About the Studio
Leslie Whitesell opened Inala Movement Studio in 2020 to create a peaceful place for people of all ages and abilities to come and learn about movement and dance. She loves teaching people to move in new ways and witnessing their growth in both understanding and ability. It gives her great joy to see how much better people feel mentally and physically after their sessions and how much positive impact the sessions have on their lives outside of the studio in all manner of ways.
Leslie has a background in ballet and modern dance which she studied from a young age at the Baltimore Ballet, Peabody Preparatory School, North Carolina School for the Arts, Joffrey Ballet and Steps on Broadway. She is a former competitive ballroom dancer and has been teaching ballroom dance since 2007 at many studios including Stepping Out Studios in New York City and Dare To Dance Ballroom in Cincinnati, Ohio. She is certified to teach ballroom through Fred Astaire Studios.
Leslie has been practicing the Gyrotonic and Gyrokinesis methods since 2007. What began as cross training to improve her ballroom dance performance became a lifelong love of these methods. She was certified to teach in New York at Kinespirit Studios in 2012 and has trained under master trainers Chantal Deeble Jackson, Jen Daly, Miriam Barbosa, Alicia Head, Julie Cordier and Lisa Marie Goodwin. She taught for Kinespirit Studios until 2014 when she relocated to Cincinnati, Ohio and continued her teaching practice at BodyMind Balance. In 2017, she relocated to Indianapolis where she taught at Sarah Woolgar Movement before opening Inala Studio in 2020.
The studio is named in honor of Leslie's grandfather, Frank Whitesell who used it as the name of his summer camp in Maine. The word "Inala" means "peaceful place". Leslie hopes that the studio is a peaceful place for people to come to explore and learn about movement, dance and how their bodies work. At the same time, through the study of movement and breath, she hopes to enable people to cultivate a peaceful place inside of themselves that they are able to carry with them wherever in the world they may go.
CURRENT CERTIFICATIONS
Gyrotonic Method:
- Certified Trainer
- Authorized PreTrainer
- Level 2 Program 1
- Archway Level 1
- Applications for Pelvic Girdle
Gyrokinesis Method:
- Certified Trainer
- Authorized PreTrainer
- Essentials of Spinal Movement
- Happy Moves
- Cardiovascular Breathing Program 1
The GYROTONIC® Method
The Gyrotonic method teaches you to use mindful movement and exercise to create well being from the inside out using special equipment designed by the creator of the method, Juliu Horvath. These wonderful machines use weights, pulleys and resistance to help the body find it's maximum range of movement. The machines help to encourage expansion through the body and to create the strength to keep the expansion without assistance. No matter what shape you are currently in, you can create more mobility and strength, increased freedom of movement, better posture, more healthful breathing patterns and a free and optimistic mind.
The Gyrotonic Method is an original and unique movement method that addresses the entire person by opening energy pathways, stimulating the nervous system, increasing range of motion, and improving strength and movement efficiency. With Gyrotonic exercises, each movement flows into the next, allowing the joints to move through a natural range of motion without jarring or compression. These carefully crafted sequences create balance, efficiency, strength and flexibility.
The Gyrotonic Method utilizes specialized equipment to guide, assist, and challenge the exerciser.
People from all walks of life take Gyrotonic classes, including fitness enthusiasts, senior citizens, accomplished athletes, and people recovering from an injury or dealing with a disability. Gyrotonic exercises help athletes improve their performance, and rehabilitation clients recover more quickly and fully post injury.
Read more at www.gyrotonic.com
The GYROKINESIS® Method
The Gyrokinesis Method is the equipment free precursor to the Gyrotonic method. Seated, standing and floor sequences are offered in a rhythmical flow that leaves the participant feeling open, supple, relaxed and energized.
The Gyrokinesis Method is a movement method that addresses the entire body, opening energy pathways, stimulating the nervous system, increasing range of motion, and creating functional strength. It is an original and unique method, which coordinates movement, breath and mental focus.
The Gyrokinesis Method is practiced on a mat and chair, without equipment. Without the feedback and guidance of equipment, participants in a Gyrokinesis class are more dependent on their own proprioception to explore movement sequences.
Read more at www.gyrotonic.com
Ballroom Dance
Bringing to mind the wonderful icons Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, ballroom dance is a wonderful activity for anyone who wants to do exercise that is fun! Learn the skills of where to put your feet, timing and musicality and how to dance with a partner to a variety of styles of music. Ballroom dance is a wonderful activity to take up as a hobby or in preparation for an event such as your own wedding (or someone else's!), a cruise or a fancy dinner/dance affair.
Ballroom dance lessons can be started at any time, by anybody with any level of experience. You will learn about the different styles of dance, which dance goes with which music, how to execute the steps of each style and partnering skills. Lessons can be focused on just one style of dance or on multiple dances. Some examples of popular dance styles: rumba, chacha, swing, salsa, foxtrot, waltz, tango, quickstep, foxy, Argentine tango, west coast swing.
Ballroom dance is an excellent way to exercise both body and mind and keep yourself young at heart!
Wedding Dance
Your first dance should be a special and wonderful part of your wedding day. Whether you prefer a simple dance or an elaborate showstopper, preparation is key!
Lessons are offered for bride and groom, father and daughter, mother and son, or all of the above!
Customized first dances can be created that are unique to each couple. Before beginning lessons, your preferences and details about the wedding and first dance (or father/daughter, mother/son) will be noted so that we create a dance that feels like YOU.
Dances can be created based on videos or other inspiration you may have. Help can be provided with music selection or if you have already chosen a song, we start from there. A wide range of movements and patterns from various social dances can be utilized so that your dance works with your music and feels fun to perform.
Couples often say that the dance lessons are one of the most enjoyable aspects of preparing for the wedding day. Not only do they learn their dance, but they also have a "date" night (or day!) when they spend time together, laughing, listening to music and enjoying each other's company. Many also say the lessons provide stress relief!
It is recommended to start lessons 3-6 months prior to your wedding so that you aren't stressed about learning and can feel at ease by the time you get to the big day. However, if you have left it until the last minute, don't panic! Something very simple that will get you through can be designed even just a week or two before the event.