GWEN LAWRENCE, BS, LMT, e-RYT500, Registered Yoga Therapist

BS: Art and Dance S.U.N.Y. New Paltz, 1986
LMT: (licensed massage therapist) Swedish Institute of Massage Therapy, NYC, 1991
e-RYT500: (registered yoga teacher) Triangle Yoga Studio, Santa Monica, CA, 1998 and Yoga Mountain, Nyack, NY, 2000
RYT: (registered yoga therapist) International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT)


For a PDF version of Gwen's bio, click here.

Gwen Lawrence has been a practicing fitness professional since 1990. Her current practice includes private massage and yoga training, yoga class instruction and sports yoga training. Gwen’s unique combination of dance, massage and yoga training, coupled with her extensive knowledge of anatomy, nutrition and homeopathy, provide her clients and class participants with overwhelming benefits.

For nearly two decades, Gwen has used her combined skills to provide coordinated care along side Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Orthopedists and by Doctor referral and recommendations. She has worked closely with Multiple Sclerosis and Cystic Fibrosis patients, as well as many orthopedic and post open-heart surgery rehabilitations.

Yoga Training

Gwen has been a nationally recognized, registered yoga teacher since 1998 when she attended intensive instructor training at the Triangle Yoga Studio in Santa Monica, CA. She is schooled in Iyengar, Hatha, and Ashtanga yoga, but prefers teaching a blend of the three styles that works the entire body and mind.

Gwen received her experienced 500 hour yoga certification under the direction of Gail Walsh at Yoga Mountain in Nyack, NY. She is an assistant teacher for the certification teacher training course at Yoga Mountain and is continuing study in various schools of yoga. Gwen is also a member in good standing of Yoga Alliance (YA) and the Yoga Teacher’s Association (YTA) and a registered yoga therapist with the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT).

Gwen is also the founder/director of the Laws of Yoga school, where she trains yoga teachers.

Gwen teaches yoga to a wide variety of groups including:

• Speaker Athletic Trainers' Society of New Jersey - 2008 Northern Conference
• Team yoga instructor for the New York Giants football team
• Team yoga instructor for the New York RedBulls soccer team
• Team yoga instructor for the New York Knicks basketball team
• Team yoga instructor for the New York Rangers hockey team
• Yoga instructor for several New York Yankees baseball players
• Team yoga instructor for the Pace University baseball team
• Guest yoga instructor for the University of North Carolina baseball pitching staff
• Rye Country Day School baseball, football, and squash teams since 2000
   - 2002 Football - FAA League Champions (Fairchester Athletic Association; WNEPSA Runner Up Western New       England Prep School Association)
   - 2003 Baseball - NYSAISAA Champions (NYS Association Independent School Athletic Association)
   - 2008 Baseball - Tournament and FAA League Champions
• Rye Country Day School as a physical education class
• White Plains YWCA Middies Senior Swim Team
• Raquette Lake Boys and Girls Camp, Adirondack, NY
• After School Yoga Program for Grades 3 thru 5

She has also trained privately and on location with Glenn Close for her movies 102 Dalmatians, Sarah Plain and Tall III, and South Pacific.

Gwen is also a contributing yoga editor on Active.com, the leading online community for people who want to discover, learn about, share, register for and ultimately participate in sports or recreation activities.

Massage Therapy

Gwen has been a licensed and insured, private practice massage therapist in New York and Connecticut since 1992, working with varied clients from newborns to the elderly and professional athletes to the terminally ill. She received her license from the Swedish Institute of Massage Therapy and Allied Health in New York, NY. In addition to her private practice, Gwen also worked as a massage therapist at Katonah Physical Therapy (1991-1995) and with Dr. Howard Past, DC (1991-1997).

Gwen is trained in Swedish massage, shiatsu, reflexology, lymph drainage massage, medical massage, trigger point work, sport massage. She has also worked extensively on pre and post natal massage and is included on many Westchester physicians and midwives referral lists. Gwen also continues with many of her clients after birth, teaching infant massage techniques.

Gwen provided massage therapy as well as private yoga training for many players on the New York Giants football team.

CLIENTS include (by permission):
David Letterman
Regis and Joy Philbin
Members of the Rockefeller Family
Members of the Bush Family
Matts Wilander
Marybeth Hurt
UN Secretary General Kofi Anon
Jill Goodacre
Harry Connick Jr.
Glenn Close
Frank and Kathie Lee Gifford
Baron Baptiste
Bob and Lee Woodruff
Carmen and John Thain
Meaghan Francella


Fitness Experience

As a fitness professional since 1990, Gwen has also:
• Managed and operated private fitness centers in both corporate and residential facilities; teaching aerobics, weight
   training, private training and designed special motivational programs all age groups
• Worked as a swim instructor and lifeguard, teaching swimming to people ages infant to 45 years.
• Placed 4th the 1990 Miss Fitness America and was featured on ESPN’s coverage of the event
• Accepted as a 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007-08 member of the PowerBar Team Elite™ Program.