Team Kinespirit

Chantal Deeble is the owner and studio-director of Kinespirit Studios.

After a fulfilling dance career that had her performing and teaching internationally for over 15 years, Chantal founded Chantalko LLC – a Gyrotonic®, Pilates & Personal Training company, before the inauguration of Kinespirit Studios in 2006. Chantal is a Specialized Master Trainer qualified to offer all aspects of Gyrotonic Education: Gyrotonic® Level 1 and Level 2, Gyrokinesis® Level 1 and Level 2 & all Specialized Equipment and Musical courses. Chantal co-authored the specialized course GYROTONIC® Applications for Runners, and is one of only a few Master Trainers worldwide authorized to conduct the Gyrotonic® and Gyrokinesis® Final Certification Courses.

Chantal is also fully and comprehensively certified on all Pilates Apparatus and Mat and is honored to be a Teacher Trainer on faculty at the Kane School of Core Integration at Kinected.

Abbie Mentzer began her Gyrotonic Method journey while studying at the School of American Ballet (SAB) in NYC. She danced with Miami City Ballet, Madison Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet (Soloist) and toured North America with The Phantom of the Opera. Abbie came to Kinespirit in 2022 and studied to become a certified trainer with pre-trainer Christa Thiesing and MT Chantal Deeble. In 2023, she completed her Final certification and Psoas course in Bali with Juergen Bamberger. Abbie is thrilled to be working at Kinespirit studios.

Abby Middleton is dedicated to helping people feel better in their bodies through the Pilates method. Though your teacher may be the Pilates expert, you are the expert on your body. Abby strives to teach you the “why” behind your exercises, give you autonomy to take your Pilates practice with you beyond the session, and find a balance between challenging yourself and caring for yourself.

Abby completed her comprehensive Pilates certification (which encompasses all levels & pilates equipment) in 2018 with a desire to enrich her own pilates practice and to always have this movement practice in her life. Abby is also trained to teach TRX, barre, trigger point foam rolling and even The Body Positive’s Be Body Positive program.

Alexandra is thrilled to be able to offer the magic of GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS® Exercise to help people of all ages and abilities find and develop strength, suppleness and flexibility, and to be happy in their bodies! GYROTONIC® provides one of the key ingredients to reverse the process of aging: decompression of the joints of the body, which are constantly being compressed by gravity and in our daily movement habits. Alexandra has been teaching THE GYROTONIC EXPANSION SYSTEM® for over 10 years and is happy to find like-minded movement lovers at Kinespirit.

Amanda was introduced to GYROTONIC® and Pilates to rehab a shoulder injury. She fell in love with everything they had to offer for both the mind and the body. Amanda is honored to have trained in GYROTONIC® with the legendary Chantal Deeble as well as attended The Kane School to obtain her anatomically focused Pilates certification. Amanda brings her passion and education together to create individualized programs for her clients to help them better achieve their goals - whether recovering from an injury, new to fitness or looking to deepen their connection with their body. Amanda is also certified in the GYROTONIC® JSB and has a BA in Psychology and Women's Studies from the University of Vermont.

Amy Jo started Pilates in 2005, completely new to the Pilates method. Challenged and intrigued, she began taking classes to learn more and fell in love with the movement and the positive way that it challenged her mind and body. It quickly became not only her favorite form of exercise, but also a way to rehabilitate an injury, as well as a form of relaxation and meditation for her. Amy Jo decided to go through the Pilates certification process so that she could help others find their passion for Pilates and feel the mental and physical benefits of the exercise. In addition to Pilates, Amy Jo also enjoys her Peloton, walking in Central Park, and loves to read, travel, and cook.

Anne is a dancer and teacher of movement and Pilates, currently managing a busy studio of private clients and group classes in New York and New Jersey. In addition, Anne reserves time for special projects, such as teaching movement to singers, and creating site-specific dance videos. Originally from Chicago, Anne served on the dance faculty at the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music teaching modern dance, improvisation and composition. She was a frequent choreographic collaborator with Frost Opera Theater. Anne continues to study Pilates, dance, Iyengar yoga, anatomy, kinesiology, neurology and the biomechanics of movement, and has recently become a Certified Gyrotonic® Level 1 Gyrotonic Instructor.

