AYC Family of Instructors
Andrea Fournet | Bryan Fowler | Linda O’Connell | Jimmye Whitfield | Kristin Loman | Jimmie Thomas | Charlotte Ray | Nicole Olmstead | Susan Porter | Arianna Gaesswitz | Amy Graves | Susy Manon | Marilyn Swartwood | Jessica Minton | Kelli Janawitz | Catherine Baker | Judy Harwell | Terry Condren | Geoff Oelsner | Josh Newman | Jeanne Parham
Andrea Fournet, E-RYT500
Andrea is the owner and director of the Arkansas Yoga Center, and head of the teacher training program at AYC. She has been teaching yoga in Northwest Arkansas since moving from Hawaii in 1993. Andrea is a certified Hatha yoga teacher, with training in the Anusara, Iyengar and Viniyoga traditions. She is registered with the Yoga Alliance at the E-RYT500 level. She began her Yoga studies in Hawaii, and continues to train nationally and internationally. Andrea Fournet and Bryan Fowler are the co-creators of VariYoga, which is the style taught in classes and teacher training sessions at AYC, and in their workshops. Andrea’s TV Show “Yoga with Andrea”, currently airs on the Jones Television in Northwest Arkansas, as well as PBS/AETN throughout the state, Sundays at 4:00pm. Andrea enjoys sharing with others the many benefits of yoga through her group classes, private and semi-private sessions. Learn more about Andrea’s journey from her KUAF interviews:
EMAIL: yogalady@aryoga.com
Andrea Fournet is currently teaching:
- Level 1-2 Yoga (Tuesday / 9:00am to 10:15am)
- Level 2-3 Yoga (Tuesday / 5:30pm to 6:45pm)
- Level 2-3 Yoga (Thursday / 9:00am to 10:15am)
Bryan Fowler, E-RYT500
Bryan is a senior teacher and teacher-trainer at AYC. Bryan and Andrea are the co-creators of the VariYoga style, and Bryan is also the creator of the music soundtrack for the television show “Yoga with Andrea”, as seen on the Jones Network. He currently teaches classes, teacher training sessions and workshops at AYC in Fayetteville, classes at Marvin Altman Fitness Center in Fort Smith, as well as private and semi-private sessions.
Bryan will be traveling to Thailand in January and February of 2012, and you can follow along the blog if you like! Visit www.travellintrev.blogspot.com to see the latest photos and travel info.
EMAIL: bryan@aryoga.com
WEBSITE: www.guyyoga.com
Bryan Fowler is currently teaching:
- Level 1-2 Yoga (Sunday / 3:30pm to 4:45pm)
- Level 2-3 Yoga (Sunday / 5:15pm to 6:30pm)
- Level 1-2 Yoga (Monday / 9:00am to 10:15am)
- Level 1-3 Yoga (Monday / 5:30pm to 6:45pm)
Linda O’Connell, CVYT/RYT500
Linda is a certified VariYoga teacher with her RYT500. Linda is our main teacher in the area of therapeutic yoga. She applies her years of experience and teaching for AYC, in her gentle yoga classes helping guide students with physical limitations and beginners to a life of flexibility and increased health. Linda loves sharing the benefits of yoga to whom ever she comes in contact with.
EMAIL: linda@aryoga.com
Linda O’Connell is currently teaching:
- Gentle Yoga (Tuesday / 10:30am to 11:45pm)
- Stress Relief Yoga (Wednesday / 4:00pm to 5:00pm)
- Gentle Yoga (Thursday /10:30am to 11:45pm)
Jimmye Whitfield, CVYT/RYT500
Jimmye is a certified VariYoga and Kundalini instructor, and she has attained her RYT500 with the Yoga Alliance through AYC’S teacher mentor program with Andrea Fournet. Jimmye has been practicing hatha yoga and Siddha Yoga Meditation for over three decades. Having lived in several African countries as a missionary as well as extensive studies in India since 1971, she has shared her experiences with others all along the way. Her teaching continue to excite and inspire her students each and every day.
EMAIL: jimmye@aryoga.com
Jimmye Whitfield is currently teaching:
- Kundalini Yoga Level 2-3 (Saturday / 9:00am to 10:15am)
Kristin Loman, CVYT/RYT500
Kristin is a certified VariYoga instructor, and she has attained her RYT500 with the Yoga Alliance through AYC’S teacher mentor program with Andrea Fournet and Bryan Fowler. She has been teaching since 2004 at various locations in Northwest Arkansas, and began teaching at AYC in January of 2006.
