At CORE Therapy & Pilates, we offer an innovative, whole body approach to Physical Therapy and Fitness. Our Manual Physical Therapist is certified in Pilates and GYROTONIC®. We offer the highest quality of instruction to our Physical Therapy patients and our Pilates/GYROTONIC® fitness clients.

Cheryl Dunn

Co-Owner, Core Therapy & Pilates

PMA® Certified Pilates Teacher
Certified GYROTONIC® Instructor
Certified GYROKINESIS® Instructor
GYROTONIC® Master Trainer

Cheryl graduated with a Marketing degree from LSU. After working a corporate desk job for a few years, she changed careers by completing her Pilates certification in 2002 at retroFit Pilates in Santa Monica, CA.  Cheryl then completed her Level 1 GYROTONIC® certification while working with Madeline Black at Studio M in Sonoma, CA.  Since moving to Austin to 2004, Cheryl has become level 2 GYROTONIC® trained as well as assisted Madeline in teaching Pilates education courses from California to New Orleans.  The year of 2009 was a busy one as she completed her GYROKINESIS® certification in Germany with Juliu Horvath, certifications on the specialized GYROTONIC® Archway, Leg Extension Unit, GYROTONER® and Jump Stretch Board, as well as becoming a Certified GYROTONIC® Pre-Trainer.  Not to mention having her second little boy. Cheryl completed a Pilates mentor program in 2011 with Madeline Black offered by Balance Body University coined "Passing the Torch". In the summer of 2011, Cheryl and Stephen launched a Pilates Teacher Training Program at CORE.  Cheryl passed her PMA Exam and has studied the GYROTONIC® Therapeutic Application courses with German Physiotherapist Paul Horvath and Uwe Herbsreit. In 2014, Cheryl completed the requirments to become a GYROTONIC® Master Trainer and is now able to teach the GYROTONIC® Level 1 Foundation Courses as well as all updates for current certified GYROTONIC® trainers.

Her background as a gymnast and exercise enthusiast led her to an interest in Pilates and GYROTONIC® exercise. Cheryl and her husband, Stephen, opened CORE Therapy & Pilates in May, 2005. They are members of Westlake United Methodist Church.

Stephen Dunn

Co-Owner, Core Therapy & Pilates

Physical Therapist
Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist
PMA® Certified Pilates Teacher
Certified GYROTONIC® Instructor

Stephen graduated with a Masters in Physical Therapy in 1998 from LSUMC in New Orleans. Immediately interested in hands on therapy, he began to study with known manual therapist Brian Mulligan and became certified in the Maitland Australian Approach in 2003. Stephen completed a comprehensive Pilates training in Santa Monica at retroFit Pilates in 2002 and is Certified through The Pilates Method Alliance. The combined treatment of manual therapy with mind body awareness exercises using Pilates concepts was the start of his whole body treatment approach. Stephen then began to study the fascial system when he moved to Austin, TX in 2004. This lead to training with Alan Weismantle and hisFunctional Manual Therapy Approach and studying Myofascial Release with John Barnes. Stephen completed his level 1 GYROTONIC® certification in 2009 becoming the first Physical Therapist in Texas certified in the GYROTONIC® method. In 2011, Stephen and Cheryl started the Pilates Teacher Training Program offered at CORE. Since 2012, they have had the opportunity to present the work of Joseph Pilates to the Physical Therapy schools at both Texas State and The University of St Augustine-Austin.

Now Stephen pulls from both a traditional and alternative mindset for an eclectic and innovative approach to physical therapy. Treatment consist of manual therapy (myofascial release, joint mobilization & manipulation, soft tissue mobilization, muscle energy, craniosacral therapy, traction, and neurodynamics) with mind body exercises utilizing Pilates and GYROTONIC® equipment. Stephen and his wife, Cheryl, opened CORE Therapy & Pilates in May, 2005. Stephen enjoy's hiking, sports and live music.  They have 2 boy's and are members of Westlake United Methodist Church.

Don't miss their masterclass!

Myofascial Release and Pilates Movement | Cheryl and Stephen Dunn
Sunday, March 7, 2021, 11:35 AM - 12:05 PM

Explore the benefits and healing powers of myofascial release with Stephen.

What is fascia? Fascia is a tough connective tissue that spreads throughout the body in a three-dimensional web from head to foot without interruption. Trauma, posture, or inflammation can create a binding down of fascia resulting in excessive pressures on the nerves, muscles, blood vessels, osseous structures, and/or organs. Since many of the standard tests such as x-rays, monograms, cat-scans, EMGs, MRIs do not show the fascial restrictions, it is thought that an extremely high percentage of people suffering from pain and/or lack of motion may have fascial problems but most go undiagnosed. The viscoelastic quality of the fascial system causes it to resist the suddenly applied force. This explains why the old forms of myofascial release which was an attempt to force a system that cannot be forced to produce painful results.

VIP guests will receive a CORE ball in their gift bag. You don't have the gold ball, no problem! Any 4-inch inflatable ball will work for the fascial release portion of the course focusing on your psoas. When releasing your iliopsoas, you can use a tennis ball or lacrosse ball. 

Now that you have released your fascia, let's get your whole body stronger with Pilates. Cheryl will lead you through an intermediate pilates mat session. 

Workshop