Calleja Smiley Welsh is a Michigan native. She was first introduced to Pilates as a young dancer at UNC School of the Arts and has taught all over the country since her certification in 2011. Calleja holds a BFA from LINES Ballet/Dominican Univ. of CA, and has performed in SF and NYC with a variety of dance companies and projects, including Garrett + Moulton Productions, the Merce Cunningham Trust, and Gibney’s Community Action programs. Calleja is currently studying as an MFA in Poetry Candidate at Columbia and lives with her husband and houseplants in Manhattan.

A professionally-trained dancer, and lifelong lover of movement, Christa began teaching the Gyrotonic Method in 2014. She has experience working with a wide range of clients, including seniors, prepro and professional dancers, teens, athletes, and pre/post natal people. Christa is a Certified Gyrotonic Pre-Trainer, authorized to provide the first step for students wishing to become teachers of the method. She is also working towards her Pilates certification, through the Kane School, and is on the faculty at Steps on Broadway, where she teaches Gyrokinesis.

Cristina has been a Certified Pilates teacher for over 20 years, studying under the tutelage of the late Romana Kryzanowska, direct disciple of Joseph Pilates, and a certified GYROTONIC® and GYROKENISIS® instructor for 10 years following the lead of Chantal Deeble. She also holds a BFA in Dance from Purchase College and Master Degree from NYU. She has been working in the fitness field in NYC for over 2 decades, she continues to work and teach clients of different backgrounds and needs and she is always looking for opportunities to learn and expand her knowledge in creating the safest way to move and achieve her clients’ fitness goals.

Dorothea Garland is from Framingham, MA and is a professional dancer in New York City. She danced with Columbia Classical Ballet in South Carolina and Ballet Theater of Boston before moving to New York, where she has spent the last 15 years working with various choreographers and companies. She currently dances for Ballets with a Twist, Continuum Contemporary Ballet, East Coast Contemporary Ballet and Cherylyn Lavagnino Dance. Dorothea discovered The Gyrotonic® Method, as a supplement to her dancing and was blown away by how her body and range of movement began to change and expand.

Georgette is from Western New York and started dance at the age of 10 years old. She is certified in Pilates/Yoga and is a licensed GYROTONIC® instructor. She also received her Masters in Dance Therapist. She has explored her passion for movement through many years of dance and movement. Encouraged by her progress she wanted to share Pilates/GYROTONIC® with others and continues to expand her knowledge of the body and mind teaching movement for a better way of health and being.

Holly has been teaching pilates for going on 15 years, but has been a student of pilates for 23+ years. She takes the classical style of pilates and adds a bit of a contemporary twist to it. Due to the number of clients she works with that have limited mobility for one reason or another, she feels such a teaching style is necessary in order to allow a client’s body to feel the benefits that pilates can offer. Her clients range from beginner to advanced and are pre/post natal, athletes, cancer survivors or suffer from some degree of muscular or skeletal injury. When not teaching, Holly spends her time running either by herself or chasing after her two young children and vizsla.

Jen holds a BS in Dance from the University of Oregon and an AS in Interpreting for the Deaf. She studied nursing for 3 years, was a competitive synchronized swimmer, moved to NYC, and worked as a professional dancer for over 25 years. Specialized studies include: Functional Anatomy for Movement & Injuries at Mount Sinai; Pilates and Gyrotonic for Osteoporosis; Pilates for MS, Parkinson’s Disease and other Neurological Conditions; Post Rehab Breast Cancer Specialist; Golf and Rotational Sports Specialist.

Karen Musey is originally from Edmonton, Canada and came to New York to perform, teach and adjudicate. While navigating healing a neck injury, she was introduced to the GYROTONIC® Method and wanted to hold space for others who were exploring their own path through this unique movement modality. She recently returned back to New York from Los Angeles and her work was deeply enriched by the GYROTONIC® community and other movement and healing modalities she explored while there including Gaga, Feldenkrais, Alexander Technique, Yamuna, Linklater, and Human Garage. She is certified through the GYROTONIC® Level 2 syllabus and Dancers Part 1. Karen is also a Usui Reiki Master and Angelic Liquid Light Practitioner for people and animals.

