Meet Our Instructors
Kristin Venema
Kristin is the owner of Black Coral Yoga. She has been a student of Yoga for over 20 years and teacher of Yoga on Kaua’i since 2015. She holds over 600 Hours of Yoga Education and Certification through studies and trainings on Kaua’i and in San Francisco, CA. Additionally, Kristin is a student of Vipassana Meditation in the tradition of her teacher S.N. Goenka.
Kristin was initially attracted to the practice as it lent itself to her natural inclination towards physicality and movement and acted as a release from the fast paced and high stress environment she had become accustomed to throughout her 20’s. As she delved deeper into Yoga study she began to notice subtle shifts in how she was able to tap into her deepest intuition through this newfound awareness and expand her capacity to feel and experience life. In 2014 Kristin completed a 200 Hour Teacher Training through Yoga Tree in San Francisco and soon after moved to Kaua’i out of a deep desire to direct her life more in line with her soul's true calling. It was on Kaua’i where she completed an additional 300 hours of Yoga Education with Bhavani Maki through Yoga Hanalei in the studio space Black Coral Yoga occupies today. The training and studies through Bhavani and Yoga Hanalei transformed her physical practice and unlocked a passion for the philosophy and psychology of the Patanjali Yoga Sutra. Soon after she sat her first Vipassana Meditation in the tradition of her Meditation teacher S.N Goenka. She began teaching Yoga in 2015 and considers it to be the greatest privilege of her life.
Kristin’s classes are supportive and grounding, focused on alignment, breath, and the freedom found through fluidity of movement. She brings a sense of calm, wisdom and authenticity and will challenge you physically while weaving dharma and the principals and passion she has for yogic philosophy throughout. Her classes invite you to delve deep and expand your awareness of self through an unwavering and compassionate inquiry. Kristin feels deeply honored to share her love of Yoga as a teacher with the beautiful community of residents and visitors to Black Coral on Kaua’i.
Cigall Eacott
Cigall is a mother, astrologer, artist, and has been teaching yoga for over 12 years. She completed her first immersion into yogic studies with a teacher certification when she was only 19 and has been continuing to study and teach ever since. Together with her husband, Cigall has led and co-facilitated dozens of yoga retreats and yoga teacher trainings in India and all over the world. Alongside hundreds of hours of training rooted in vinyasa yoga and countless of hours of practice with yoga teachers from different backgrounds and lineages, Cigall's studies in astrology, ayurveda, somatics, eastern spiritual traditions, and her daily living practice as a mother inform and influence her practice and teaching style. Since she was a child, yoga has remained a throughline throughout her life and a practice that continues to invite her back to center and to a more conscious and present way of moving through the world and daily life– it's a great joy for Cigall to get to share this practice with others.
Jaime Schrack
Jaime is a nurturer, yogini, and reverent lover of nature. The wisdom of many teachers and paths has been integral to her journey. She has been exploring, practicing, and teaching yoga for 20 years. Her background includes Anatomy, Physiology, Yoga, Ayurveda, Massage, and Craniosacral Therapy.
The foundation of her teaching is rooted in the hatha yoga practices of asana, pranayama, and meditation, blended with her knowledge of human anatomy, myofascial pathways, and somatic practices. Her classes are slow-moving, meditative, therapeutic, and accompanied by gentle, skilled touch.
Along with teaching yoga Jaime is also currently in apprenticeship as a student midwife and in practice a massage therapist and doula.
Jenny Harris
Jenny is a high energy and contagiously positive teacher who will make your body strong and lift your Spirit UP!
Jenny holds a Bachelors in Exercise Physiology from the University of Florida and accreditation from the National Academy of Sports Medicine. She has been a personal trainer for 20+ years and Massage Therapist for 15+ years.
Her signature Honey Pop! exercise and dance class is not to be missed!
Jenny Zoberg
Jenny has been a passionate student of yoga for over 15 years, sharing her love and knowledge with the vibrant yoga community on Kauai since 2023. With training in Vinyasa, Hatha, Yin, Prenatal, and Fitness, Jenny’s classes offer a fun and varied experience for students of all levels.
Jenny’s journey in personal growth and mindfulness is reflected in her completion of Vipassana and Metta Mindfulness courses. These experiences have shaped her holistic teaching style, blending body and mind. Jenny has also had the joy of studying with esteemed teachers like Bhavani Maki through trainings and intensives here on Kaua’i.
Jenny is certified in sound healing and Reiki, and she has a deep passion for how sound healing complements the physical practice of yoga. She believes in the transformative ability of frequency and sound to slow the mind and relax the body. In her evening sound bowl classes, Jenny creates a meditative space that enhances relaxation and promotes healing. The soothing vibrations of the sound bowls help to release tension, foster a sense of inner peace, and support overall well-being.
Known for her warm, approachable personality and knack for creating a supportive and inclusive environment, Jenny’s yoga classes help students connect with the physical and non-physical aspects of their being, fostering inner peace and self-awareness. Whether you're new to yoga or a seasoned practitioner, Jenny invites you to join her on the mat for a playful and transformative journey, where movement, breath, and mindfulness come together in harmony
Jess Chirco
Jess fell in love with yoga at the age of 17 while taking classes offered by her high school PE. Yoga has served as an anchor through the various seasons of her life, providing stability and support physically, mentally, and emotionally.
In 2016 she began studying with Bhavani Maki in Hanalei, learning the foundations of Ashtanga vinyasa and Patanjali’s yoga sutras. Since 2018 - present day, Jess has studied in depth with Eddie Modestini and Kristin Bosteels, learning an Iyengar influenced system that uses props and alignment to address injuries and gain access in the body.
