authorized training center
Our Founders
Ann Toran
Ann Toran, is a native Manhattan born New Yorker. While performing as a ballerina with The Croatian National Theater in Zagreb, Croatia, Ann sustained a major back injury that was considered career threatening. The therapeutic regimen she was given was Pilates based.
Although Ann stopped her performance career 30+ years ago, she continues to perform daily in the Pilates studio as both a Master Pilates teacher and perpetual student! She and her husband, Chiropractor Errol Toran, have dedicated themselves to making the Pilates reformer affordable and available to everyone at their two Pilates Reforming New York locations in Manhattan.
Ann is PMA Certified and continues to further her Pilates education by attending several conferences annually, as well as through study with various Pilates educators. Ann completed the Pilates Master Mentor Program with Pilates Elder Lolita San Miguel in November of 2011 and is now considered a Second Generation Pilates teacher. She has been certified by Polestar Pilates in the Reformer, Mat and Studio (all apparatus) certifications. Ann joined Balanced Body Education in 2008 and is a Balanced Body Master Teacher and conducts Pilates Teacher Training at her Pilates Reforming New York 38th St studio. Pilates Reforming New York is a designated Authorized Balanced Body Training Center.
Prior to her teaching for Balanced Body, Ann began her teaching career as an Educator for Polestar Pilates Education.
Errol Toran, D.C.
Dr. Toran (a Manhattan born New Yorker) began his practice in 1986, providing chiropractic and rehabilitative care to athletes of all disciplines, performers in all areas of theater, as well as New Yorkers working in all forms of office environments.
Pilates has been an integral part of the consistently superior outcomes of his therapeutic and rehabilitation protocols. From working with the athletes, he learned how beneficial regular training and body conditioning are to performance.
The simplicity of Pilates movements as well as the minimal equipment demands made Pilates a superb training choice. Dr Toran was able to incorporate Pilates principles into the rehabilitative programs of his patient's active care and then in their home programs. The performers were able to take their healthcare management on the road across the country and around the world.
He found that his patient base, the athletes, dancers and regular folks returned to work faster and were less prone to future injury. Dr Toran and his wife Ann have spent the last two decades fulfilling their mission of making Pilates "Affordable for Every...body!!!".
Their company, Pilates Reforming New York, was opened in 2002 incorporating a revolutionary business model providing Group Reformer Classes. Dr Toran is also a Balanced Body Educator, teaching Anatomy to Pilates teachers around the world.
Our Instructors
Pamela Alimurung
A native New Yorker and recently back from 10 years in Hong Kong, Pam’s enthusiasm for Pilates began in 2012 when she took her first Reformer class at Pilates Reforming New York. At that time she was in Business Development and Sales within the Supply Chain industry.
While Pam had many adventures in Hong Kong, her greatest was in 2018 when diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Through the loving support of her husband, family and friends, Pam recovered from 2 surgeries and 6 rounds of chemotherapy. A month after her last chemo infusion, she got back on the reformer. With a new perspective on life and the help of Pilates to heal her mind and body, Pam left the corporate world and began STOTT Pilates instructor training in Hong Kong in 2019.
Pam is an intuitive, precise and positive teacher. Expect her instructions to include useful imagery and concise explanations all done with a big smile and a few laughs. She firmly believes Pilates is for every BODY and every ONE. Her inclusive classes are fun, dynamic and will appropriately and safely bring each client to their individual edge. Pam’s goal is to help you create mind-body connections which will draw out your strength and confidence. Her favorite moment in class is when you do something you thought you could not do. Pam’s favorite ab exercise is laughing!
Gabrielle (Gabby) Barnes
Gabby was born in Tampa, Florida and is a Balanced Body Comprehensively Certified Pilates Instructor. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Florida State University with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Dance. She is a multidisciplinary dancer trained in ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, and modern/contemporary forms to name a few.
At Florida State, she discovered her love for Pilates, specifically helping dancers rehabilitate after an injury through Pilates. She is interested in how movement through Pilates instruction can help prevent and heal injuries. This inspired her to begin her instructor training at Suncoast Pilates with Patricia Welter and Allie Collins. With the knowledge she has gained from her Pilates instructing and training she looks forward to sharing her all that she has learned with her students.
