MIND 2 BODY STUDIO Staff Bios, Studio City, CA | Pilates Studio near me in Studio City, CA

Christina

Lani

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 professional development, Lani sought out training in GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS®. She was certified as an instructor by Juliu Horvath, the founder and creator of the GYROTONIC EXPANSION SYSTEM. Lani has also embarked upon City Yoga’s Teacher Training program. She is registered through Yoga Alliance and is working towards her Anusara® Yoga certification. She travels extensively to train with Anusara founder John Friend. In addition, Lani studies aromatherapy, and practices energy work with the use of essential oils to aid in rehabilitation, the healing of emotions, general health and overall well-being. Lani is committed to the concept that exercise is more than physical exertion; it is a way of life. She has successfully brought her dedicated clients to new levels of fitness and personal satisfaction. Her unique methods of visual imaging combined with an unwavering focus have given her clients a decidedly fresh and holistic approach to mind and body health.

Karen

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.

Jamie

Originally hailing from Naples, Florida, Jamie Thomas studied Environmental Science and Policy at the University of Southern Florida before making her way to the west coast. A natural born athlete, Jamie’s love for sports influenced her to study Pilates and complete the Mind 2 Body™ teacher certification program, as well as becoming a certified GYROKINESIS® teacher and a GYROTONIC® instructor. Beyond that, Jamie is a Mind 2 Body™ certified Teacher Trainer, which qualifies her to teach Pilates apprentices and teachers alike.

When skies are clear, you’re sure to find Jamie riding her bike across town, hiking or getting together with friends to play a game of softball or soccer.

Marcelin

Marcelin is a “born-and-raised” California girl, originally from the San Joaquin Valley. She has been dancing since age 2, and received her B.A. in Dance from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Marcelin is a certified pilates instructor and is a certified GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS® instructor. She is aslo certified on the Archway and GYROTONER® as well as a GYROTONIC® Pre-Trainer. She has been a practitioner of numerous modalities of fitness, but Marcelin truly believes in all that the GYROTONIC EXPANSION SYSTEM® has to offer in terms of mind, body and soul.

Casey

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

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.