About us

Alissa Waller, NCPT, SMT

Alissa Waller has been teaching the GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS®

movement methods since the late 90's. She is certified as a Specialized Master Trainer in GYROTONIC® Levels 1 and 2, GYROKINESIS® Levels 1 and 2, and on all pieces of the GYROTONIC® Specialized Equipment line. Ms. Waller has done extensive training directly with Juliu Horvath, the creator of these methods, over three decades. Her teaching practice specializes in the application of GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS® exercise to conditioning programs for the general public as well as specialized programs for dancers, athletes, therapeutic applications, and continuing education for licensed instructors. From her studios in Chicago, Charlotte, and St. Augustine Beach, Ms. Waller has mentored hundreds of movement teachers and instructed over 30,000 movement sessions. She continues to teach a diverse client base from her private studio in northern Florida and offer teacher training and continuing education courses year round. Ms. Waller is also a Nationally Certified Pilates Teacher, having been comprehensively certified through two accredited Pilates educational systems, STOTT PILATES® and McEntire Pilates, for whom she served as a teacher trainer for several years. Ms. Waller brings more than 30 years of experience to the professional studio setting as well as a wealth of information from her background as a classically trained ballet dancer. To inquire further or book a session with Alissa Waller contact her here.

Career Highlights

Ballet Background

Early dance training at the Rose Marie Floyd School of Dance in Royal Oak, MI, Cecchetti Method
Additional training with Cleveland Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, New School of the Arts in Amsterdam
Summa Cum Laude Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Ballet Performance University of Arizona
Professional Performance: Detroit Contemporary Civic Ballet, Chicago Ballet, Elements Contemporary Ballet
Advanced Professional Teaching Certificate in the Cecchetti Method with honors
American Ballet Theatre® Teacher Training Curriculum from Pre-Primary through Level 7
Florida State University, Northwestern University, and Hope College (guest instructor or adjunct professor)
Faculty of the Charlotte Ballet Academy and Pre-Professional Divisions (Ballet, Pointe, Dance Conditioning)
Certificate in Performing Arts Medicine from the Performing Arts Medical Association
Specialized Dance Conditioning Programs with BASI Pilates, Inner Life of Ballet, Perfect Form Physiotherapy, Progressing Ballet Technique and the Dance Medicine Education Initiative.

Pilates Education

Began her practice of Pilates at age 14 with a blend of physical therapy and Pilates mat and reformer work
Formal teacher training programs: Ron Fletcher method, Tucson, AZ
STOTT PILATES® comprehensive Pilates certification (all apparatus thru advanced)
McEntire Pilates certification and Master Teacher status
Classical Pilates study in Evanston, IL at the Pilates Center of the Midwest
Pilates for Dancers Specialization through BASI Pilates
Stott Pilates Injury and Special Populations courses.
Advanced trainings in the application of Pilates to specific populations: pre and post rehab, dancer specific, equestrian, athletic applications, scoliosis, hypermobility, active aging
Member of the Pilates Method Alliance

GYROTONIC® & GYROKINESIS® Methods

Certified Gyrotonic / Gyrokinesis Trainer / Pre-Trainer
Certified Gyrotonic Specialized Master Trainer
Certified Gyrokinesis Master Trainer
Certified on Specialized Equipment and Master Trainer on ARCHWAY®, GYROTONER®, and JSB
Directly trained by Juliu Horvath between 1999 and 2026 in New York, Chicago, Denver, San Francisco, Miami, Austria, Italy, Germany
Gyrotonic and Gyrokinesis Level 2 Certified (with Juliu Horvath)
Gyrokinesis Applications for Dancers
Therapeutic Applications of Gyrotonic for the Pelvis, Spine, and Shoulders, Psoas and Scoliosis
Gyrotonic Equestrian Program,
Gyrokinesis Breathing Programs
Teaching practice encompasses general fitness, pre and post rehab, dance specific applications, athletic and equestrian applications, mobility and longevity, and teacher mentoring
Over 30,000 client sessions instructed in the Gyrotonic / Gyrokinesis methods.

Studio Owner and Lifelong Student

Chicago Northshore GYROTONIC® - licensed studio and educational facility, serving the greater Chicago area and offering comprehensive teacher training in the Gyrotonic, Gyrokinesis, and Pilates Methods
Charlotte Movement Arts / GYROTONIC® Charlotte NoDa - client sessions, group classes, teacher training, and workshops
Chicago Waldorf Astoria Hotel (formerly the Elysian Hotel) - manager, studio designer and consultant for Pilates and Gyrotonic studio at the Waldorf spa
Anastasia Island / St. Augustine Beach - Anastasia Movement Arts - movement sessions and teacher training
Deepening of teaching practice with extensive study of dance technique, dance science, dance medicine, anatomy, physiology, bio-mechanics, kinesiology, Thai bodywork, energy healing, yoga, meditation, breathing practices, osteopathy, and the work of Eric Franklin, Philip Beach, Robert Schlep, Gil Hedley and Tom Myers.
Currently pursuing teacher certification in the Franklin Method

Chicago Northshore GYROTONIC® Evanston, IL 2003 - 2012

Elysian Hotel, Chicago 2009

..with Juliu Horvath, Germany 2003

Charlotte Movement Arts / GYROTONIC® Charlotte NoDa / GYROTONIC® Myers Park Charlotte, NC 2014 - 2025

Anastasia Movement Arts, St. Augustine Beach, FL 2025 - ...