Her goal as an instructor is to create a fun and welcoming learning environment that assists clients with reaching their movement and body goals, while emphasizing body/mind connection through Pilates exercise. She looks forward to sharing her love of Pilates with her students and PRNY community.
Jo Chung
Josephine is a competitive runner and cyclist since her teenage years, she started looking for auxiliary training methods that would give her a competitive edge and help her recover faster from injuries. She found Pilates and became a certified Polestar Pilates teacher in Hong Kong and has been teaching for almost 10 years in Asia.
She returned to New York in 2020 to pursue her Pilates career and continue education with Polestar educators in NY. Josephine is also a Yoga teacher emphasize on alignment- based teaching. With her well-rounded repertoire of training discipline, Josephine thrives on connecting with her clients, keep them motivated in Pilates practice by focusing on alignment details. She is looking forward to sharing her passion with PRNY clients.
Kelly Collins
Kelly began her Pilates teaching career in 2015, but had been a Pilates practitioner for many years prior. Coming from the dance and theatre world, Kelly’s love for movement instinctually led her to Pilates. She completed her Pilates training and certifications through the Pilates Academy International at Pilates on Fifth.
Kelly strives to make her classes challenging for varying levels of Pilates experience. While making every client confident with form and technique, it is not uncommon to experience laughter and fun in her classes.
She became a mother during the pandemic, which has brought out a more nurturing side to her teaching style. Her goals are to create a welcoming atmosphere and making sure every client is being pushed towards their goals. Kelly is incredibly excited to join the Pilates Reforming New York team!
Robynn Delin
Being a true New Yorker, Robynn tried all forms of exercise. She was introduced to Pilates Reforming New York shortly after the studio opened in 2004 and has been attending classes ever since. As a marketing executive who sat in front of a computer much of the day, Robynn was looking for a form of exercise she enjoyed and could stick with. What she found was much more - a key to a healthier lifestyle.
After years of talking about become a Pilates instructor, Robynn took the plunge and did it! She believes that Pilates is the best practice for not only young bodies, but older bodies as well, and a great tool for strengthening, toning and preventing injuries. She is thrilled to be part of PRNY and having an opportunity to share Pilates with so many people. “I love being a part of something that helps people become stronger, more flexible and healthier.”
Shawnee Kvasnicka
Coming from a small town and having lived in two major cities I’ve lived a life inspired by health and fitness. When health problems arose I started searching for solutions on how to heal.
I started my Pilates instructor training journey in 2020. Since then I have strived to inspire all of you and help you along your healing journey.
My goal is you leave each class feeling more powerful and inspired than when you walked in.
Richie Mastacusa
Richie grew up in Boston MA and began training to be a professional dancer at age 6. He graduated with a BPA in Dance from Oklahoma City University. Richie has danced in shows on Broadway, London's West End, National and European Tours, Film, Television and for Musical Artists.
While dancing on Broadway Richie was introduced to Pilates to help prevent injury. It wasn't until he took class at Reforming NY and his training through Polestar Pilates and Balanced Body Education that he knew he wanted to be a teacher. Richie has been featured on The Dr Oz Show several times as a Pilates expert and a Fitness Guru. He is a Professor at Pace University, teaching Body Awareness, Core Strengthening and Dance. Richie teaches a high energy, fun class with great technique.
Sarah McCoy
Sarah has a background is dance and theatre having graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BM in Musical Theatre from the University of Central Oklahoma. She took her first NYC Pilates class at Broadway Dance Center five years ago and knew that it was something she wanted to learn more about.
Since then, she has been Mat Certified through LindaFit and has more recently been trained by the one and only Ann Toran in Reformer Pilates. It’s her goal that you walk out of every class feeling better than you did when you walked in by focusing on creating balance throughout the body.
Marianne O’Reilly
Following successful careers in intensive care nursing and retail management, Marianne discovered a love of dance and Pilates here in New York.
She is passionate about Pilates, which cured her of recurring bouts of severe back pain and is dedicated to sharing its countless benefits with her clients.
Using many of the skills she has gained through her diverse background she brings a focused and lively energy to her classes and looks forward to seeing you there!
