We are composed of a powerful team of health and fitness professionals with a vast amount of expertise, experience and education in a number of fields. All our team members are certified and insured in their respective professions.
CHIROPRACTOR
Dr. Daniel Kennedy, D.C., M.S., Certified Doctor of Chiropractic
Daniel Kennedy is a Nationally Certified Doctor of Chiropractic, and has an extensive background in sports fitness & wellness. Dr. Kennedy earned a Doctorate degree in Chiropractic from LIFE University College of Chiropractic. He also received a Master of Science degree in Sports Injury Management from LIFE as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education from the State University of New York, Brockport. Dr. Kennedy has been a personal fitness trainer for over twenty years and an avid athlete all his life. His athletic achievements include playing for the United States National Rugby Team, running the New York City Marathon and competing in triathlons. Dr. Kennedy is a member of the New York State Chiropractic Association.
Dr. Kennedy is specially trained in assessing and treating sports injuries. He has successfully treated hundreds of patients with sports-related injuries, such as back and neck pain, shooting pain, numbness and pinched nerves. Dr. Kennedy’s health care program focuses on helping patients achieve better overall health via balancing the body through chiropractic care, stretching exercises and soft tissue work. He also believes that health education is a critical component in staying healthy, thus he focuses on educating patients about various fitness & wellness topics, such as strengthening and flexibility exercises.
OFFICE MANAGER
Erin Grayson, Office Manager
Erin Grayson has been the office manager at Kennedy Health & Fitness since April of 2008. Erin was born and raised in Toronto, Canada, and moved to New York City in 1999. After years of training in the Musical Theatre and improvisational comedy fields, as well as exploring a career as a professional makeup artist, Erin switched her focus to her ongoing passion for health and fitness. She soon became a certified personal trainer and fitness instructor while training in Western style boxing. More recently, Erin has been training as a fighter in Muay Thai at The Wat in New York. Her passion for health and fitness is also evident in her dedication to a vegan lifestyle. Erin currently balances her training schedule while running a tight ship here at Kennedy Health & Fitness.
PHYSICAL THERAPISTS
Laura L. Ossowski, M.S., Licensed Physical Therapist
Laura Ossowski received her Master of Science degree in Physical Therapy from Widener University in 2001 and received her Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Biology and a minor in Education from Bucknell University. Laura has been a member of the American Physical Therapy Association since 1998 and has been a licensed Physical Therapist in New York since 2001. Her patients include triathletes, professional ballet and modern dancers, and urban athletes of all activity levels. For the past five years Laura has been a team Physical Therapist for Old Blue Rugby Football Club, a men’s rugby club whose members compete at the national and international level.
Laura has a unique approach to physical therapy and patient rehabilitation. Each patient session incorporates activity specific training methods to increase the ease of movement, timing of muscle activation and endurance of postural and “core” musculature. Laura focuses on maximizing individual patient benefits by combining hands-on work, attention to detail and dynamic functional training – effectively bringing multi-tasking into the wellness arena. In addition, Laura uses research evidence and numerous continuing education courses to continually gain knowledge about ground breaking techniques and technologies that speed each patient’s recovery process.
MASSAGE THERAPISTS
Jeffrey Lawrence, Licensed Massage Therapist
Jeff Lawrence became a New York State Licensed Massage Therapist in 1998 from the Swedish Institute. He has nine years of experience practicing in diverse settings with an emphasis on medical and sports-related massage therapy. Jeff has worked with athletes competing in the US Open Tennis Tournament and has supervised forty massage therapists providing treatment to over 1,500 bicycle riders in the Boston to New York AIDS ride. In addition to athletes, Jeff has treated an array of patient populations, including post-operative patients, senior citizens, HIV/AIDS patients, and individuals recovering from trauma and other injuries. Jeff also attended Kansas State University where he worked towards a Bachelor of Science in Sports Medicine.
PILATES INSTRUCTORS
Jared Kaplan, B.A., Certified Pilates Instructor/ Certified Personal Trainer
Jared Kaplan graduated from Wesleyan University in 1999 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance. He completed the anatomy-based Pilates certification at New York City’s renowned Kane School in 2004, and joined their staff as an “Expert Teacher” immediately thereafter. Jared was promoted to “Teacher Trainer” in 2005, and has led Kane School Teacher Training Equipment Certification workshops in all Pilates equipment and repertoire. In 2008, Jared received his National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) personal training certification. A former professional dancer with nicholasleichterdance and Tiffany Mills Co. in New York City, Jared draws upon his movement training and his studies of Alexander Technique (Shelly Senter), Body-Mind-Centering (K.J. Holmes), and other somatic disciplines to assist clients in achieving their full potential through movement.
Jared is proud to help other people recover, having used Pilates to rebound from athletic/dance injuries himself. He has worked with a wide-range of injuries, from scoliosis, osteoporosis, herniated discs, lower-back pain and meniscus tears to pre-natal and post-natal clients as well as cancer survivors. Jared has trained clients from ages 13 to 84, including executives, celebrities, editors, fitness and cover models, tri-athletes, chefs, bodybuilders, gymnasts, professional dancers, other trainers and all types of weekend warriors. He is adept at creating tailored private workouts that are as functionally challenging as they are fun.
Jo-anne Lee, M.F.A., Certified Pilates Instructor
Jo-anne Lee is a professional dancer and certified Pilates instructor through the PhysicalMind Institute. Jo-anne currently dances with the highly athletic Brian Brooks Moving Company, as well as choreographing her own work. She also holds a Bachelor of Dance degree from the Victorian College of Arts, University of Melbourne, Australia, as well as a Master of Fine Arts degree in Dance from New York University.
Jo-anne was trained and works closely with two of New York’s best instructors, Lesley Powell and Doris Pasteleur Hall, who use a contemporary approach in the Pilates method. Jo-anne integrates Pilates work with principles of yoga and her own dance background to bring about a practice that lengthens the muscles and builds strength for better alignment and function. She works with a diverse array of clients, such as high-level athletes like Iron Man Triathlon competitors, Muay Thai fighters and professional dancers. Additionally, Jo-anne also helps clients who have a range of physical issues including scoliosis, herniated discs, back pain, tight muscles and muscular imbalances of all kinds.
PERSONAL TRAINERS
Lisa Marie Elliott, B.F.A., Certified Personal Trainer / Certified Pilates Instructor
Lisa Marie Elliott has been engaged in the pursuit of wellness for the better part of her life. Her first ballet class, taken at age 3, sparked an early interest in movement and health. Since then, Lisa Marie’s passion for the arts and fitness has led her all over the country and overseas. She attained her Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Dance from the California Institute of the Arts in 2004, has been involved in the New York health and fitness industry as a personal trainer and Pilates instructor ever since. Her personal training certification is through the National Academy of Sports Medicine, with continuing education in “Mastering Exercise Technique.” Lisa Marie is also a fully certified Pilates instructor in Mat and Apparatus through the Kane School of Core Integration.
Lisa Marie’s education emphasis is on core stabilization and integrated strength training. As a trainer and instructor, she focuses on providing clients with the tools to obtain optimal body awareness for efficient movement patterns, and safe, empowered living. Lisa Marie believes wellness is a comprehensive practice that includes physical fitness, optimum nutrition, stress management, and the cultivation of gratitude and awareness.
