Circle Studio trainers are excellent, fully certified instructors bringing the best Pilates and Gyrotonic to Portland, Oregon.
Kari Koch, Owner and Director
Certified Pilates Trainer, Certified Gyrotonic Trainer, Certified Gyrokinesis Trainer
Kari is a former dancer whose interest in rehabilitative medicine and rehabilitative techniques led her to become a student of Pilates.  After intensive training in Pilates, Gyrotonic and Gyrokinesis - and a decade of teaching and helping clients from all walks of life - Kari created Circle Studio in Portland. Her goal was to provide a beautiful and supportive environment for superior instruction in Pilates, Gyrotonic and Gyrokinesis.
Kari's clients appreciate her focus, warmth, and ability to design programs that are just right for them. She's a creative thinker and a patient coach. Kari has worked with clients suffering from neck, shoulder, spine, knee, and hip disabilities and loves to help people figure out just which method will provide the best results for their particular needs. Kari has also worked with women during and after pregnancy. She is innovative and flexible.
Kari has a BS in Dance from the University of Oregon. She earned her Pilates Certification studying with Romana Kryznowski, who was once a student of Joseph Pilates, at Authentic Pilates (now Romana's Pilates) in New York. She has completed Paul Horvath's Physical Therapy Workshops on Neck and Shoulder Girdle, The Pelvis, and Scoliosis. She also studied with Julio Horvath, the inventor of the Gyrotonic Expansion System, and earned her Gyrotonic Certification in New York. She has completed Level 2 Gyrotonic workshops.
Erin Munoz
Certified Gyrotonic Trainer, Certified Gyrokinesis Trainer
Authorized Gyrotonic Pretrainer
Erin is a natural mover with a background in gymnastics, dance, horseback riding, cycling, running, triathlons, and adventure racing. She found that Gyrotonic helped her increase her flexibility, become stronger, and less prone to injury.  Erin is an experienced Gyrotonic trainer and she works with clients of all ages and fitness levels to help them gain a stronger, healthier, and more balanced and coordinated self.
She has taught Gyrotonic in New York and in Oregon.
Erin earned her BA in Theatre with Dance Emphasis from Binghamton University. She earned her Gyrotonic Pre-Trainer Certification and Gyrokinesis Certification. She teaches students of all ages and fitness levels.
Erin has completed additional course work in:
- Gyrotonic Pre-Training Program
- Gyrotonic
- Level 2 Workshop
- Jumping/Sliding Board
- Paul Horvath's Scoliosis Workshop
- Gyrokinesis Apprentice Review
- Gyrokinesis Teacher Training
- Prenatal and Postnatal Exercise
Erin brings warmth, a depth of knowledge, and a cheerfully creative approach to her work with a wide range of clients of all levels at Circle Studio.
Elizabeth Grossberg
Certified Pilates Trainer - Master's Certification
Elizabeth has been dancing since childhood. She received classical dance training at the Houston Ballet Academy,  where she first learned about Pilates. After college she trained in Pilates, received her Certification, and eventually moved to New York City where she danced professionally and worked as a Pilates teacher. Elizabeth brings focus and energy to her teaching and creates Pilates workouts that are balanced, great exercise, and fun. She is an intuitive and attentive trainer who inspires her clients and satisfies their need for results!
When not teaching Pilates, Elizabeth performs with the Portland-based dance company tEEth.
Elizabeth earned her BFA in Dance from the University of Colorado, Boulder, her Pilates Certification and Master Certification from the Pilates Center of Boulder.
Stacy Cohen
Certified Gyrotonic Trainer, Certified Gyrokinesis Trainer
Stacy has loved movement and dance since early childhood. She was drawn to Gyrotonic  first as another form of expressive movement and then as a great system of exercise for health and well-being. Stacy has studied with Gyrotonic Master Trainers Leda Franklin, Matt Aversa, and Erika Hassan. She is an experienced teacher and coach who loves to work with Circle Studio clients at a variety of levels and capabilities, helping each to improve and thrive.
Stacy's interest in helping clients sustain the physical and emotional components of health led her to study the Rosen Method Bodywork, a system which will complement her work in Gyrotonic. Stacy is nearing completion of the five-year course of study which is a prerequisite for Rosen Method certification.
Stacy loves to motivate her clients to good health and a balanced life, and designs programs with that goal in mind.
Stacy earned her BA in Creative Studies with an emphasis in Dance from Hofstra University. She received her Certification in Gyrotonic and Gyrokinesis from its founder, Juliu Horvath, in New York. She has completed Irene Dowd's workshops in Applied Kinesiology.
Richard Decker
Certified Pilates Trainer
Richard contributes his background as a professional dancer and an engineer to his work with his Pilates students. A trained observer, he is also a warm and enthusiastic teacher. Richard has helped clients suffering from back pain and sacroiliac (SI) instability, recovering from surgeries including hip replacement, and pre- and post-natal clients. He is a creative and flexible thinker and works with each client to design a custom program that gets results, and is fun. Richard has taught Pilates in New York, Colorado, and Oregon.
Richard earned a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering from the University of Dayton, a Certificate of Completion from the Merce Cunningham Dance Studio in New York, and Comprehensive Mat and Machine Certification from CorePilatesNYC.
Richard has completed additional course work and training in:
- Kinesthetic Anatomy and Biomechanics of the Trunk and Spine
- Kinesthetic Anatomy and Biomechanics of the Limbs
- Footwork
- Timing
Richard works with each student to design Pilates sessions that are classically correct, enjoyable to do, and get results.
Bettina Blank
Certified Pilates Trainer
Bettina has a background in medical services administration, having worked for Legacy Health Systems for 25 years. She began studying Pilates in 2001 and completed her first comprehensive course  of study with nationally recognized master teacher, Michele Larsson, of Core Dynamics Pilates.
Bettina began teaching Pilates in 2003 and enjoys working with individuals of all fitness levels. She has taught Pilates to college students at Reed College for the past 5 years, and works actively with the Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU) Parkinson’s Center of Oregon to teach Pilates to Parkinson’s patients. Bettina has received national media coverage for her work with Parkinson’s patients and is the author of a book on Pilates and Parkinson’s Disease, Pilates for Parkinson’s Disease, an Instructional Manual. The Parkinson's Disease Guidebook is for sale online at www.pilatesforparkinsons.com and available for retail sale at OHSU and Circle Studio for $20.00.
Bettina motivates students of all levels and designs programs that are restorative, stimulating, and challenging. She has completed a walking marathon and is an avid dancer and golfer. Her next project is the production of a DVD for Parkinson’s patients.
Bettina has a Bachelor of Science in Health Education from the University of Oregon. She is a Pilates Method Alliance (PMA) Gold Certified Pilates instructor. She is certified to teach Ron Fletcher’s TowelWork program, and recently completed the requirements to receive a Master’s Certificate from The Pilates Center in Boulder, Colorado.
Susie Ellison
Certified Gyrotonic Trainer
Susie became a Certified Teaching Apprentice at Circle Studio in February 2009. She studied Pilates and Gyrotonic with Kari Neigebauer for five years and Gyrotonic with Erin Munoz for two years. Susie completed her pre-training with Erin, and then went on to complete the Gyrotonic Foundation Course taught by master trainer Emma Kingston of Seed Center in Portland. This intensive course includes more than 100 hours of studio work, student teaching, and additional education.
Susie has a BS degree from Southern Illinois University and is certified in Gyrotonic. Her students appreciate her enthusiasm for Gyrotonic, her wholehearted commitment to attentive, superior teaching, and her passionate belief in each student’s ability to succeed and to thrive.
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