MIND 2 BODY STUDIO

Lani Pelino is the owner and founder of Mind 2 Body, a studio offering pilates, yoga and the Gyrotonic exercise method. Lani hails from Michigan and received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Ohio University in 1998. It was through the university’s dance department that she discovered the Pilates Method of Body Conditioning. She completed her certification at The Atlanta Ballet, where she studied, apprenticed, and taught. Lani’s approach is grounded in the best current practice of pilates and she is certified through three different programs: The Pilates Method of Body Conditioning (Romana Kryzanowska), Power Pilates and The Pilates Method Alliance. Continuing her commitment to life-long ...

Evan hails from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree fromThe Berklee College of Music 2007. He is a former tennis coach as well as a recording artist.
He is a certified GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS® instructor. He is also certified on the GYROTONER®, Leg Extension Unit, and Jumping Stretching Board. In addition, he has completed the GYROTONIC® Level 2, Program 1 and Program II courses as well as educational workshops for scoliosis, tennis and elite athletes.Also, he is a classically certified pilates instructor and completed his training via Mind 2 Body Studio. He sought additional training and certifications in Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization and i...

Evan hails from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree fromThe Berklee College of Music 2007. He is a former tennis coach as well as a recording artist.

He is a certified GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS® instructor. He is also certified on the GYROTONER®, Leg Extension Unit, and Jumping Stretching Board. In addition, he has completed the GYROTONIC® Level 2, Program 1 and Program II courses as well as educational workshops for scoliosis, tennis and elite athletes.Also, he is a classically certified pilates instructor and completed his training via Mind 2 Body Studio. He sought additional training and certifications in Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization and is a licensed massage therapist and a certified exercise trainer.

 Evan believes that the reality we experience within our bodies plays a large factor in our perceived quality of life. No matter your current perception, physical and health improvements make our lives better. Evan’s mission is to help clients reach their functional physical potential, educate, and inspire them while providing an enjoyably safe environment in which to do so. With an array of life experience in sport and performance, certifications in GYROTONIC®, Classical Pilates, DNS, and a license in Massage Therapy, he can customize a fully integrative body / mind program to help tailor your specific goals. Simply, he will meet you wherever you are and take you wherever you want to go.

Donna Place​ graduated with a BA in music education from Whittier College in 1987.  She spent the next 12 years teaching music, folk dance and physical education, both in college and in elementary schools.  Convinced of the necessity of movement in the school system, Donna began studying dance more formally at local studios and the Lewitzky summer dance program.  She received her MA in dance studies in 1995 from the Laban School for Movement and Dance in London.  During that time she also began studying Pilates with Alan Herdman. After returning to the United States she continued Pilates training with Marie Jos​e Blom and GYROTONIC® training with Mary Halzworth, com...

Donna Place​ graduated with a BA in music education from Whittier College in 1987.  She spent the next 12 years teaching music, folk dance and physical education, both in college and in elementary schools.  Convinced of the necessity of movement in the school system, Donna began studying dance more formally at local studios and the Lewitzky summer dance program.  She received her MA in dance studies in 1995 from the Laban School for Movement and Dance in London.  During that time she also began studying Pilates with Alan Herdman. After returning to the United States she continued Pilates training with Marie Jos​e Blom and GYROTONIC® training with Mary Halzworth, completing both programs in 1996.  In 2000 Donna became a Gyrotonic® Master Trainer and in 2001 she joined the dance faculty at Orange Coast College where she currently teaches kinesiology for dance.  Donna travels throughout the United States and abroad teaching anatomy seminars for various movement programs as well as teacher training courses for the GYROTONIC® system.  

A certied Pilates instructor for over 24 years, Niedra Gabriel trained directly under Romana Kryzanowska, a protégé of Joseph Pilates, while completing her Pilates Certication at the New York Pilates Studio. In addition to Pilates, Niedra’s breadth of expertise also extends to yoga, dance, choreography, and Circus / Aerial Arts training, which she rst learned as a hobby and has recently begun teaching and performing. Niedra is committed to tness education in both the U.S. and abroad. In addition to her role as a Master Trainer at Mind 2 Body™ Studio in Studio City, she also frequently teaches segments of the comprehensive training as a guest teacher in other studios in California ...

A certied Pilates instructor for over 24 years, Niedra Gabriel trained directly under Romana Kryzanowska, a protégé of Joseph Pilates, while completing her Pilates Certication at the New York Pilates Studio. In addition to Pilates, Niedra’s breadth of expertise also extends to yoga, dance, choreography, and Circus / Aerial Arts training, which she rst learned as a hobby and has recently begun teaching and performing. Niedra is committed to tness education in both the U.S. and abroad. In addition to her role as a Master Trainer at Mind 2 Body™ Studio in Studio City, she also frequently teaches segments of the comprehensive training as a guest teacher in other studios in California and internationally. Niedra holds master classes and workshops throughout Europe, and is currently establishing the Mind 2 Body™ Pilates teacher training program in the Caribbean Island of St. Lucia. She regularly leads classes and retreats on physical and personal growth and lifestyle, taking a comprehensive approach that includes an exploration of nutrition and wellness.

