About Kristen Kelbe
Kristen Kelbe is guided by the core belief that we all have a personal map within our hearts that leads us to our joy, and she is dedicated to fostering a world where people can feel and experience their truest self. She creates opportunities and practices for people to trust their heart as the compass for their personal journey.
What makes Kristen a gifted teacher is that she is a passionate learner who is dedicated to continually increasing her knowledge, skills, and experience. Kristen began her career as a fast paced, results-driven mechanical engineer in the NASCAR industry, where most days were spent in her head, barely listening to her heart. But this disconnect took a toll. In 2014, after much self-reflection, Kristen left her high-stress career and failing marriage to follow her dreams to move to the Caribbean with her dogs. With no defined path, Kristen set out to create a life that incorporated the three things she loves the most: yoga, dance, and being on the water.
Yoga
Throughout her adult life, yoga has brought Kristen physical, spiritual and emotional growth, and healing. In fall 2015, she completed a 5-week teacher training in Costa Rica, beginning her career as a yoga instructor. Kristen continues to build her yoga knowledge, experience, and credentials, and has taught over 1,000 hours of classes.
Dance & AcroYoga
Kristen also discovered fire dancing while on St. Croix, an art where she draws upon her lifelong study of dance. Quickly becoming a popular performer at events and celebrations, an invitation to fire dance at a festival in Costa Rica led to her discovery of AcroYoga. After her first experience of flying, Kristen was hooked. She traveled the globe to expand her Acro training and expertise. After obtaining her AcroYoga teacher certification in Thailand in 2017, Kristen started a vibrant Acro community on St. Croix and taught weekly classes to a dedicated group of students.
Water
While on St. Croix, Kristen rekindled her love of sailing, scuba dived frequently and became an avid kiteboarder. As a result of her love of sailing the Caribbean waters, Kristen worked to get her US Coast Guard Captain’s License in 2018. She spent the next two years captaining a beautiful 44’ catamaran and managing the charter business for the boat owner.
In 2020, Kristen decided to apply all of her life lessons to a new adventure. After a year of long-distance romance, she and her partner (now husband - yay!) decided to move to Hawaii to create a new life together. Kristen and John relocated to Kaua’i with their animals in July. Already enchanted by the surfing, hiking, and the people she is meeting, Kristen is excited to immerse herself in the community and share her passion for yoga, nature and movement.
Throughout the course of her journey, Kristen has come to truly understand that she is driven by connection. Her teaching aims at nurturing and expanding connection – connection to our self and our inner truth, our connection to others in authentic and meaningful ways, and our connection to the universe where we can be part of things far greater than ourselves. She believes connection is one way in which we release the idea of being separate and alone. When we let go of our separate selves there is no need to judge, compare, or compete with one another. Instead, we can embrace that we’re all in this together. In a world that focuses on our connection, we can put our energy toward creating a world full of love, support and joy.
What others say
“I’ve been a regular yoga student for about 15 years and in the last couple of years, I’ve taken Kristen’s classes fairly reliably several times a week. I attend her vinyasa flow and yin classes. Although she is young, extremely fit and athletic herself, she is always especially mindful of keeping us all safe and injury-free in class. Her classes are targeted for a wide range of practitioners so you would be happy going as a beginner or an intermediate student. As her students, we benefit from Kristen’s constant thirst for new information. She is always learning and then sharing with us so her classes have varied content. In addition to all of this, Kristen makes it fun. There is laughing at some point during many classes and it’s a reminder that this is a safe and non-competitive environment and that we should not be taking ourselves so seriously.”
AMY LAND-DE WILDE
Owner of Coldwell Banker St. Croix Realty
“To put it simply, Kristen Kelbe has changed my life. I first went to her acro yoga class as a way to connect with my girlfriend at the time. I quickly fell in love with the class and the fabulous community she has built. Her instruction is detailed yet fun. She made me feel comfortable as a newcomer and has continued to gently push me towards mastering new techniques. Now that I have been part of her amazing community for a year, I find that my body is stronger, my spirit in balance and my classmates are now family. Kristen is a fantastic teacher and wonderful human being. If you are thinking of trying her classes don't wait. You will only wish you started sooner.”
MIKE STRAIGHT
CEO of FarmPod
Trainings and Certifications
YOGA
Mindfulness and Meditation workshop by Dr. Karen Oldham: Charlotte, NC; 2012
Yoga Teacher Training with Banyan Gallagher: Montezuma, Costa Rica; September 2015
Wanderlust: Stratton, Vermont; June 2017
Yoga & the Pursuit of Happiness Workshop with Sam Chase: Kripalu, MA; August 2018
Yoga Therapeutic Essentials Immersion with Joe Taft: Asheville, NC; May 2019
AcroYoga
AcroYoga Solar Immersion: Miami, FL; April 2016
AcroYoga Elemental Immersion: San Francisco, CA; June 2016
AcroYoga International Teacher Training with Jason Nemer: Bangkok, Thailand; January 2017
Instructor at AcroFest Bangkok; February 2017
NY AcroFest: New York, NY; August 2018
AcroShare Festival: St. Pete, FL; January 2019
Cinco de Acro Festival: St. Pete, FL; May 2019
American Acrobatics Convention: Nashville, TN; June 2019
Instructor at Acroshare Festival: St. Pete, FL; January 2020
AcroLove: Portland, OR; October 2022
pilates
BASI Foundation Pilates Teacher Training: Seattle, WA; October 2022
BASI Graduate Pilates Teacher Training: Seattle , WA November 2022 - January 2023