Kayla fell in love with Pilates at a young age when she was diagnosed with scoliosis, she immediately felt how the body awareness, length, and strength that Pilates brings helped her through life. She graduated from Wayne State University with a degree in Dance Performance where she got the opportunity to receive her STOTT Pilates Certification, work with dancers, have a steady Pilates practice and research injury prevention. Her classes challenge the mind to focus on the essence of the exercises, muscular endurance, and coordination. She is excited to share her passion for Pilates with the community and help them feel strong, long, and empowered!

Originally from Detroit, MI, Martha was first introduced to Pilates while she was earning her BFA in Dance from Wayne State University. After college, Martha moved to NYC where she danced professionally for Holland America Cruise Lines, several modern dance companies, and earned her MA in Performing Arts Administration from NYU. Martha teaches Pilates, GYROTONIC®, is an Instructor Trainer for the Pilates Suspension Method, and has recently started teaching dance again. After 13 years in NYC, Martha returned to Metro Detroit with her family where she teaches virtually and in-person and continues her work as Kinespirit’s Marketing & Programming Manager. (and pops up as guest instructor whenever she’s in NY!)

Megan, a New Jersey native, was drawn to movement at an early age and started training in GYROTONIC® and Pilates in her teenage years. She earned a BFA from the Conservatory of Dance at SUNY Purchase, studied abroad at Beijing Dance Academy, and has performed across the U.S., Canada, and Asia. She's a proud New Yorker and has enjoyed teaching in the tri-state area for over 11 years. Megan is passionate about healing through movement and is grateful to be a part of team Kinespirit.

Bio to come.

Rachel was first introduced to GYROTONIC® as a means of cross-training for dance and to manage back pain from scoliosis. She believes exercise should be a celebration of the body and the strength of the mind. She strives to create a supportive and inviting environment for her clients to help them reach their wellness goals. Rachel holds a BFA in Dance and Certificate in Arts Management from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and completed the Dance Training + Arts Management internship with Jose Limón Dance Foundation. She is currently teaching dance throughout the city and looking forward to beginning a career as a freelance dance artist.

Sevin has been working in physical and mental health for over 25 years. She has been practicing GYROTONIC®, GYROKINESIS®, and Yoga since 2003. She is licensed in: GYROTONIC® level 1&2, Pre-Post natal, Psoas Application, Hip Replacement Pre-Post, Therapeutic Shoulder Girdle, Scoliosis, Pelvic Girdle, Archway, Gyrotoner, Leg Extension Unit, and JSB, GYROKINESIS® level 1, Level 2 Pre Training, Breathing, Meditation and Yoga.

Kisha has had an extensive career in Massage Therapy from spa work to teaching to business owner. Each of her massage experiences has incorporated its way into her work and becomes one of the tools that she can use. The in depth knowledge of muscle anatomy and kinesiology allows her to use techniques that are safe and effective. When asked what kind of massage Kisha provides, it is easier to explain what she doesn’t do, or better still, tell her what you don’t want. Her personal massage style is what she has coined “the kitchen sink,” as in everything including the kitchen sink. Kisha gives client-centered massage therapy that zeros in on pain relief, balance, and integration of body awareness.

Taylor Heaphy (she/her) has spent most of her life in western New York, but came to Kinespirit while living in NYC starting in 2019. She currently resides in Buffalo, NY, where she previously received her Bachelor of Arts in Dance at the University at Buffalo. In addition to her remote role as Studio Manager at Kinespirit, Taylor also works administratively for the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and teaches dance at a local studio.

Tori (Mazzacone) Ruthen grew up dancing in the valley of the sun, Phoenix, Arizona, and moved to NYC to pursue her dance career. She later graduated from the Alonzo King LINES Ballet BFA program, which is in association with San Francisco GYROTONIC®. There, she received extensive training in GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS® from many trainers, including master trainer, Debra Rose. Tori is certified in GYROTONIC® Level 1 and Level 2, Jumping-Stretching Board, and Archway Level 1. She loves to share the joy of movement at Kinespirit and in her daily life!

Vera Paganin was born and raised in Milan, Italy, and moved to New York City in 2013 to attend the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance. Vera has danced professionally since then, and has performed and taught in the New York tri-state area, Italy, and the Netherlands. She started practicing GYROTONIC® in 2016 after an injury, and got her Level 1 certification in 2019, she is also certified in GYROTONIC® Applications for Dancers, Program 1. Vera loves movement and finding joy in her practice, and is excited to be teaching at Kinespirit.