meet our instructors
Liz Dwyer
Liz Arrendondo
Karen Rider
Elisabeth Brivic
Tracy Bruce
Jenn Warwick
Nicole Glor
Paula Andrews
Kate Ingram
Charlotte Pendleton
Mary Ann Freeman
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Liz is the founder of OG Yoga, whose passion for creating a harmonious blend of blissful environments and invigorating classes has become the cornerstone of our studio.
Liz embarked on her yoga journey by obtaining Vinyasa and Hatha certifications in the serene landscapes of Amorgos, Greece, in 2021. Following her move from the bustling streets of New York City to the tranquility of Old Greenwich, CT, in 2023, Liz set out on a mission to cultivate a yoga space that would be truly special and focused on the local community.
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Karen is an E-RYT 500 Certified Yoga Instructor and Meditation Instructor. She initially came to yoga to get relief from sports injuries and back pain and quickly discovered the transformative healing powers that yoga had to offer. She learned to meditate as a teenager and found the added benefits of incorporating yoga into her life with meditation was very healing. She wanted to share the gifts of these practices and has been teaching for over 20 years, including leading Yoga Alliance-approved 200 and 300-hour yoga teaching training for the last decade. She has certifications in Vinyasa and Anusara yoga and Restorative yoga and has studied with master teachers of Astangha and Iyengar. She is known for her clear language and alignment instructions and ability to teach all levels of students, from dynamic flow classes to quiet, restorative classes. She continues to be an avid student of anatomy and physiology, yoga therapeutics, philosophy, and meditation.
Additionally, Karen is a National Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach, Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach, and Certified Ayurveda Wellness Counselor. She fully believes that our bodies, minds, and souls have an innate ability to heal, given proper guidance and tools. Karen thoroughly enjoys sharing the healing benefits of yoga, meditation, and wellness coaching to guide her students in feeling their optimal best!
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Tracy discovered her sacred path of yoga, its healing, and its transformative power nearly 20 years ago. Since then, Tracy has dedicated more than 10,000 hours to the study of philosophy, meditation, breathwork, and biomechanics of yoga. Her classes are strength-building for all aspects of mind, body, and spirit. Tracy believes a strong vessel leads to resilience and empowerment for a rich, full life. Key alignment principles guide her students through a therapeutic yoga class that touches their hearts and nourishes their bodies.
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Nicole is the author of the Slimnastics Workout and Squirrel Yoga for Sunshine and the star of 15 NikkiFitness videos. She has been featured in over 500 national media outlets and is a certified Yoga Instructor, Face Yoga Expert, and Health Coach.
Nicole will be leading powerful vinyasa yoga classes and the FaceFit Method! The Face Yoga method is a series of facial exercises that relax and tone facial muscles and lift and firm the skin for a natural, non-surgical alternative to facelifts!
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Mary Ann has been studying yoga for over 25 years, beginning her journey in 1998 while working in the corporate world. Her yoga practice ignited a passion for growth and learning that inspires her daily. After raising her children, she pursued her 200 RYT certification with Katie Cella at Jate Yoga. Additionally, Mary Ann is certified in Yin Yoga with Megan Moss Freeman and holds certifications in Reiki levels 1 and 2.
In her classes, Mary Ann creates sequences designed to help students feel both comfortable and confident, fostering a sense of strength and calm. She firmly believes that consistency is vital to a successful practice. Outside of yoga, Mary Ann enjoys cooking for her family and friends and cherishes time spent in the great outdoors. She is also on her way to becoming a certified Holistic Health Coach from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, where she focuses on a personalized, whole-person approach to health and wellness.
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Liz has taught in Fairfield County since 2014 and completed her 200 and 300-hour certifications with her long-time teacher, Karen Rider. She believes that yoga builds strength, increases flexibility, reduces pain, heals injuries, and, most importantly, encourages safe, empowered learning. She specializes in using props and hands-on assists to break down poses so they become more accessible. Her students can expect inversions, arm balances, and breathing techniques with a steady slow, and her multi-layered sequences that offer modifications and enhancements for every level. She believes in challenging her students but keeps it engaging with fun playlists and lots of laughs along the way. No two classes are the same! When she’s out on her mat, you can find her on the beach, walking her dog, or dancing around her kitchen.
