Gyrotonics & Gyrokinesis

Gyrotonics and Gyrokinesis are exercise and movement systems that were developed by an injured dancer to rehabilitate himself from injuries he sustained while dancing, but you don't have to be a dancer or injured to benefit from the training. Gyrokinesis is done without machines, and Gyrotonics is with machines, so a personal trainer is required for safety and to ensure that you are performing the movements correctly. The movements are more elliptical than linear and they make you move your body in ways that stretch out muscles not usually affected by regular gym work-outs. If you like Pilates, you will enjoy and be challenged by Gyrotonics.

I had a personal session with Tavi Stutz (who has worked with Cirque du Soleil performers) at In-Spiraling Movement Arts . A good instructor will make the difference between being frustrated, and excelling, so make sure you have a trainer you like when you start. I had tried sessions with another trainer, but Tavi made my sessions fun. He explained the intentions behind the movements, understood how to correct my uncoordinated faux pas, and encouraged me to try it again (and again). The movements are easy to do, but challenging to do correctly (like shooting a basketball toward the basket is easy, but getting the ball into the basket, not so easy). I felt looser and more relaxed after my session, like after a good yoga class.

If you have any chronic pain or are challenged by any injuries, try this type of movement. It's not a sweaty fast paced exercise, so if you are looking for something like a spinning class, go somewhere else. However, if you love to dance, or simply like making fluid movements with your body, you owe it to yourself to try Gyrotonics. In some countries like Switzerland, Gyrotonics is actually covered by their health insurance! Maybe everyone will do gyrotonics here one day because their insurance requires it, or simply because it feels better to move through life with ease and fun!