:: 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.

Annie Mercer, has a BA in Dance from the University of New Mexico (1986), 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 Roxy and working in the garden with her partner Bob – who is a great cook!

Margaret Hoeffel lived in NYC from 1973-1994, studying movement, dance and performance during the height of the experimental post-modern dance movement in lower Manhattan. She then relocated to Vashon Island with her husband and three small children and operated a small organic farm for five years. She discovered the Gyrotonic system in her search to help her body recover from the wear and tear of intensive farming and was certified as a Gyrotonic Level I trainer in January 2007. She considers the Gyrotonic Expansion System to be her own personal “Fountain of Youth’.

Margaret delights in having found an exercise system that offers heightened body awareness and a more integrated and balanced body, while being a pleasure to perform. Helping clients discover their body’s innate and unique intelligence is one of her goals, as well as encouraging them to enjoy the journey. She has taken a workshop in Therapeutic Applications of Gyrotonic with Paul Horvath and continues her study of Gyrotonic Level 11 with Karen Mullen. She has a Gyrotonic studio on Vashon and continues to grow vegetables as part of a farming collective.

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.