Our Founders
Paula Rivera
GYROKINESIS® Master Trainer, GYROTONIC® Master Trainer GYROTONER® Master Trainer, Leg Extension Unit Master Trainer, ARCHWAY™ Level 1 Master Trainer, Jumping Stretching Board Master Trainer, Cardiovascular Breathing 1-3 Master Trainer, Breathing Intensive Master Trainer, Certified GYROTONIC®Pre-Trainer, Certified GYROKINESIS® Pre-Trainer, Certified GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS® trainer.
Paula Rivera comes to the GYROTONIC EXPANSION SYSTEM® from an extensive background in Dance and Fitness. She has been a fitness professional in and around NYC for over 10 years. Paula grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico leaving home at 18 to join Milwaukee Ballet as a trainee. She went on to perform professionally with Milwaukee Ballet, Sarasota Ballet, as a guest artist with the Aspen-Santa Fe Ballet and aboard the M.S Celebration for Carnival Cruise Line. Paula joined MOMIX Dance Company in 2007 and toured the globe with them full time until 2013.
Paula was first exposed to the GYROTONIC® method as part of her early dance training, and later returned after a successful career in Dance to investigate this method in order to become a teacher. As a dance and fitness professional, Paula has taken every opportunity to expand her knowledge of the human body. Even at a young age she learned to cultivate a passionate interest in health, fitness and the mind body connection. This lifelong commitment has motivated Paula to seek avenues that allow her to develop herself as an athlete and an as artist from a healthful, grounded place. This path has led her to a life not only as a certified fitness professional but as a professional ballet dancer and now a passionate GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS® instructor.
Soon after completing her certification in both GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS® Paula started down the educational path. Over the past five years she has traveled to Brazil, Bali, Italy, and Germany to study with the founder of the GYROTONIC EXPANSION SYSTEM®, Juliu Horvath.
Paula is a Master Trainer for the GYROKINESIS® Method and on the GYROTONER®, ARCHWAY™, and Leg Extension Unit pieces of specialized equipment. She is a certified Pre-Trainer for the GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS® methods. Paula is a co-founder and owner of Union Square GYROTONIC® located in New York City, New York.
Don Friedewald
Don Friedewald is a GYROKINESIS® and GYROTONIC® Specialized Master Trainer based in New York City. Originally from Miami, Don studied music and attended collage at Florida International University earning a B.A. in dance. While in school he began dancing professionally with the Florida Grand Opera, and other local dance companies. It was at this time he was introduced to the GYROTONIC EXPANSION SYSTEM® and was amazed at this intelligent movement modality and what possibilities it could bring to his dancing and further more into every day life.
Since Moving to NY in 2004 Don furthered his investigation to practicing and teaching GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS® as a full time teacher with a private clientele and for teachers as an educator.
Don is co-founder and owner of Union Square GYROTONIC® located in New York City, NY.
For the past 8 years Don has been studying extensively with Juliu Horvath, the founder of the method, traveling 3 to 4 months out of the year to study and assist in the educational process.
It is with great pleasure and joy to be able to share this work and opportunity with others and continue to learn and grow as a teacher. He enjoys working with clients of all ages and abilities ranging from professional dancers and elite athletes, to anyone wanting to feel more at home in their bodies. His teaching is clear and respectful of each individual's growth and path. Working with a wide variety of clientele, Don teaches on all the specialized equipment; additionally he has spent time studying Paul Horvath's Shoulder Girdle, Pelvic Girdle and Scoliosis therapeutic courses, and applications for hip replacements. He has had great success working with clients with various injuries ranging from disc herniations, to every day aches and pains. Don enjoys a playfulness of movement and hopes to share this with others.