Teachers
The teachers at Soul Dive are the heart and soul of the studio. We offer classes that reflect and celebrate our teacher’s diverse background of yoga styles. Our teachers bring a wealth of knowledge and individuality to their classes, providing a safe space for students to go with the flow on their mat. From powerful flows to restorative yin, our schedule reflects the expertise of our teachers and creates a balanced offering for our community.
Alex Sabbag, Founder, Soul Dive Yoga
Alex Sabbag is an author, speaker, two-time business owner, and entrepreneur. Her most recent venture, Soul Dive Yoga, was founded in 2022 in Palm Desert, California. Seeking solace in the practice, she not only found healing but also discovered a profound mission to share the transformative power of yoga with the world. Her debut memoir, Soul Dive: My Journey into the Deep, is Alex’s story of resilient triumph, in and outside the studio, on and off the yoga mat. Through her voice, she hopes to empower and inspire others to embrace life’s challenges, surrender to the divine redirects and find greater peace, purpose and presence in their own lives.
Alex now shares her journey, a story of resilient triumph, in and outside of the studio, on and off the yoga mat. Her purpose is empowering and inspiring others to embrace life’s challenges while finding greater peace and presence in their lives. She works to create a supportive community for people to gather free from judgment and expectation in a safe, welcoming and loving environment.
Alex is a contributor at Entrepreneur’s Leadership Network and has been featured in Women’s Health, The Desert Sun, Los Angeles Wire and NBC Palm Springs.
Jessica Pauley, Studio Manager
A southern California native, Jessica has always had a connection to spirituality, music and movement. Her early dance experience taught her the importance of stretching and opening up the body, along with a strong foundation in moving with grace, ease and freedom of expression.
When you take her class, Jess will always encourage you to listen to your body, connect to your breath, and honor where you’re at in each moment. Her intention is for you to walk away feeling grounded, centered, and aligned in your body, mind and spirit.
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Jessica began her own yoga practice over 20 years ago, after spending time in India. On this journey, she was fortunate enough to meet the Dalai Lama at his residence in Dharamsala, India. She was very inspired by the compassion he gave to his people and the world.
This experience was the spark that began her career in the Holistic Arts. Soon after, Jessica acquired her massage license and began studying Ayurveda, a subject she is extremely passionate about! In 2011 she completed her 500hr Yoga certification at Kanyakumari Ayurveda Yoga and Wellness Center in Milwaukee , Wisconsin. This led to a Ayurvedic Educator Certification at the Chopra Center University, founded by Deepak Chopra. Jessica worked at the Chopra Wellness Center as a Ayurvedic massage therapist and consultant in Carlsbad, California for seven years, until they closed in 2020.
After being displaced for a couple years and dealing with some health issues, Jess finally found her new home at SDY! She began teaching here in Dec 2022 and was promoted to studio manager in Sept 2023. Jess is so excited to be back in her purpose, serving this community with her passion for health and wellbeing!
Always expanding in her spiritual growth, she is currently enrolled in the Ignite leadership program at Holy Yoga Global LLC, which she will complete in May 2024.
Leesann Shefa
Leesann’s interest in healing through movement began as a child who loved to dance and was able to overcame a life threatening heart condition. She earned a dual Bachelor of Arts Degree from Sonoma State University in Dance and Theatre, graduating with honors. She continued her education at Naropa Institute in Boulder, Colorado, focusing on Dance and Theatre as healing modalities. She has taught theatre and dance to all ages, creating original performance pieces for her students. She is an accredited Montessori teacher, and has shared her love of movement in the classroom with many students. L
Leesann began her dedicated Hatha Yoga practice in 2009. She became a certified Bikram Yoga teacher in the Spring of 2011.
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From 2013-16, she was fortunate to be able to represent the state of California at both the State and National level for USA Yoga, in the 50+years Masters Division. Her yoga journey continues to deepen and evolve. She is a student of Yin Yoga founders Paul and Suzee Grilley. Leesann has completed over 600 hours training with them in Yin Yoga and Meditation.She is also involved with Sarah Powers Insight Yoga Training Program. Additionally, Leesann holds a certification in Trauma-Informed Yoga with Hala Khouri, and Kyra Hagaland, as well as Uprising Yoga founder Jill Ippolito.