EMAIL: kristin@aryoga.com
Kristin Loman is currently teaching:
- Level 1-3 Yoga (Wednesday / 6:00pm to 7:15pm)
Charlotte Ray, CVYT/RYT200
Charlotte is a certified VariYoga yoga instructor. Charlotte is delighted and surprised by the gifts that yoga gives one physically, mentally and spiritually, and she looks forward to helping others discover these gifts. She has a B.S. in medical technology, and has worked in the WRMC lab in Fayetteville since 1994. Charlotte has also brought her gifts of gardening to the yoga center with the beautiful clay pots full of flowers in our plaza. Thank you, Charlotte!
EMAIL: charlotte@aryoga.com
Charlotte Ray is currently teaching:
- Level 1-2 Yoga (Friday / 9:00am to 10:15am)
Jimmie Thomas, CVYT/RYT500

Jimmie is a certified VariYoga yoga instructor. Her introduction to yoga was in 1994 when she walked into a Kripalu class in Massachusetts and fell in love with the discipline. She brings her enthusiasm and sense of humor to her classes.
EMAIL: jimmie@aryoga.com
Jimmie Thomas is currently teaching:
- Gentle Yoga (Monday & Thursday / 10:30am to 11:45pm)
- Healthy Happy Hour Yoga Level 1-3 (alternating teachers) (Fridays / 5:30pm to 6:30pm)
Nicole Olmstead, CVYT/RYT500
Nicole received her Variyoga teacher training at AYC. She has been practicing VariYoga, Iyengar, and Vinyasa yoga for the past 6 years, as well as teaching a dance/movement class. Nicole’s educational background is in mental health and her joy and awareness of the healing benefits of bodywork have inspired her dedication to yoga.
EMAIL: nicole@aryoga.com
Nicole Olmstead is currently teaching:
- Power Flow (Monday /Noon to 1:00pm)
- Level 1-2 Yoga (Wednesday / 9:00am to 10:15am)
- Power Flow (Wednesday /Noon to 1:00pm)
- Power Flow (Friday /10:30am to 11:30am)
Susan Porter, CVYT/RYT500
Susan is a certified VariYoga yoga instructor, and received her VariYoga training at AYC. Susan has been practicing yoga for over two years. Her interest in yoga developed as she realized that yoga is not only tremendously beneficial for the body, but has healing and calming effects on the mind as well. Susan is deeply passionate about yoga, its philosophy, and healing abilities. Susan firmly believes yoga should be accessible to everyone as a medium for growth and balance.
EMAIL: susan@aryoga.com
Susan Porter is currently teaching:
- Prenatal Yoga (Thursday /6:00pm to 7:00pm)
- Level 1-2 Yoga (Monday / 7:15pm to 8:30pm) Starts November 7th
- Healthy Happy Hour Yoga Level 1-3 (alternating teachers) (Fridays / 5:30pm to 6:30pm)
Amy Graves, CVYT/RYT200
Amy is a certified VariYoga teacher, and received her training at AYC. Amy has been practicing yoga for three years. She got into VariYoga due to a knee injury that caused her to not be able to run. She fell in love with VariYoga and the philosophy behind it. VariYoga has changed Amy’s life by helping her deal with her anxiety and other personal issues. Since getting her yoga certification, Amy has tried to share yoga with everyone she can.
EMAIL: amy@aryoga.com
Amy Graves is currently teaching:
- Level 1-3 Power Flow (Tuesdays AM / 5:30am to 6:30am)
- Level 1-3 Power Flow (Thursday AM / 5:30am to 6:30am)
- Hot VariYoga (alternating teachers) (Thursday PM / 5:30 pm – 6:45 pm)
- Teen Yoga (Monday /4:00pm to 5:00pm)
- Hot VariYoga (alternating teachers) (Sunday / 1pm – 2:15pm)
Arianna Gaesswitz, CVYT/RYT200

- Hot VariYoga (alternating teachers) (Sunday / 1pm – 2:15pm)
- Hot VariYoga (alternating teachers) (Thursday PM / 5:30 pm – 6:45 pm)
Marilyn Swartwood, CVYT/RYT200
Marilyn is a certified VariYoga instructor and received her training at AYC. Being a breast cancer survivor, she has personally benefited from the calming and healing effects of a regular yoga and meditation practice. Marilyn is always excited to share the yoga path with others and to encourage their individual journey toward improved health. Marilyn is an artist and an Associate Professor of Art at the University of Arkansas. She enjoys daily hikes in the woods with her husband and their two dogs.
EMAIL: marilyn@aryoga.com
Marilyn Swartwood is currently teaching:
- Level 1-3 Deep Stretch Yoga (Sunday / 4:00pm to 5:15pm)
- Healthy Happy Hour Yoga Level 1-3 (alternating teachers) (Fridays / 5:30pm to 6:30pm)
Susy Manon, CVYT/RYT200
Susy is a certified Variyoga teacher. She loves practicing and teaching Yoga. She loves all the Yoga philosophy and wishes that everyone should practice Yoga. She has been practicing yoga for over 6 years focusing on the styles of VariYoga and Ashtanga. Yoga has helped her to enjoy more of this journey of life. She loves to adjust, challenge and share her energy with her students. She feels very grateful to be a teacher at AYC because it’s a beautiful and inspiring center.
