Sebastian Plettenberg

Director and Owner of GYROTONIC® Manhattan
Master Trainer, GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS®

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Erika Hassan

Master Trainer, GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS®

Erika has studied dance for 15 years, and started her GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS® training in 1993, when she met Juliu Horvath. She took private lessons with him for 3 years, which changed her body and her life in general! The training opened up a vision of dance from the inside out, so that outer forms are dictated by the energy within. She is a dancer and choreographer and Master Trainer in GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS®.

Mariarosa Guglielmi

Master Trainer, GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS®

Mariarosa began her journey as a teacher of GYROTONIC® in 1992 at the White Cloud Studio, the original home base of GYROTONIC®. As a dancer and choreographer, it was her passion to move that led her there and through theses days her relentless curiosity of the body inner realm has kept her exploring and sharing this unique form of art. As a student of Juliu Horvath, she trained and instructed under his supervision until 1998. Since then as a Master trainer she has been traveling worldwide offering teacher training courses both in GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS®.

Jackson Kellogg

Certified Instructor, GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS®
Pre-Trainer, GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS®
Master Trainer Candidate, GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS®

Jackson began training in GYROTONIC® approximately seven years ago with Sebastian Plettenberg, and went on to work with Geta Constantinescu and Julio Horvath in Miami for two years. While he lived in Miami he worked as a GYROKINESIS® instructor for Miami City Ballet School, and the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet school summer intensive program. He moved back to New York about three years ago to continue his training with Sebastian and to be around his friends and family. Prior to studying GYROTONIC® he attended the City University of New York in Harlem for English in 2003, where he met his now wife Jessamine Joy Kellogg. He was introduced to GYROTONIC® by his mother who is a Master teacher and studio owner in Colorado, and is currently involved in the Master Teacher programs for both GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS®.

LeeAnn Morris

Certified Instructor, GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS®
Pre-Trainer, GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS®

LeeAnn is a graduate of the California Maritime Academy. She comes to GYROTONIC® Manhattan after relocating from the San Francisco Bay area with her husband and two sons. LeeAnn is an active sports enthusiast enjoying competing in swimming, gymnastics and tennis. While rehabilitating from two spinal herniations, LeeAnn found GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS®. Upon recovery she became a certified GYROTONIC® Instructor under Sebastian Plettenberg. LeeAnn is proud to be a teacher with GYROTONIC® Manhattan and happy to bring her love of GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS® to her clients.

Emily Smith

Certified Instructor, GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS®
Pre-Trainer, GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS®

Emily Smith has been teaching movement in different forms for over 15 years. Through GYROTONIC® she has experienced freedom from limitations brought on by injury and spinal imbalance, and a new awareness of the body on a physical and energetic level, which she looks forward to cultivating. Emily began her GYROTONIC® training in July 2006 at and received her certification in March 2007. She has since certified in GYROKINESIS® and all of the specialized equipment. She is a GYROTONIC® Pre-Trainer and is scheduled to complete the GYROKINESIS®. Pre-Trainer program in December 2009. Emily has completed course work with Juliu Horvath, Paul Horvath, Sebastian Plettenberg, Erika Hassan, Bradley Kreamer, Kathy Van Patten and Abel Horvath. She actively pursues continuing education in an effort to deepen her understanding of the GYROTONIC® Expansion System.

Laura Barbee

Certified Instructor, GYROTONIC®

Laura Barbee earned her BFA in Ballet and Modern Dance at TCU. She discovered the GYROTONIC® Expansion System through dance which has been her passion since she was a little girl. Through times of injury, the system became part of her rehabilitation and is now an important part of her daily movement life. Originally from Texas, Laura recently moved to NYC from San Francisco where she did a large portion of her GYROTONIC® training. As a Certified Instructor, she enjoys sharing the system with others and discovering how it can improve their daily movements over time.

Beth Brandt

Certified Instructor, GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS®

Beth is a BFA graduate in modern dance from Texas Christian University. Originally from San Antonio, Texas she began studying GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS® after moving to New York after graduation. Shortly after completion of the foundation courses she began teaching at GYROTONIC® Manhattan under Sebastian Plettenberg. When she is not teaching she dances for the VonHoward Project under the direction of Christian von Howard. Beth is looking forward to sharing the joy and passion she has for movement with her clients.