Leesann’s inspiration and joy comes from witnessing the expansion and healing of those around her. To better meet the needs of her students, Leesann continues to research the science of neuro-plasticity in relation to our brains and myofascial bodies. This exciting study holds profound implications for our health as well as a re-definition of the aging process. This passion has led her to create Ahvana Blue Yoga, a program dedicated to healing and growth through yoga, nurturing the integration of the mind/body connection in the aftermath of traumatic experience. She looks forward to sharing this yoga journey with you, namaste!
Chelsea
Chelsea is a Coachella Valley native who spent 11 years living on the west side of Los Angeles. It was in LA that she first discovered the powerful benefits of a deep and consistent Yoga practice. With a pre-existing passion for mental, physical, and spiritual health, her love for Yoga took shape. It is the combination of both physical practices as well as subtle body practices that guide her in her journey as both a student and teacher. For her, yoga goes far beyond the time spent on the mat. It is a powerful tool for self-improvement, compassion, safety, and belonging.
Chelsea has 250 hours of training in both vinyasa and yin styles and favors playful creativity in sequencing that allows for fluid movement in the body as well as moments to pause and reflect. She enjoys studying the culture and spiritual depths of yoga so that her practice can stem from a place of authenticity. She has a strong connection towards working with the 7 main chakras as well as mudras, mantras, and pranayama practices. Alongside being a yoga teacher, she is a mental health advocate, a lover of nature, a writer, and most importantly a forever student of life.
Christy Chisholm
Christy’s 25 year journey of teaching, practicing and sharing yoga with others has allowed her to arrive here in the heart of Palm Desert and the Coachella Valley. After getting married to the love of her life in 2022, Dr. Bruce Chisholm, she’s happily planted. Her new roots as a former high school educator, administrator and education social-emotional learning specialist from Orange County has evolved to happier chapters of life as a wife, step-mom, and doggie momma.
Christy’s love of nature, outdoors, family, meditation, and movement are the sacred elements that keep her intentionally grounded in heart, mind, body and home. Each class she teaches is carried through with genuine care, mindful meaning, and guidance for others to create a personal and felt experience on their mat.
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Yoga is an invitation to discover the mind-body connection which is a direct gateway to unlock personal doors to self-awareness, stress reduction and healing. Christy’s relationship with mindfulness, yoga and education was the balanced equation needed to become an author of the Gratitude and Mindfulness Meditation Learning Journal for Social-Emotional Development. It is a tool to help students, teachers, and parents experience over 60 mindfulness and gratitude lessons together.
Christy is a certified teacher of MBSR (mindfulness based meditation stress reduction through UMASS), Mindfulness Eating coach, Yoga Nidra teacher, 500hr+ yoga certified yoga instructor, and yoga retreat leader.
Bella Rivera
Isabella Rivera is a sound bath facilitator, educator, and yoga teacher focused on creating experiences for individuals to connect to themselves and one another. She deeply believes in the power of meditation and yoga to cultivate a healthy dialogue with the inner being, tuning to the space within to connect with the mind, soul and body. Leaning on 16 years of experience in K-12 education as a school teacher and administrator, she creates a safe space for individuals from all walks of life to explore and align to their truest, most beautiful self.
Kristen Baron
Kristen started her mindful journey back in college studying Tai Chi, Qigong, meditation and Yoga. After this introduction, she was lead to studios where she explored a wide range of categories including, Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Iyengar, Kundalini, Hatha, Bikram, Power, AcroYoga, and all the offshoot variations. Vinyasa and it’s range of styles sparked her interest at the home studio she grew to love in Orange County, where she completed a 200-hr teacher training program through Shanti Shanti Yoga School. One of Kristen’s favorite parts of yoga is the peace and clarity it brings her, even after a long day working in commercial Construction Management. Her devotion to sharing what she learned was charged by making yoga accessible to those who might not think they could do it, doubted their flexibility or mobility, and may have pre-existing assumptions or limitations. She wants yoga to be available to anyone who is open to sit down on a mat, explore what it has to offer, and incorporate intentional breath with mindful movement.