Karen is a dynamic Canadian born dancer, actor, teacher and
writer. She trained professionally in ballet with the Royal Winnipeg
Ballet Professional Division, and continues to follow her curiosity in
studying other artistic modalities including Lecoq clown, improv,
stand up, Alexander Technique and more. Karen has performed
internationally with PHISH at Madison Square Garden; in Das
Rheingold for the World Premiere of the Canadian Opera
Company’s production of the Wagner Ring Cycle; the Canada
Winter Games and Cinema New York Film Festival....

Karen is a dynamic Canadian born dancer, actor, teacher and

writer. She trained professionally in ballet with the Royal Winnipeg

Ballet Professional Division, and continues to follow her curiosity in

studying other artistic modalities including Lecoq clown, improv,

stand up, Alexander Technique and more. Karen has performed

internationally with PHISH at Madison Square Garden; in Das

Rheingold for the World Premiere of the Canadian Opera

Company’s production of the Wagner Ring Cycle; the Canada

Winter Games and Cinema New York Film Festival. She is certified

in Usui Reiki (Level III) and is a U.S. Member of the International

Dance Council CID, recognized by UNESCO.

Karen was introduced to the GYROTONIC EXPANSION SYSTEM®

while recovering from a neck injury. One of the things Karen loves

most about the GYROTONIC® Method is how well it aligns with

the body’s natural intelligence and connection to flow. Karen is

excited to be a member of the Mind 2 Body team and looks

forward to facilitating more freedom of movement and ease for

Mind 2 Body clients.

Bruno Artero is a French American teacher based in Los Angeles, California. He has over 15 years of practice and teaching experience in GYROTONIC® GYROKINESIS®,  and Pilates. Bruno is certified in GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS®, he is also certified on the Jumping Stretching Board and the GYROTONER®, and has received specialized training for shoulder, hip and psoas therapeutic applications. Bruno is certified in Pilates on all the apparatus, a comprehensive training, certified through Balanced Body University.
 Bruno is also a Sop...

Originally from Phoenix, Arizona, Casey Gonzalez moved to Los Angeles to continue pursuing a career in professional dance. As a classically trained dancer who’s studied ballet, jazz and modern dance since she was three years old, she uses her unique perspective and keen sense of balance to help clients achieve their fitness goals. A homegrown expert, Casey began practicing Pilates in college and subsequently completed the Mind 2 Body™ classical pilates teacher training program at our home studio and is a certified instructor. Additionally, Casey is a certified GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS® instructor.
As part of her training, Casey obtained a cert...

Originally from Phoenix, Arizona, Casey Gonzalez moved to Los Angeles to continue pursuing a career in professional dance. As a classically trained dancer who’s studied ballet, jazz and modern dance since she was three years old, she uses her unique perspective and keen sense of balance to help clients achieve their fitness goals. A homegrown expert, Casey began practicing Pilates in college and subsequently completed the Mind 2 Body™ classical pilates teacher training program at our home studio and is a certified instructor. Additionally, Casey is a certified GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS® instructor.

As part of her training, Casey obtained a certificate in dance through the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York City. She’s since has gone on to perform, teach and judge professionally within the United States and Canada. Casey earned a Bachelors of Science in Healthy Lifestyles and Coaching from Arizona State University.

Jill began dancing at the age of 3, which started her on the path to GYROTONIC® and other movement and healing modalities. She was introduced to the GYROTONIC® Expansion System in 1999 when she was a student at the State University of New York-Conservatory of Dance at Purchase College.
It was her inherent love of movement and desire to heal injuries that fostered her curiosity about GYROTONIC®. Since being introduced to this system, she has done various advanced specializations, including: all aspects of the Specialized Equipment, Therapeutic Applications for the Pelvis, Shoulder, and Scoliosis, the Dancer’s Application, and Appli...

Jill began dancing at the age of 3, which started her on the path to GYROTONIC® and other movement and healing modalities. She was introduced to the GYROTONIC® Expansion System in 1999 when she was a student at the State University of New York-Conservatory of Dance at Purchase College.

It was her inherent love of movement and desire to heal injuries that fostered her curiosity about GYROTONIC®. Since being introduced to this system, she has done various advanced specializations, including: all aspects of the Specialized Equipment, Therapeutic Applications for the Pelvis, Shoulder, and Scoliosis, the Dancer’s Application, and Applications for the Fascial Body. She continues to study regularly with Juliu Horvath, the creator of the method, and furthers her education through other modalities such as Yoga, Pilates, and bodywork.

Jill taught at studios in Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New Hampshire, Washington D.C. and Beijing before opening GYROTONIC® Santa Barbara in 2010. Jill is a Specialized Master Trainer in GYROTONIC® and a Master Trainer in GYROKINESIS®. She is a GYROTONIC® Level 2 Master Trainer, GYROKINESIS® Level 2 Prep Master Trainer, and a Master Trainer on the GYROTONER®.

She has represented GYROTONIC® at the Body-Mind-Spirit Conference, and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in dance from the University of Wyoming. She regularly teaches educational courses in all facets of the system and hopes to impart the love of movement to all her students.