Jess has been teaching yoga in Hanalei since 2017, though she considers herself a “forever student”. Her classes are foundational yet challenging, inspired by her various teachers and life experiences, with a strong emphasis on alignment and the individual. More than a series of physical postures, Jess believes in the power of yoga to provide insight into the inner and outer workings of one’s life.
Jesse McCann
Jesse has been passionate about health and wellness for over a decade, dedicated to bettering himself and helping others achieve their fitness goals. His fun, upbeat approach to training creates an energetic environment that motivates students to challenge themselves while still learning how to move properly and enjoy the process. With a focus on functional movements and longevity, Jesse prioritizes effective movement patterns that build a solid foundation of strength, endurance, and durability. Whether your goal is to improve your athletic performance or you simply want to increase your energy to live a more fulfilled life, Jesse’s classes will help you develop the habits you need for lasting success.
Jessie Austin
Jessie grew up on the beautiful island of Kaua’i and has been a student of yoga since 2005 when she took her first Hatha Yoga class in high school. She immediately fell in love. In her early 20’s she found the Ashtanga Vinyasa practice and was a vigilant ashtangi for about seven years. Ashtanga guided Jessie more deeply into proper alignment, and helped her with the steadiness of effort and the consistency of her practice. She was subsequently inspired to dive deeper into other modalities of Yoga asana including vinyasa, hatha, yin, and restorative. In 2019 she started studying Yoga and Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra with Bhavani Maki on Kaua’i and in 2022 she finished her 500 hour Yoga Teacher Training with Bhavani.
Each class with Jessie is inspired by her own practice and experiences with asana, pranayama, and Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra. Classes are centered around alignment and breath. Focused on foundations, isolating & using specific muscles, observing your own patterns, the subtleties of your body, and entering into poses safely and correctly. Jessie is honored and grateful to be a part of such a rich lineage, and to share her love & passion for yoga with others. To her it is the greatest gift to get to guide others to learn & discover more about themselves through Yoga Asana and Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra.
Leah McCann
Leah is an ACE certified personal trainer, fitness enthusiast and dedicated yoga practitioner at Black Coral. Originally from Charleston, South Carolina, Leah’s journey into fitness started during her career as an ICU nurse, where she found her passion for helping people take control of their health. In 2019 Leah moved with her family to Kaua’i and immediately became a regular student at Black Coral - she has been a fixture in the studio ever since and we are so stoked to now have her on our teaching team!
Specializing in functional strength training, Leah believes that fitness should be fun and accessible to everyone. She is dedicated to making every workout enjoyable and hopes to inspire others to make health a priority in their own lives. When Leah isn’t teaching at Black Coral, she enjoys adventuring with her family and new baby, traveling, and focusing on her own health and wellness.
Mary Maiholt
Mary is a Kundalini and Bhakti Yogi, an artist devoted to unifying hearts with their highest frequency through sound and movement. A trained contemporary dancer with a BA in Dance and Literature, she is passionate supporting others in their search for radical authenticity. Her classes integrate the quest for self-knowledge through ancient mantra technology and soulful creativity. Yoga Trainings include: 300 hour - Kripalu Yoga, 100 hour Anusara Advanced Hatha Training, and 220 hour Kundalini Yoga. Mary is a self-taught musician and has produced 3 albums, with an upcoming mantra album “Angels and Space.” She is also a Reiki Master, facilitating private and group healings. Her yoga classes activate the part of us that wants to remember pure soulful devoted self-loving artistry.
Michelle Minor
Michelle’s journey with yoga began in 2008 during her studies at college in Santa Cruz, CA. She became instantly hooked on the physical elements of the Vinyasa style of yoga, and the dance-like grace she felt she was able to embody on her mat. She would later become aware of how much more the practice was than just physical movement; how calming and centering it was to her nervous system and overall, how healing it was during challenging situations in life. It became a salve for her in times of intense anxiety, heartbreak, and moments of seeking clarity and surrender.
Michelle’s classes are creatively fluid and rooted in conscious and safe alignment. She is deeply grateful to all of her teachers she has been able to train with over the last 10 years including Mark Stephens, Eoin Finn, Stephanie Snyder, Hannah Muse, Kenny Graham, Seane Corn, as well as her students who she considers her teachers as well. Michelle recently completed over 200 hours of the BASI Pilates Foundations Mat & Reformer program in addition to holding over 1000 hours of Yoga Teacher Training & Continuing education.
Michelle’s strives to make all who come to class feel comfortable and welcome in the space. To her, yoga is a compassionate, introspective practice of remembering and coming back home to truth and ultimately, to love. She feels immense gratitude to be able to share her love of this practice with the community on the North Shore of Kauai- her favorite place to BE.
Samantha Nordstrom
Sam’s teaching style is intuitive and heart led. Her mission and vision stem from having been through her own healing journey— she strives to bring all beings an embodied experience of inner peace through the body’s intellect. Sam is inspired by the power of each unique individual and their ability to access joy, empowerment, and wholeness through ancient practices like yoga, meditation, breathwork, reiki, and mindfulness. Her offerings are a blend of nourishing movement and soothing sounds. She uses the power of sound to bring people into a deeply healing, restorative, meditative state of being. She has found using crystal sound bowls to be an incredible tool to bring stillness, inner peace, and harmony in our lives. Each class is a loving prayer and an invitation to joy.