what in the world is gyrotonic?

by Karen Bentley
January 2007

Most people have heard about Pilates, but have you heard of GYROTONIC®? It's a fitness regimen that focuses on stretching, realigning, and deeply strengthening the body through lower-impact movements. It combines the two Greek words "gyro," which means ring or circle, and "tonic," to tone. It is a way of increasing range of motion, coordination, and strength, and is performed by moving in prescribed graceful, circular movements. Sometimes called "yoga-in-motion," it is done on a mat, seated on a chair, or utilizing specialized equipment. These lower impact movements may include a self-massage technique to warm up your muscles or sweeping, fluid, circular motions of the arms along with carefully synchronized breathing to stimulate the neuromuscular system. Other exercises may test the flexibility of your spine or challenge the strength of your arms, abs, and legs. Equipment is used that resembles a standard weight machine - a combination of weights and cables - but, when the equipment is used properly, the weights offer buoyancy (not resistance) for your body.

Gyrotonic can also be good for your mind. Your focus shifts inward as you guide your body to move slightly differently than your typical day-to-day routine. This inner awareness allows you to begin to understand your body's true range of motion. This approach is helpful in correcting poor habits (posture, for example) or re-defining your body's range of motion or level of strength. In addition, because you are strengthening all of your muscles, not just the muscles that you use in typical everyday movements, the body's ability to recover from a recent or pre-existing injury may also improve.

How did Gyrotonic get started? The specialized movements and equipment were created and developed by Juliu Horvath. Horvath, a Hungarian, was born and raised in Romania and became a professional classical ballet dancer. Unfortunately, a ruptured Achilles tendon brought his dance career to an abrupt end. As a result, he focused his attention on the practice of yoga. He began to develop an offshoot of this discipline to address injury and further the longevity of a dancer's career. In 1970, "Yoga for Dancers," or Gyrotonic, was born in New York. The popularity of it has grown significantly to include not only dancers, but professional athletes, models, and rehabilitation patients. The discipline is beneficial to everybody: young, old, in-shape, and out-of- shape. And it can work for you as well.

As with any new fitness regimen, it is critical to be taught by a qualified professional. In Rochester you can find that training at Innerworks, LLC. Founded nearly 10 years ago, this is the only studio in Rochester that specializes in both Pilates and Gyrotonic classes.

ROCHESTER RESOURCE: Addison Heffernan is the Director of Innerworks, LLC, and was certified by Juliu Horvath. His background also includes teaching at the American Ballet Theatre in New York City and at the Rochester Institute of Technology. He currently teaches kinesiology at SUNY Brockport. Innerworks is located at: 277 N. Goodman Street, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 242-4810.