About Dené

Dené erin oglesby, 500 RYT, M.A.

Movement, philosophy, language, and the human capacity for empathy have always captivated Dené. Engrossed by dance classes, books, and the study of nature, at 16 she attended her first yoga class at One Tree Yoga in Omaha. Dené continued her studies in world languages, mastering Spanish and French, studying abroad and taking dance, movement, and yoga classes in Mexico and Paris, France. She completed her Masters in French Language and Literatures at UNL in 2012 and continues to speak French at home with her husband and the annual yoga retreat to France with adventurous students!

While pursuing her Masters, at the suggestion of her close friend and yoga teacher colleague Amy Sauer, Dené become certified to teach yoga classes by YogaFit in November 2011. She found it greatly completed her movement studies in flamenco and modern dance. She taught group yoga and fitness classes at various YMCAs, Prairie Life Fitness, UNL's Campus Recreation Center, and Lincoln Yoga Center, helping the later secure an ongoing contract with Lincoln Parks and Recreation to provide yoga to all summer camp locations across the city.

She earned her 200 hour Registered Yoga Teacher Certification in 2013 at Lincoln Yoga Center, becoming Studio Manger to oversee LYC's Grand Re-Opening, transitioning the studio from two to four studio spaces. She moved back to Omaha in 2013 to teach French at Ralston High School and formed a yoga club with students. After supporting community development and partnerships in the nonprofit field at Film Streams and No More Empty Pots, she and her husband moved to a small acreage in Ashland, NE. She currently teaches French and Spanish at Benson High School and recently volunteered on the board of Mindfulness Outreach Initiative, an excellent local nonprofit which offers free meditation classes and silent retreats.

With years of experience, Dené loves teaching to all levels and across styles of yoga. Dené is certified as a 500-hour Yoga Teacher Training through Yoga Alliance, the national non-profit governing curriculum and standards for yoga teachers. She is constantly honing her teaching craft and personal yoga practice through continuing education as there's always more to learn about yoga, wellness, meditation, & mindfulness. Dené completed her 500 RYT training with Sheila Palmquist at Lincoln Yoga Center in June 2019 with a focus on Yoga Nidra, restorative yoga, and Insight Meditation. She is particularly interested in Sanskrit and goddess traditions across cultures.

Dené is pleased to teach Ayurvedic and energetic-based classes inspired by the natural, quiet, yet powerful beauty of Nebraska. She intends to always guide her students toward compassion and self-inquiry as a means to better understand the world, our relationship to it, and ourselves.

Dené continues to teach in-home personal yoga, visit local businesses and schools to present on wellness, and host an annual yoga retreat. Reach her at thornwoodyogastudio@gmail.com.