Physical Therapy:

• Justine Bernard, PT, DPT
  

  Justine Bernard received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons specializing in Neurological and Orthopedic Rehabilitation in 2003. She worked in acute rehabilitation, inpatient acute care, and outpatient rotations in both St Luke's Roosevelt Hospital and Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York, NY.  After moving back to Washington DC, she began her own orthopedic and neurologic private practice out of a Gyrotonic Studio in NW D.C. She incorporates her experiences as a professional dancer and Gyrotonic Master Trainer into her treatments. In combining the Gyrotonic system with her knowledge of physical therapy, people are able to transform their bodies from moving with restriction and unease to moving with freedom and joy. Currently she is working on a pilot study for Low Back Pain and Gyrotonic Exercise; please contact her if you are interested in being a subject. She will also present a lecture/workshop in Gyrotonic Exercise and Osteoporosis in April 2008 at the Mind Body Conference in California.

• Rosalie Begun, PT
  Rosalie Begun has been practicing physical therapy in Washington, DC for over 20 years. She is owner of Begun Physical Therapy Center, LLC and treats patients with a variety of orthopedic and sports-medicine conditions. In addition, she has extensive experience treating dancers and performing artists….including the casts of touring Broadway shows. Rosalie is also a certified GYROTONIC® instructor and Yamuna® Body Rolling practitioner (a system of massaging, stretching and strengthening the body using special balls), and a pilates mat instructor. She incorporates these modalities in her treatment sessions and also offers private and group training sessions and workshops. Rosalie also has studied various methods of manual therapy and keeps her skills up to date through regular participation in continuing education courses. Prominent area physicians regularly send her patients with problems of unusual complexity. Rosalie believes in treating patients holistically and takes the time to provide the best care possible.
  

Acupuncture:

• Susan Jensen, M.Ac.
  board certified since 1997 by the National Certifying Commission on Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, holds a Master's in Acupuncture from the Traditional Acupuncture Institute (now called TAI Sophia) in Columbia, Md. She has also studied Japanese Meridian Therapy with the Tohohari Medical Association in the U.S. as well as in Japan. Prior to becoming an acupuncturist, she trained at Potomac Massage Training Institute, graduating in 1983, and taught there for more than ten years. Her acupuncture approach is based in Five Element theory--seeing and listening to the patient as a whole and in the context of nature and the seasons. Symptoms are seen as helping to point the way to bringing balance and health. She's worked with patients dealing with a wide variety of issues and concerns including fertility, digestion, sleep, allergies, HIV-associated conditions, pain, depression, skin problems, effects of chemotherapy, headache, anxiety, stress and achieving/maintaining general wellness. She's had a private practice in Washington since 1983.

Massage and Body Work:

• Tony Jackson, CMT
  has been practicing massage therapy for over 16 years. He was certified at the Potomac Massage Training Institute and later returned to teach anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, as well as practical massage techniques. He is an expert in reflexology, Swedish, deep tissue sports massage, myofacial massage and is especially well known for Thai massage. He has gained a well rounded experience working at spas, wellness centers, fitness centers, and chiropractic offices over the years. Tony uses massage therapy to create peace to the mind, health to the body and freedom and joy to the soul.
• Kamala A. Oliver, CMT, NCBTMB
  

  has been practicing massage therapy for more than 12 years.  She attended the Swedish Institute of Massage Therapy in New York City where she obtained her massage therapy diploma as well as the Baltimore School of Massage for her Medical Massage Diploma.  In addition to massage therapy, Kamala is a certified Doula and conducts classes in Infant Massage and Infant CPR.

  She is experienced in several modalities including Hot Stone Massage, Shiatsu, Swedish, Sports, Deep Tissue and Prenatal Massage.  Her approach to body work involves integrating her skills into individualized treatments to meet the client’s needs.

  She has worked in many settings including, 4-star hotels, day spas, health clubs, and major concert halls.  Her mindfulness and nurturing qualities help provide clients with a sense peace and well-being.

