GYROTONIC® Kona is a group of talented professionals with a passionate commitment to the restorative, energetic and healing power of the GYROTONIC EXPANSION SYSTEM®. Whether in a private/duet lesson, group class, or teacher training, our foremost priority is to be responsive to your needs, devising sessions to specifically meet your goals of health and well-being on a unique and individual basis.

Laura (Lihau) Crittendon, LMT
        Studio Owner and Founder       
International certified and licensed

A personal note from Laura:

My first job, at age 17, was as a certified physical therapy assistant in Southern California. I worked with all levels and types of rehabilitation from athletes to stroke patients using ultra sound, therapeutic exercise and massage therapy. I began this job, and received extensive training with a leading sports physical therapist, after completing a lengthy physical therapy program for my knee following a severe skiing accident. The staff at this therapy clinic "saw something" in me that would make a great therapist, and helped me to cultivate it. It was this early experience, both as the client and later as the therapist, that helped to shape my career choice to date. On the mainland, I owned two Gold's Gyms and trained men and women to compete at the highest levels possible, as well as to rehab their injuries. I noticed that many lacked a "depth" to their workouts, so I went deeper into the Yogic and Massage path. Years later, I noticed that many of my clients, as well as myself, had built great extrinsic strength (muscular strength), but lacked intrinsic strength (core stability) so I began my Pilates training. In 2004 GYROTONIC exercise came into my life. It has all of the aspects of mind-body-spirit health I had been looking for and has become my passion in life.

Professional Training: To date, I have accumulated over 30 years experience and thousands of hours of advanced training and education in body-mind-spirit health. I am state licensed and board certified as an Integrative Medical Massage Therapist and Movement Therapist. I graduated from the Hawaiian Islands School of Massage with 1200 hours of advanced training including Vodder Manual Lymphatic Drainage, CranioSacral, Myofascial, NeuroMuscular, LomiLomi, Thai Yoga Massage, and Reiki Therapies. I also worked for two years at the massage school both helping to organize and write the textbooks, as well as creating and teaching the Integrated Therapy class. In 2002, I graduated as Valedictorian from the University of Hawaii with an Honors degree in Psychology and a minor in Hawaiian. In graduate school I studied Imagery, Mind-Body Medicine Research, Integrative Health, and Consciousness Studies. In addition, I trained professionally as a Transpersonal Psychotherapist as well as professional Hula dancer (having danced in three Merrie Monarch Hula Festivals under Kumu Hula Etua Lopez). Passionate about community service, I have volunteered thousands of hours working with the severely mentally ill in Kona.

Movement Arts Education:

• Certified Physical Therapy Assistant;
• Licensed Massage and Movement Therapist (trained extensively in rehabilitation and injury prevention);
• Certified Lymphatic Therapist;
  
• GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS® certified Trainer;
  
• Certified on the GYROTONIC® Specialized Equipment;
• Certified and Licensed GYROTONIC® Pre-Trainer (teaching the teachers);
• GYROKINESIS® Breathwork Course with Juliu Horvath;
  
• GYROTONIC® Applications for Dancers;
• GYROKINESIS® Beginner Level 2;
• GYROTONIC® Level 2 pre-training;
• Pilates Instructor Trainer (teaching the teachers);
  
• STOTT Pilates® Comprehensively trained Instructor;
  
• Certified "Pilates for Golf®" Coach;
  
• Certified Yoga Therapist;
  
• Meditation and Chi Kung Instructor;
  
• Certified personal trainer;
  
• 2nd degree black belt instructor and award-winning contemporary forms competitor;
• Professional Hula dancer.

Massage Style: As a Massage Therapist, I seek to help my clients find inner balance, a reduction in pain and stress, and an overall sense of well-being. Therapeutic styles include: myofascial release, neuromuscular, Reiki, LomiLomi, CranialSacral, Lymphatic Drainage, Muscle Energy Technique, and Energy Balancing. Each session that I offer is an intuitive and unique experience. I draw upon the many tools in my tool belt to create a personalized session just for you, your body, and your goals for that day. Many people have commented on how they can "feel the hula in their body" as I blend together years of Hula with Hawaiian LomiLomi massage. I also believe that a good therapist gives homework. This means I may give you simple stretches, exercises or other therapeutic applications that will augment our work together. I have been honored to be the sole LomiLomi practitioner highlighted in Fodor's Hawaii as a "must experience." (Mahalo for the review!)

Teaching Style: My passion is teaching creative and transformational Pilates,  GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS® sessions. I find that this work has infinite possibilities to help people achieve their wellness and fitness goals. I love helping people learn about their bodies, watch as they learn to connect with the deep and vast well of energy (chi or prana) inside them, and witness as they transform both physically, emotionally, and spiritually. It also brings me great joy to help people alleviate pain, stiffness, stress and tension and to return to a life of freedom of movement. To aid in this journey, I draw upon all of the tools in my tool belt and bring a custom blend of these unique gifts to each session. I also teach the GYROTONIC® for your Inner Dancer program (see class descriptions), and love watching my students (male and female alike) move to their own inner rhythm.

