We are here for you.
Our Team
Dr. Lesa Klein
Lesa Klein 500 RYT
They say a true Yogi is practicing yoga before they take their first class. Lesa has been practicing yoga on and off the mat most of her life. She is as enthusiastic now as when she first began watching early PBS shows and VCR tapes. Yoga continues to shape her life providing balance and mindfulness.
Lesa wanted to deepen her practice of the asanas and the mind body connection. In 2016 she completed her 200 RYT at Yoga Source in St. Louis, MO. Shortly thereafter, she could no longer ignore the call of the ocean, and moved to 30A and began teaching. Lesa completed her 500 RYT certification through Dragon Fly Yoga in Ft. Walton Beach, in 2018. Lesa is also certified in Eldoa 1 & 2, and QiGong.
A health care provider for over 30 years, Dr. Klein remains committed to a healthy lifestyle. Part of her career as an adjunct professor, instilled a lifelong commitment to teaching. Lesa is delighted to bring her yoga practice to the beach and share her love for the sand and sea with fellow yogis or beginners.
Her approach to class is gentle, honest and fun loving. Being mindful that we are all on this journey together, she will forever remain a teacher as well as student.
Her Dharma was realized when the space became available, and Yoga Bar 30A was born. We welcome you to a space to be well, and be happy.
Melody Massey
Melody became passionate about yoga while living in Bangalore, India. There, she trained with Acharya Keshavmurthy, PhD, founder of the Lifecareyoga Foundation, and his wife, Divya K Murthy, PhD. Inspired to teach others what she learned in India, Melody moved back to Colorado in 2012 and received her 200-hour certification in Hatha Yoga from Samadhi Center for Yoga in Denver. She has continued her training at numerous workshops, yoga festivals and international yoga retreats, and has co-led workshops and retreats.
Incorporating humor and mindfulness practices in to her classes, Melody’s teaching style focuses on being conscious in the moment - on or off the mat, proper alignment, connecting breath with movement, and creating a greater connection to spirit, one another, and the world around us. She particularly loves to introduce beginners to yoga in a supportive, inclusive environment.
A writer and editor specializing in travel and wellness, Melody traded the mountains of Colorado for the beaches of 30A in 2018. When she’s not off wandering the world, you can find her leading yoga classes, strolling the beach at sunset, paddling around a coastal dune lake, or soaking up live local music.
Jessica (Jess) Kisner
Jessica has always had a love for fitness, starting as a young child exercising with her mother to fitness shows on the living room television. Throughout her youth, she took dance classes which led to a lifelong commitment to fitness. Once she discovered yoga, it became her passion. She has been teaching yoga for 10 years, first at a fitness center in Seneca, SC, then in Santa Rosa Beach after her family moved to here in 2015 to fulfill their dream of living in a beach community.
Her first yoga certification was through AFPA, the American Fitness Professionals Association. Jessica also has 200-hour certifications in Vinyasa I and II from The Yoga Haus in Santa Rosa Beach, as well as certifications in Buti Yoga, yoga for the elderly, and nutrition and herbs. She has continued her training at workshops led by yoga teachers such as Bryan Kest and Sid McNairy. Her teaching style reflects her warm, gentle and positive personality, creating an uplifting and energizing yoga practice for students of all levels.
Jessica cares deeply about people and their wellness journey, something she has instilled in her two children, one an EMT, the other a recent high school graduate and fellow yogi. As a professional hair stylist, she also cares about helping people look and feel their best. When she’s not teaching yoga or giving someone a stunning new ‘do, Jessica loves to go boating and kayaking on the Choctawhatchee Bay with her husband of 24 years, their kids, and other family and friends.
Keri joins YOGA BAR to offer her years of experience in Mindfulness and Meditation to all individuals. As an RYT-200 yoga teacher, Keri understands the mind body connection. Her personal daily meditation practice has grounded her through many events in her life. Her journey has gifted her with resources and experience she desires to share with others who are searching for mindfulness and a calm and peaceful existence. She will be the first to tell students in class, that she’s no different than you, as the teacher continues to learn from the students. Keri is married to Greg Atchley, and they have two wonderful daughters.
Keri Atchley
Kate Cogdall
Kate has lived all over the country and practiced yoga in many different places. She was introduced to yoga in 2008 after the birth of her first child. She found that yoga alleviated many of the stresses of being a new mother in an environment which allowed her to focus on just herself. As her children started growing, so did her love of yoga. She is an RYT 200 and certified aerial yoga instructor. Kate hopes to share the transformative powers of yoga with others and continue to experience the life changing benefits of the practice and the community it builds. When she is not in the studio, she is traveling with her family, at home cooking or out and about with her dog, Roo. She focuses on a Vinyasa style practice infused with music, meditation and adjustments.
Alla has been practicing yoga for over 20 years and teaching for 15. Shortly after moving to the United States in 1997, Alla was introduced to yoga by her husband Tony. He was interested in Buddhist philosophy and thought the blend of physical movement and meditation would benefit her as she was adapting to her new home, while also struggling with postpartum depression after her second pregnancy.
In the decade before becoming a teacher, Alla discovered the transformational power of creating a mind-body connection. Yoga instills in us an unwavering feeling of calm. Even in the most difficult situations, it teaches us to slow down and tune-in to our inner self. It teaches us how to let go of judgement towards ourselves, others, and our surroundings. Her third pregnancy was a completely different experience. Practicing yoga almost up until her due date and then shortly after, helped tremendously improve her physical and mental state. From this, she became passionate about teaching prenatal yoga and creating a supportive and loving community for moms to be.
Alla has studied under Joni Wahrer, Gabriel Halpern, a lifelong student of BKS Iyengar, and Lori Gaspar, a certified yoga therapist from the International Association of Yoga Therapy. Alla also studied Relax and Renew® restorative yoga, founded by Judith Hanson Lasater. She is currently deepening her knowledge of yoga sequencing with Jason Crandell’s Art of Yoga Sequencing®.
Alla’s classes incorporate a dynamic flow that is alignment and breath focused. She is heavily influenced by Iyengar and Vinyasa styles, creating an intentional and approachable sequence for not just each class, but each individual. Alla’s motto is “yoga is for everybody and every body.”
Yoga has taught her how to let go of a “perfect life” and enjoy the beautiful chaos of a world filled with love.
Alla Smith
I started yoga practice at home 20 years ago, seeking relief for back and nerve pain when nothing else worked. After moving to Santa Rosa Beach with wife and kids in 2014, I began a regular studio practice at the Yoga Haus with Marie Landwehr,embracing the physical, psychological, and spiritual benefits available to everyone willing to do the work. I completed my teacher training with Sid McNairy (Nahi Wellness) and certified as a RYT-200 in September 2018. I started teaching in the area soon after, finding my style and voice and doing my best to honor the lessons of my teachers and life: That it is a blessing to be you; that happiness is found inside; that strength and flexibility are equally important to authenticity, kindness, acceptance, empathy, gratitude, and love; and that it all starts with you, and only then can be shared with others. For me, on the mat or out in the world, every moment offers an opportunity to learn and laugh, and to be present and grateful. My yoga classes combine traditional vinyasa with western influences. We play and challenge ourselves in a light, accepting environment; energizing the body, opening the heart and mind, and hopefully taking something good to share after leaving the mat.