• Brigitte Rawlings, LMT
  My goal as a massage therapist is to help improve body awareness and greater well-being, through positive touch. I received my massage training from Potomac Massage Training Institute, Washington, DC in 2000. Other training includes Reflexogy from the International Dermal Institute in 2001, Myofascial Release from the founder of The Myofascial Release Massage, Howard Rontal in 2003 and CranioSacral Therapy from The Upledger Institute in 2007. My experience as a Massage Therapist includes working with a diverse clientele, using a variety of techniques. I have a caring and nurturing touch in all my work which includes Swedish, Deep Tissue, Myofascial Release, Pre-Natal, Hot Stone, Reflexology and CranioSacral. Using a wide variety of techniques allows me to be creative and customize each session based on the client’s needs.
• Elisabeth Saidi, Reiki II Certified Practitioner- A
  After 12 years as a graphic designer in France, Elisabeth moved to the US to focus on her family life. She decided to open up to the “invisible” and took part in two Myofascial Release Healing seminars with John Barns in Sedona, AZ between 2005 and 2006. Feeling the urge to use her hands to heal, she was certified in Reiki I & II in 2006 by David L. Gleekel, CRMT of the Reiki Center of Greater Washington. Elisabeth uses her free time to deepen her understanding of the “invisible“ and studies the connection between the physical and emotional states, past lives, the law of attraction, the power of positive thinking, and children as our spiritual teachers. She has taken classes on intuitive Reiki, realizing one’s life purpose, spiritual prosperity and the metaphysics of healing. She is also an artist and studies at the Washington Studio School. Elisabeth is an intuitive healer and is open and eager to help others feel better physically and emotionally. Before joining Elements Fitness and Wellness Center she used her knowledge of the amazing and soothing power of Reiki to benefit her friends, children and relatives. Elisabeth believes it is essential to take care of oneself on all levels and is honored to accompany others on their path to wellness.
  

GYROTONIC® and Pilates Exercise:

• Justine Bernard — GYROTONIC® Master Trainer
  

  Dr. Justine Bernard began studying Gyrokinesis®, then known as Yoga for Dancers, in 1994 with Hillary Cartwright while on scholarship at The Ailey School for Dance in New York, NY. She also studied with Juliu Horvath at White Cloud and became certified to teach Gyrotonic exercise in 1997 and Gyrokinesis® in 1999. She taught at Studio Riverside under the guidance of authorized master trainer Leda Franklin for many years.
  In 2003 she received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons specializing in Neurological and Orthopedic Rehabilitation. After working at St Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital and Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center as a physical therapist, she returned back home to Washington, DC to teach Gyrotonic exercise and open a private physical therapy practice. Dr. Bernard is currently a Gyrotonic Master Trainer in Washington D.C. and owns Elements Fitness and Wellness Center, a complete Gyrotonic studio which also offers physical therapy, acupuncture and massage therapy.

• Nathan Martin — GYROTONIC® instructor
  Nathan Martin has had extensive education of Gyrotonic® and Gyrokinesis® exercise from around the world which makes his approach unique and versatile. He is currently a Gyrotonic pre-trainer and soon to be Gyrokinesis pre-trainer. His foundation training started in New York City at Gyrotonic New York and has extended to having certifications in all Gyrotonic specialized equipment, Paul Horvath’s therapeutic courses, Gyrotonic for Golfers, Pre-Post Natal course, and repeated participation in Level 2 courses of both Gyrotonic and Gyrokinesis. In addition, Nathan has participated in several other courses and workshops in the US and abroad, continuing to expand his knowledge of the Gyrotonic work. Nathan currently studies with Hilary Cartwright in her Yoga for Dancers courses both in New York City and abroad. Nathan hopes to help expand knowledge of the Gyrotonic system throughout the Washington area.
• Hsiao-Fang Lee — GYROTONIC® & Pilates instructor
  Hsiao-Fang Lee has over ten years experience teaching Pilates, Gyrotonic® , fitness, stretch and dance. She is a fully certified Gyrotonic, Gyrokinesis®, ladder and jumping stretching board as well as a fully certified Pilates instructor (both mat and equipment). She is also an experienced ballet, modern dance, and stretch teacher. Hsiao-Fang has a masters degree in dance with a focus on kinesiology, and has worked professionally as a dancer.
• Yvonne Hamm — GYROTONIC® instructor
  Yvonne Hamm is a certified Gyrotonic instructor and has been teaching Gyrotonic exercise since January 2007. She received her MA in Dance from American University and is a graduate of the Dance Teachers Professional College in Hamburg, Germany. She also holds a German degree and license in psychomotor training from the Motopaeden School in Dortmund, Germany. She has taught dance and creative movement in Germany, New York City and Washington, DC for over twenty years and founded “Dance Discovery” a children’s dance program in Washington, DC.
• Rosalie Begun — GYROTONIC® instructor
  Rosalie Begun has been practicing physical therapy in Washington, DC for over 20 years. She is owner of Begun Physical Therapy Center, LLC and treats patients with a variety of orthopedic and sports-medicine conditions. In addition, she has extensive experience treating dancers and performing artists….including the casts of touring Broadway shows. Rosalie is also a certified GYROTONIC® instructor and Yamuna® Body Rolling practitioner (a system of massaging, stretching and strengthening the body using special balls), and a pilates mat instructor. She incorporates these modalities in her treatment sessions and also offers private and group training sessions and workshops. Rosalie also has studied various methods of manual therapy and keeps her skills up to date through regular participation in continuing education courses. Prominent area physicians regularly send her patients with problems of unusual complexity. Rosalie believes in treating patients holistically and takes the time to provide the best care possible.
• Ellen Barlow — GYROTONIC® instructor
  