Alison (Harris) Mullins
ALISON has dedicated more than 30 years to the education and teaching of movement of the body. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and a Masters Degree in Sports Medicine from San Diego State University, a CPT from the American College of Sports Medicine and E-RYT200 and YACEP from Yoga Alliance. Alison has earned advanced certifications in Yin, Restorative and Therapeutic Yoga. Alison also holds a certification in holistic nutrition and health coaching from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. Additionally, Alison is a certified Sound Bath Practitioner.
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The founder of COPPERMOON, Alison combines the ancient wisdoms of yoga, nutrition and sound healing with the ideals of modern science to her teachings. Classes and programs are designed to give participants tools to utilize in daily life to improve overall health and well-being. Signature programs include Self Care in Times of Transition and Living Life on Purpose. as well as Yoga for Men and seasonal5-Day nutritional resets. Alison loves to hike, dance, entertain and take adventures especially in nature. She is the mother of two adult sons who have taught her all about packing her toolbox for life on and off the mat!
Debbie Berardi
Debbie Berardi is a Certified Yoga Teacher, Yoga Therapist, and a Certified Yoga Tune Up® Teacher. She loves learning and growing and has amassed at least an additional 1000+ hrs with Master Teachers in India, Bali and all over the US!
No matter what style of class she is teaching, Hatha, Gentle/Yin, YTU®, Vinyasa Flow or Ashtanga, Debbie’s classes are centered around breath, aligned movement, intelligent sequencing, and sustainability. Her intention is that each student has an experience that is enjoyable and leaves them feeling centered, balanced and happy! Expect some chanting, pranayama, and creative and challenging flows that are adaptable to the needs of every student.
Debbie has been teaching for 15+ years mainly in Southern California but loves to travel, offering workshops, leading retreats and recently was living and teaching in Mexico.
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Practicing and teaching the Ashtanga method is one of Debbie’s passions, however back issues combined with beating breast cancer three times required her to seek additional healing modalities of Yoga. She has studied with highly respected Yoga Therapists: Larry Payne, Brian Dorfman and Leslie Kaminoff to learn how to incorporate their beneficial, anatomical and safe techniques into her teaching and personal practice. Debbie’s Yoga Tune Up® training with the renowned Jill Miller has been essential in rounding out her teaching style.
She received both her 200 hr & 300 hr certifications through Cloud Nine Yoga School with Erika Faith. Debbie has also completed both Primary and Intermediate Series TT in the Ashtanga Tradition with Tim Miller. She has studied extensively with Nischala Joy Devi, and completed her Yoga of the Heart® intensive training to become certified to work with cancer and heart disease patients.
Debbie is registered in E-RYT 500 and YACEP® with Yoga Alliance and CYT with IAYT (International Association of YogaTherapists). She has been a Senior Faculty member with Cloud Nine Yoga School, leading Teacher Trainings in the Hatha & Vinyasa Styles for both 200 hr and Advanced 300 hr programs. She has also completed additional Yogaworks TT to be an assistant trainer in their 200 hr teacher training programs.
WIth all her experience, you can rest assured your needs will be me in Debbie's classes!
Angela Davis
Angela is a Yoga Alliance Certified E-RYT 200, YACEP with a passion for the unshakable inner radiance that comes with a steady yoga practice. Her life path led her from her first yoga class at an ashram while in college, to traveling the world in her career in the music industry, and to raising three awesome sons, all with yoga as an inconsistent constant. Somewhere along the way, her studies of yoga and the yogic lifestyle took root, and it has now fully permeated her whole happy, healthy life.
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Angela holds 200 hr certifications in Hatha Yoga (Everyday People Yoga, Eugene, OR, USA) and Kundalini Yoga (Samadhi Yoga Ashram, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India), as well as certifications in Yin Yoga (Evolation Yoga, Santa Barbara, CA, USA), Restorative Yoga (Janet Stone Yoga, San Francisco, CA), and Trauma-Informed Yoga Nidra (Eugene Yoga, Eugene, OR). She has taught at yoga teacher trainings, has led retreats and workshops, and feels honored to share in the excitement of each student as they find their way on their very own personal yogic path. She continues to look to her own teachers for inspiration and education and loves getting to share some of the more esoteric aspects of yoga too.
In class expect subtle but deeply lengthening, strengthening sequences and gentle encouragement. It is Angela’s intention that you will experience each of her classes as a bit of a ceremony, a bit of a trip to another part of the world, and a wholly effective practice that feels like it was created just for you.