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Elisabeth began teaching yoga over 20 years ago in NYC and has enjoyed teaching various styles, including Vinyasa, gentle, align, therapeutic yoga, and prenatal. She received her certification at OM Yoga studio in NYC and has studied with Rodney Yee, Karen Rider, and Cynthia Wolfe.
Elisabeth is also a certified Pilates teacher with over 29 years of experience. She enjoys infusing basic concepts of anatomy, Pilates, and breathwork into her own practice and teaching style. Elisabeth discovered yoga while dancing professionally in NYC. She is thankful for all the benefits her yoga practice has bestowed upon her, and it is her pleasure to share this knowledge with her students!
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Jenn has dedicated over 20 years to the fitness and wellness industry, with a strong passion for practices that emphasize mind-body awareness and promote vitality and personal growth. As a Breathwork Coach, she views breathwork as one of the most essential pillars of health, given its ability to regulate the body's nervous system and positively impact all bodily systems: pulmonary, lymphatic, digestive, respiratory, immune, endocrine, and more.
The more effectively we breathe, the better these systems work together to enhance healing and elevate our emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being. Jenn's skillful coaching tools and insights demonstrate that breath serves as a portal for release, personal growth, and transformation. She refers to breath as the body's "superpower" and is committed to empowering others with self-mastery skills in breathwork, enabling them to connect deeply with their body’s innate wisdom and healing capabilities.
Jenn believes that each person's wellness journey is sacred and unique, and she meets individuals exactly where they are as they explore their own authentic path.
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Growing up in OG, Charlotte’s first love was gymnastics. From a young age, Charlotte spent lots of time studying ways to up her game mentally and physically as her nerves and energy were constantly a challenge as she competed on a high level in gymnastics, finishing her career on a full athletic scholarship at JMU with a BS Degree in Exercise Science. After college, Charlotte spent 25 years in the corporate world selling fertility medications and genetic testing to IVF centers while raising her two boys. During this time, Charlotte continued to learn new mind/body/spirit techniques to help calm her overactive nervous system and the need for lots of sleep- a never-ending challenge but improving! Charlotte is a Kundalini Yoga, Meditation, and Breathwork Teacher, Reiki I and II certified, and a certified Feng Shui Practitioner. She left the corporate world in 2021 to pursue everything she loves- helping people be happy, healthy, and strong. Charlotte became a “Flexologist”/Assisted Stretching professional in the fall of 2021 and has spent the last three years stretching people from all walks of life to become more flexible, improve their sports performance, and improve their overall quality of life. She became a Certified Wim Hof Method Instructor (Cold Exposure, Breathwork, and Mindset) in 2022, where she completed her training in the mountains of Poland. Charlotte has practiced all kinds of yoga, but Kundalini Yoga was the one she fell in love with as it grounded and elevated her simultaneously, leaving every class feeling renewed and calm.
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Paula is thrilled to be teaching at OG Yoga Studio! With years of experience in the Greenwich and Stamford areas, she is a strong advocate for community and inclusion. Paula has a background in Kripalu Yoga and holds certifications in Yin Yoga and Therapeutic Yoga.
She looks forward to bringing her Stretch & Restore class to Friday nights. See you on the mat!
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Kate discovered yoga over 15 years ago while seeking relief from back pain. Since then, she has not only managed to reduce her chronic discomfort but has also found balance and ease in both her practice and her life. Passionate about sharing the transformative benefits of yoga, Kate teaches Vinyasa yoga with a strong emphasis on alignment, enabling students to build strength and alleviate pain safely. She is dedicated to helping those who may feel intimidated by yoga to become comfortable with the poses and movements. Kate completed her RYT-200 certification in 2016 and her RYT-500 certification in 2018, training under the guidance of Karen Rider.