Don Friedewald

Certified Apprentice, GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS®

Don is a Miami native, and a graduate from Florida International University with a B.A. in dance. Since moving to NYC he has danced professionally as a ballet and modern dancer. Having spent many years training in a gym, he discovered GYROTONIC® as a whole new approach to achieving balance and strength. This amazing movement system has led him to a much deeper understanding of the body and he is excited to share this with others. Don completed his Pre-training with Jackson Kellogg, his teacher training with Authorized Master Trainer Sebastian Plettenberg, and looks forward to continuing learning from this talented community. He is thrilled to be teaching at GYROTONIC® Manhattan.

DJ Gray

Certified Instructor, GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS®

DJ has been teaching GYROTONIC® for 10 years. She has worked in both California and New York. “GYROTONIC® is an inspirational source that allows me to find a richer texture in movement. It has helped me increase strength and fluidity not only in body, but also in mind. Moreover, it has helped me heal injuries. I truly enjoy teaching, and inspiring others to find the endless possibilities of insight that GYROTONIC® has to offer.” DJ is a Broadway performer and choreographer. She has also taught musical theater and dance at Pomona College, and continues to choreograph regionally.

Julieta Okot

Certified Apprentice, GYROTONIC®

Julieta has been active in various aspects of sports for 30 years, 16 years of experience as an Olympic level competitor representing Bulgaria and the New York Athletic Club in Women's Freestyle Wrestling.  In 1995 she was crowned Miss Fitness Bulgaria.  After earning a B.A. in Physical Education from the National Sports Academy in Bulgaria and a postgraduate diploma in European Studies from the University of Surrey in England, Julieta moved to San Francisco to coach the Peninsula Grapplers women’s wrestling team where she helped coach the team to a National Championship in 1998. Julieta moved to New York in 2001 to work as a personal trainer at Equinox Fitness Center. She has introduced wrestling to children in public schools through USA Wrestling's Beat the Streets program and taught gymnastics to inner city children with the Wendy Hilliard Foundation since she's been in New York. In 2007 while preparing for the World Wrestling Championships, Julieta found herslelf looking for ways to improve her flexibility and build inner strength.  She found it when her friend, Olympic gymnastic's champion Ioannis Melissanidis, introduced her to Sebastian Plettenberg and GYROTONIC. “I feel I’m a natural teacher, and I love to work with people,” says Julieta.  “Gyrotonic improved my flexibility, coordination, self-awareness, grace & elegance in everything I do.  I also feel I look ten years younger!” Apart from her life experience and personality, she also credits GYROTONIC for helping her become a finalist on the television show "Survivor (Bulgaria)" filmed in the Philippines in 2009. Yes, the TV show!

Lorraine Reeder

Certified Instructor, GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS®

Jessamine Kellogg

Certified Instructor, GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS®

Jessamine started dancing, performing and choreographed at a young age and throughout college at the City University of New York where she studied Computer Science. After spending a few years working with computers, she traveled and became a Scuba Diving Instructor. When she returned to New York, while in search of a way to rehabilitate her back from a year and half of scuba diving, spending many hours with computers and two knee surgeries, she was introduced to GYROTONIC® by Jackson Kellogg. This introduction eventually led to her involvement in the educational program because she was inspired by the dynamic possibilities of the movement system. She completed GYROTONIC® & GYROKINESIS® courses with Jackson Kellogg, Sebastian Plettenberg, Clyde-Rae Jolie Ashe, Juliu Horvath, and Gina Muensterkoetter. She now enjoys learning and teaching at GYROTONIC® Manhattan.

Lorraine Reeder

Certified Instructor, GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS®

Lorraine put aside her master’s degree in journalism to teach Pilates in 1999, which led her to discover GYROTONIC® five years later. Under the tutelage of Sebastian Plettenberg she found the movement experience she had been searching for, and has been immersing herself in everything GYROTONIC® for the last three years. Recently Lorraine began working on Level II GYROKINESIS®, having completed the GYROTONIC® Level II course in Germany with Juliu Horvath. She is also certified to teach the Gyrotoner® and has completed all three of Paul Horvath’s therapeutic application courses. As a teacher Lorraine loves to re-introduce the elderly to the joy of movement as well as challenge everyone to find his or her inner balance and physical success.