Meet Our Team

Eliza is the Co-Founder and Director of FlyDog Yoga. She found yoga, initially, as a cross trainer for her post collegiate athletics but it was not until her husband deployed for a year in 2004 that yoga figuratively and literally showed her that she could hold herself up on her own. Eliza wants every student to feel that same possibility on and off of their mat as well.

Eliza has been teaching for over 13 years, she is an E-RYT- 500 Teacher as well as a 1200-hour, Tier 3 Certified Baptiste Yoga Teacher and graduate of Baptiste Fit to Lead Training Program. Eliza leads transformational 200 and 300-hour Yoga Teacher Trainings, Youth Resiliency Trainings, personal empowerment programs, workshops as well as regular classes. Anyone who has taken class with Eliza has felt her passion for what the practice of yoga can give to us all- clarity, empowerment and inspiration to lead our best life. She speaks on relatable life challenges that apply in all aspects of our life. She allows her students to feel welcome, no matter their experience or ability level, but she will ask you to fully show up and embrace what you CAN do. In building FlyDog Yoga, Eliza wants her students to find the studio as a second home, a place where someone can find roots to grow wings.

In 2017, Eliza was the winner of the Tory Burch Fellowship for Small Business Women Entrepreneurs along with 9 other Fellows. She won a grant and the opportunity to take part in a week long event in NYC at Tory Burch Headquarters which culminated in a pitch competition with Tory Burch, investors and magazine editors. This pivotal event sparked a desire to inspire other female entrepreneurs to pursue their dreams. As a former military spouse, Eliza is also also passionate about helping support other military spouses cultivate their talents has worked with the MilSpo (Military Spouse) Project in conferences and speaking engagements. In 2019 Eliza collaborated with 48 other wellness leaders in writing Practice: Wisdom of the Downward Dog which shares vulnerable stories, wisdom and reflections on how yoga and meditation are portals into deeper evolution of their best self. Eliza has also launched the Fenom Podcast to spotlight stories and journeys of phenomenal woman living their best life.

Eliza’s commitment to service is evident beyond her immediate yoga community and includes international, national and local non-profits such as Africa Yoga Project, Veterans Yoga Project, VETOGA, and various local military and first responder organizations.

You can catch Eliza in her downtime with her husband Brad trying to keep up with their 4 children: Ava, Ethan, Cara and Dylan and their Great Dane, Baby.

Brad discovered yoga through his wife, Eliza. Despite her repeated efforts to have him make yoga part of his regular routine, he initially only made the occasional appearance in her classes to support her and her career as a yoga teacher. It wasn’t until injuries sustained in his Army career and his continued participation in the sport of Rugby began to catch up with him that Brad finally started to listen to Eliza and began practicing yoga 3-4 times per week. The physical benefits of yoga were felt almost immediately and as his practice continued, he found his general demeanor and temperament were affected in a positive way as well. Brad is committed to sharing the positive physical and mental benefits of a regular yoga practice with service members, veterans, and first-responders in the local community.

Brad was a member of the first VETOGA 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training, specifically designed to certify current and former military service members as Yoga Teachers. He has also completed Mindful Resilience for Trauma Recovery with the Veterans Yoga Project and is their regional director for Virginia. Additionally, Brad has attended Baptiste Level 1 & 2 training and Baptiste Art of Assisting.

Brad is a US Army Special Forces officer who served ten years on active duty and continues to serve in the Army National Guard.

Alicen moved to the area for her doctoral program in education and started practicing yoga and barre here at Flydog in 2018 to relieve some stress! She graduated from Flydog’s Barre Teaching Training in 2019, and is passionate about creating an equitable barre space where everyone feels comfortable and engaged. Expect an accessible yet challenging class with some fun tunes, witty banter, a little bit of sweat, and lots of barre shakes!

Caroline started practicing yoga and barre in 2013 in an effort to bring more reflection and variety to her exercise routine, and has loved finding new challenges in both ever since. Since joining the FlyDog family in 2017, she has been delighted to be involved in this community’s growth on and off the mat! She completed 200 Hour YTT under Eliza Whiteman in 2019 and in addition to yoga, she also teaches Barre & Power Sculpt. Caroline is enthusiastic about engaging her classes in a challenging variety of sequences intentionally selected to elicit thoughtful movement. Expect a playful, fresh approach and the opportunity to intuitively build on your alignment in each class!

Caroline teaches vinyasa, barre, and power sculpt.

Ingrid began practicing yoga at FlyDog in 2015 and graduated from FlyDog’s 200 hour Power Vinyasa training in 2018. She wholeheartedly believes in the energizing, transformative and restorative power of yoga, whether in a challenging Power Vinyasa class or a calm Yin flow. Ingrid encourages her students to appreciate their bodies and all that they can do wherever they are in their practice. She aspires to create an environment free of self-criticism and a place where students can find joy, strength, equanimity and possibility. With music playlists to complement the sequences, Ingrid’s classes will make you sweat, smile and breathe deeply. Ingrid teaches Power Vinyasa and Flow to Yin.

Jennifer found her passion for yoga as an undergraduate student at James Madison University. What started as a primarily asana practice became a pathway to healing and self love. She practiced under mentors Keala Mason and Amanda Saccone while working for JMU’s group fitness program. Her other inspirations include Eliza Whiteman, Mary Ann McIvor, Kathryn Budig and Amy Ippoliti. She graduated from Fly Dog Yoga’s 200 hour training in 2016. Inspired by creative sequencing and humor in her practice, expect to sweat, laugh, and work hard in Jennifer’s vinyasa and power classes.