  Ellen Barlow, certified Gyrotonic® and specialized equipment instructor, is a movement education specialist with over 25 years experience teaching and designing programs in fitness, rehabilitation, dance, yoga and other mind-body practices. She is a Registered Movement Therapist with the International Somatic Movement Education and Therapy Association and a certified practitioner and teacher of Body-Mind Centering®. While Ellen approaches movement  training from multiple perspectives, she engages her Gyrotonic exercise clients in anatomical awareness and perceptual-motor learning so they may embody their experiences of improved alignment, strength, flexibility, coordination and balance.

• Susan Perry — GYROTONIC® & Pilates instructor
  Susan is a certified practitioner of Gyrotonic Expansion System since 2005 with further certifications in Gyrotonic Ladder and JumpStretch Board. Her education includes training from several Master Trainers in Washington DC, New York, California and Florida. Susan also is experienced in both classical and evolved Pilates approach with a certification starting in 2002 through the PhysicalMind Institute of New York, continuing courses with Power Pilates and Stott Pilates. A former National Certified Massage Therapist she brings 20 years of professional studies including Myofasical Release, Shiatsu and Cranial Sacral work. It is her background in fitness and bodywork that lead her to Gyrotonic and her desire to teach a comprehensive system for fitness and rehab.
• Julianna Nagy — GYROTONIC® instructor
  Julianna was introduced to the Gyrotonic system while dancing at Boston Ballet and became instantly hooked. She completed her teacher training under the guidance of master trainers Kathy Van Patten and Justine Bernard. She has experience working with a wide variety of clients, from professional dancers to individuals with therapeutic needs. Her Gyrotonic continuing education includes ladder certification from authorized master trainer Sebastian Plettenberg. Julianna is also certified in pilates matt. While teaching, Julianna is currently pursuing her master's degree at the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University.
• Michelle Silva — GYROTONIC® & Pilates instructor
  Michelle began studying Gyrotonic® exercise in 2003 and found that the system reminded her of the joy she felt studying ballet as a child. After seeing the benefits for older clients she decided to become a certified Gyrotonic® instructor. Currently she is also trained in Gyrotonic® Applications for Golf, Gyrotonic Level 2 exercises and is a Gyrokinesis® Apprentice. Michelle continues to independently study with a variety of Master Trainers throughout the U.S. as well as attending yearly courses with Juliu Horvath. Michelle is also a New York Certified Pilates Instructor. She found what is considered the “Authentic Pilates Method” in 1999, and in 2001 entered the certification program under the tutelage of Romana Kryzanowska, the world-renowned protégé of Joseph Pilates, and Romana’s daughter Sari Mejia Santo through their original International New York based Pilates Certification Program. Her certification process required a minimum of 800 hours of apprenticeship and a pre-requisite of 75 hours of personal sessions with “Authentic Pilates” instructors. Michelle continues her education and certification through “Romana’s Pilates”. Overall, clients enjoy Michelle’s hands-on approach and attention to detail.