I am also proud to offer GYROTONIC® pre-training courses. This course is the first course inspiring teachers need to take when entering the Teacher path. Pre-training courses are also excellent as an intensive program for students to deepen their understanding and experience in the GYROTONIC® body of work. These courses can be scheduled either privately or in groups of 2 or more. Please inquire if I may be of service to you in this area.

     Laura

Steve Von Hargett, LMT
        Studio co-founder

Structural and Principal Massage Therapist (MAT 9513), Rehab Pilates Specialist, Certified STOTT Pilates Instructor,  Certified and Licensed GYROTONIC® Trainer, Founder and Head Instructor of Hawaii Freestyle Martial Arts

Steve has over 15 years experience teaching movement and 4,000+ hours of training. He is state licensed and board certified as an Integrative Medical and Manual Massage Therapist and is the Studio co-owner. He graduated from the Hawaiian Islands School of Massage with advanced training in NeuroMuscular, Spinal Muscle Therapies and Onsen (Structural) Manual Therapy. Steve applies a firm pressure in his work, yet balanced with incredible sensitivity and "amazing heat" (healing Chi Kung) from his hands. As a full scholarship recipient, Steve's undergraduate education was in the fine arts giving him "an eye" for proper structural alignment in both movement and massage.

Steve is a comprehensively trained, internationally certified STOTT Pilates® Instructor, trained extensively in the STOTT Pilates Rehabilitation Program (with head physical therapist Melanie Byford-Young) and is a Certified and Licensed GYROTONIC® Trainer, including the GYROTONIC® Specialized Equipment. Steve has recently completed the  GYROTONIC Level 2 Pre-training in anticipation for our upcoming 2010 GYROTONIC Level 2 Certification Course. (He also holds the rank of 3rd Degree Black Belt Instructor in mixed martial arts). Steve brings to the Studio a unique blend of knowledge and expertise of movement and the mind-body connection. Steve is the head instructor at our sister school Hawaii Freestyle Martial Arts at the DOJO (bringing character development and fitness to the youth and young-at-heart of Kailua-Kona.)

As a movement instructor, Steve brings to the Studio a unique blend of knowledge and expertise of movement and the mind-body connection. He exemplifies how Pilates and GYROTONIC® help an "X-games" athlete (surfing, motocross, skateboarding, BMX, kickboxing) age gracefully and perform better (as well as rehabilitate from injuries and surgeries as a result of sports injuries).

As our Principal Massage Therapist, Steve specializes in Onsen (Structural) Manual Therapy sessions (aligning the human structure so that the movement arts have their greatest affect). In addition, Steve is our "shoulder specialist" (Both for learning new patterns of movement as well as therapy treatments to address chronic pain and decreased function). Steve has been able to help so many of our visitors and clients alike with his Onsen sessions for Pain Relief - That Lasts!

Steve's specialty is combing Onsen Therapy with the Movement Arts of Pilates and GYROTONIC® so that what is released and balanced during the bodywork session can be re-educated into proper biomechanical movement to ensure pain-free results that last.

"Steve,
I really thought that the pain in my shoulder was going to last my whole lifetime. In two sessions you not only educated me as to what was happening in my shoulder, you relieved the shoulder pain itself. I can now work and not be in pain or on pain medication. Thank you. I will never forget this."

-- Phyllis S.

"I work in the hospitality industry. Several years ago I hurt my back at work. I saw the doctor, received medication for the pain, and was sent to physical therapy. Yet my back pain still persisted pretty severely. Now I am doing Pilates and Gyrotonic with Steve. In the first month of Pilates and Gyrotonic lessons my back pain decreased to where it was hardly noticeable. I cannot believe the difference this has made in the quality of my life. Thank you!"

-- Pamela D.

For the last 4 years Teri has been learning energy movement with the Clairvoyant Center of Hawaii.  She believes the combination of energy movement and body movement is key to achieving total mind, body and spirit wellness.  Join Teri in her GYROKINESIS® classes and see what it’s like to move your body, clear energy, tone and strengthen all at the same time!

Master Trainer

Adrianna Thompson is Co-Director/Founder of Aspen Gyrotonic & has been training in the Gyrotonic Expansion System since 1995. She is a certified Gyrotonic and Gyrokinesis Master Teacher & has worked extensively with founder Juliu Horvath. She has been on staff at White Cloud Studio, Studio Riverside, Body Evolution, Yoga Moves, and Village Gyrotonic in NYC, and she has been a visiting master teacher at studios worldwide. Adrianna has taught dancers from the New York City Ballet, the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, Jose Limon, Martha Graham, and MOMIX Dance Companies, as well as people with diverse physical interests or needing physical rehabilitation.

Adrianna is also an accomplished professional dancer and Choreographer in New York City. She has performed and taught Master Classes around the world at The Silesian Contemporary Dance Conference in Poland, Slovenia, Finland, Bulgaria, Sri Lanka, India, Peru, New York City, Montana, Los Angeles, and Texas. Adrianna has performed and taught Master Classes at the Harvard Summer Dance Project in Cambridge, MA. In addition, she has been a guest teacher for Aspen Santa Fe Ballet Company, Missouri River Dance Company, & The Martha Graham Dance Company.

While on island, Adrianna has taught our GYROKINESIS Beginner Level 2 course, her own creation, GYROTONIC Applications for Dancers, as well as conducts private lessons. We look forward to Adrianna's next visit to our studio.