EMAIL: susy@aryoga.com
Susy Manon is currently teaching:
- Level 2-3 Yoga (Thursday / 9:00am to 10:15am)
Jessica Minton, CVYT/RYT200
Jessica is a certified VariYoga teacher and received her training at AYC. She believes a whole-person approach is optimal for achieving wellness.
Therefore, she values the practice of yoga for the benefits it offers to the mind, spirit and body. Jessica is drawn to the VariYoga style because of its emphasis on making the practice accessible to everyone. She is a Razorback sports fan and enjoys soaking in the natural beauty of Northwest Arkansas on a bike ride or walk. Jessica is excited about sharing the practice of yoga with others.
EMAIL: jessica@aryoga.com
Jessica Minton is currently teaching:
- Level 1-2 Yoga (Wednesday / 7:15pm to 8:30pm)
Kelli Janawitz, CVYT/RYT200
Kelli loves yoga for the physical beauty of the poses as well as the mental clarity it brings. She finds yoga extremely empowering, which leads to better choices in all aspects of life. Kelli is a registered radiation therapist and is soon approaching her certification in the VariYoga style. She believes that everyone can benefit from a regular yoga practice, and VariYoga helps make that possible.
EMAIL: kelli@aryoga.com
Kelli Janawitz is currently teaching:
- Gentle Yoga (Mondays /10:30am to 11:45pm)
- Hot VariYoga (alternating teachers) (Sundays / 1:00pm to 2:15pm)
- Hot VariYoga (alternating teachers) (Thursdays / 5:30pm to 6:45pm)
- Healthy Happy Hour Yoga Level 1-3 (alternating teachers) (Fridays / 5:30pm to 6:30pm)
Catherine Baker,CVYT/RYT200
Catherine began her yoga journey ten years ago and is thrilled to be a part of the AYC family. Catherine is a Registered Dietitian and currently works as a health coach. She has taught group fitness classes for six years at a local health club, and is passionate about helping people figure out how to improve their health and enjoy living. What better way to do that than through yoga?!
EMAIL: catherine@aryoga.com
Catherine Baker is currently teaching:
- Hot VariYoga (alternating teachers) (Sundays / 1:00pm to 2:15pm)
- Level 1-2 Yoga (Tuesdays / 7:15pm to 8:30pm)
- Hot VariYoga (alternating teachers) (Thursdays / 5:30pm to 6:45pm)
Judy Harwell, CVYT/RYT200
Judy began yoga classes with Andrea fifteen years ago and has always enjoyed how good a regular practice feels. Judy has taken the 200 hour teacher training program at AYC and it has been an amazing journey. She has learned so much about how the mind, body and spirit work together to contribute to our well-being, and is excited about sharing yoga benefits with others.
EMAIL: judyh@aryoga.com
Judy Harwell is currently teaching:
- Gentle Yoga (Wednesdays /10:30 am – 11:45 am)
Terry Condren
Terry has trained with Dr. Paul Lam, a medical doctor specializing in using Sun-style Tai Chi for people with arthritis. He brings to AYC experience teaching this form, as well as Yang styles.
EMAIL: terry@aryoga.com
Terry Condren is currently teaching:
- T’ai Chi Sun Style (Wednesday / 7:30pm to 8:30pm)
- T’ai Chi Yang Style (Saturday / 10:30am to 11:30am)
Geoff Oelsner
Geoff has practiced meditation in the Tibetan tradition since 1974, and is also familiar with Hindu, Taoist, Jewish, Christian and Islamic contemplative approaches. Since 1996 he has co-led a weekly Buddhist Meditation and Spiritual Support Group as a resource for people from all religious and philosophical backgrounds.
EMAIL: geoff@aryoga.com
Geoff Oelsner is currently teaching:
- Buddhist Meditation(Thursday / 7:30pm to 8:30pm)
Josh Newman
Josh Newman is a licensed professional counselor in private practice in Fayetteville, AR. He also co-leads the Buddhist Meditation and Spiritual Support group which meets Thursday nights at the Arkansas Yoga Center. Mr. Newman has a B.A. in psychology and religion from Hendrix College in Conway, AR and a M.A. in counseling from Southwestern College in Santa Fe, NM.
WEBSITE: www.janewman.com
Josh Newman is currently teaching:
- Buddhist Meditation (Thursday / 7:30pm to 8:30pm)
Jeanne Parham – Student Advisor
The Arkansas Yoga Center is pleased to introduce our new Student Advisor. Jeanne is here to help new and existing students maximize their AYC experience.
EMAIL: advisor@aryoga.com










