:: Meet the GMC Staff

Karen Mullen, GYROTONIC® & GYROKINESIS® Master Trainer, B.F.A. & M.S., is certified as a Master Trainer in the GYROTONIC EXPANSION SYSTEM® by its creator Juliu Horvath. She began working with GYROTONIC® over 15 years ago as a dancer in NYC. From the first class she fell in love with this system and has since shared her enthusiasm and expertise with people of all experience levels.

Karen holds both bachelors and masters degrees in movement related fields and has published and presented work on dance pedagogy with its focus on effective teaching techniques both nationally and internationally. By combining her unique experiences as a former professional dancer, Pilates practitioner, university teacher and movement educator Karen is able to teach the GYROTONIC® methodology to people with diverse movement backgrounds while preparing them to be effective and confident teachers.

With training in both the scientific and the artistic studies of movement, she creates a supportive & fun environment to explore and understand the human body. By incorporating a sound understanding of both the learning and teaching process, Karen provides meaningful feedback to help students and clients understand GYROTONIC® and its methodology and helping them reach their body’s potential with ease and efficiency.

Andrea discovered GYROTONIC® while studying dance in college. She strongly believes that the Gyrotonic Expansion System® can be used as an integral tool in developing and deepening proprioceptive skills, kinesthetic awareness and an overall awakening of the senses. As a teacher Andrea encourages fluidity of movement, internal rhythm and attention to detail, making a distinct connection between the mental and physical body. Andrea understands that one can complete a satisfying and effective workout even on an ‘off-day’ and encourages clients to let go of any preconceived ideas about physical perfection and embrace their own personal achievements.

Andrea recently graduated from Cornish college of the Arts with a BFA in Dance and is a co-founder and member of Weaving Dance. She incorporates her knowledge of dance into the Gyrotonic system and is excessively fond of using imagery as a teaching tool in both disciplines. She in enjoys connecting with individuals from all backgrounds and personally challenges herself to make each client laugh at least one time per session, minimum! She is also a co-founder of X-Marks the Tot, a company dedicated to making absolutely adorable baby clothes and accessories. She hopes to pursue a career in film in the future.

Over eight years of teaching movement and fitness both on land and in the water has given Barbara a great appreciation for the various ways people understand and interpret movement. A life-long mover and a ‘wanna-be’ dancer, she's been fascinated by the science of movement from anatomy & biomechanics, to the mental and physical relationships that allow our bodies to move through space.

Barbara's experience includes teaching people from their teens into their 90’s and people who are free & happy movers to those with cranky or ornery body parts. Her goal has been to help clients appreciate their own movement potential and have fun while learning.

Barbara has mothered three sons to adulthood, worked for Public Health, performed numerous volunteer jobs, and massaged horses. To keep entertained while not teaching, she enjoys reading, gardening & various outdoor activities with her husband as well as drinking strong black-tea with half & half.

Currently, Barbara holds certifications in water exercise, Pilates and GYROTONIC® and maintains them by a commitment to continuing education & self study. In 2005, she completed two workshops with physical therapist Paul Horvath, Gyrotonic® Therapeutic Application. She has also studied the Applications for Golf, and continues her studies of Therapeutic, Post-Rehabilitation and Level II with Master Trainer Karen Mullen.

Annie Mercer, has a BA in Dance from the University of New Mexico (19986), and is certified in both Pilates (1999) and Gyrotonic (2007). After years of dancing and choreographing she started exploring Pilates to cross train for performing. About 5 years ago she discovered and fell in love with Gyrotonic while studying at the GYROTONIC® Movement Center. The system brought out a joy she had not felt since she stopped dancing, and this created a desire to teach Gyrotonic.

Annie enjoys working with people from all walks of life, to help them find their true potential and joy of movement. “Exercise should feel good!” This is Annie’s primary goal in each session; creating joy and ease in the body, while building strength, flexibility, posture and overall health.

When not working she enjoys long walks with her dog Roxxy and working in the garden with her partner Bob – who is a great cook!

Allison is a dancer and choreographer interested in efficient movement for health & fitness. She has been doing GYROTONIC® for 5 years and happily joined the Gyrotonic Movement Center with Karen Mullen after receiving her teacher certification in the spring of 2004. Since that time she has also studied Therapeutic Applications for Gyrotonic and completed her training for GYROKINESIS® this spring. She completed her Level II preparation with Master Trainer, Karen Mullen, successfully completed her Level II training with Juliu Horvath this spring.

She enjoys teaching all persons and is inspired by the wisdom our bodies hold when allowed to open beyond perceived limitations. Her background as a professional modern dancer and choreographer lends to creative methods of teaching all levels within Gyrotonic movement. She received her BFA in Dance from Cornish College of the Arts, dances for Mary Sheldon Scott/ Jarrad Powell Performance and is co-artistic director of Sonic Optic Movement Performance, a dance video collaborative in Seattle.

Jamien holds a B.A. with distinction from the University of N.C. at Chapel Hill in Human Movement Science. She has been certified in Gyrotonic since 2004 and has taught Pilates and ballet since 1999. Devoted to dance for 23 years, she studied at the N.C. School of the Arts, the London Studio Centre and with Clay Taliaferro and Gerri Houlihan. She danced professionally with the Sarasota Ballet (FL), Octavia Cup Dance Theater (NYC), the Ellen Sinopoli Dance Company (NY), and collaboratively created the Imminent Verve Ensemble (NC).

As a teacher and practitioner, Jamien focuses on integrating the body and mind and helps clients develop an intuitive and positive connection to their bodies and a joy of movement. For her, Gyrotonic is an art where the body is the instrument and the movement is like beautiful music. A newcomer to the west coast, Jamien enjoys discovering Seattle with her husband Jay.