for Ghosh Therapeutic Yoga Training, and is writing a book on Karma Yoga and the refugee crisis. Constantine's mom, Martha, can be seen at the studio on a regular basis. She - and Metta Yoga Seacoast - are his biggest fans. We love you Constantine and support you on your trip and making a difference in this world.
Carina
My name is Carina and I’ve been lucky enough to be your yoga teacher since 2014, after taking Bikram Yoga training in Thailand. When I first started yoga I was recovering from mental illness and drug addiction. Detoxing from methadone made me cold and angry! A friend noticed how cold I was and offered to bring me to “hot yoga”. I agreed, and right away I was hooked. It felt like that warm hug I’d always been looking for. I saw things in that first class I believed to be impossible and now, years later, I see myself doing these impossible things. Yoga makes the impossible attainable. I am here to remind everyone every day that when you improve yourself enough, really great stuff starts to happen. It doesn’t matter if it is your first class or 500th, it just keeps getting better. The more you do, the more you know yourself. And boss always says, “Only you know what you are put on this earth to do” ...So come find out!
Kali
As an avid dancer in my youth, I was fortunate to discover Bikram Yoga over ten years ago. From the first class, I knew right away that I would always practice this yoga. It is a challenging process, but with time, trust, and dedication, this series is beneficial on all levels. My advice to practitioners is to trust the process. When you're having an off class, just do your best, come back the next day and try again. When you get here and persevere, you will feel fantastic! Every teacher has something unique to offer - we are all here to help. Leave your ego at the door, and trust that you can do anything! Mind over matter! I love teaching this yoga, meeting new yogis and witnessing their transformations.
Jim
There is something magical about this yoga - this “90 minute moving meditation”. The mindfulness aspect improves our ability to focus and concentrate more deeply and for longer periods of time. The physical aspect enables us to overcome obstacles to health. It is the ultimate mind/body connection. There is no doubt in my mind that this yoga has made me a happier and healthier person. I started practicing Bikram yoga in 2004 and, after experiencing the physical and emotional benefits of this practice, I became a certified Bikram yoga instructor in 2013 and began to give back to the yoga community. I am passionate about this yoga. And now it is my passion to share it with others. I believe that our willingness to "SHOW UP" has the potential to change our lives and I like to remind my students that "you have already done the hardest part of class, you showed up!"
