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Gyrontonic
The latest exercise craze combines dance and yoga.
By Christopher TrelaPublished: March 17, 2005
First it was yoga, then Pilates. Now, a new health trend called Gyrotonic has become the latest rage at rehabilitation centers, dance studios, and fitness facilities around the world. Celebrities such as Madonna, Tiger Woods and Katarina Witt are singing its praises, and it’s easy to see why.
Created by Juliu Horvath after an injury to his Achilles tendon ended his career as principal dancer with Houston Ballet, Gyrotonic combines the principles of yoga, dance, gymnastics, swimming and tai-chi into a simple workout that provides strength training, flexibility and coordination.
A combination of the Latin words gyro (circular) and tonic (toning), Gyrotonic stretches and strengthens muscles while simultaneously stimulating and strengthening connective tissues in and around the joints of the body. Specific exercises are done on specially designed equipment a pulley tower unit that looks more like a Medieval rack than a fitness machine which offers total freedom in movement, no restriction to speed and versatility, and enhances rather than distracts from coordination, strength and flexibility.
These exercises are synchronized with corresponding breathing patterns to enhance aerobic and cardiovascular stimulation and promote neuromuscular rejuvenation. The motion patterns are natural, turbulence free and pure with no interruption, creating a bridge between contraction and extension through the rotating movement of the joints, resulting in a balanced support system for the skeleton.
“Most traditional exercises are linear, but this is more of a feeling of fluidity and circular motion,” explains Leslie Bergey, a Gyrotonic instructor at Body Design in Newport Beach, a women’s athletic and wellness center that also welcomes men for Gyrotonic and Pilates classes. “Gyrotonic helps the functionality of the spine. A lot of athletes and dancers are doing it, and they love it. It’s also great for older people who don’t exercise as vigorously as regular athletes they love it for the stretching. The point is to walk out of here feeling like you’re taller, have more space in your joints, are elongated, and have good posture.”
Proper posture is an obvious result of Gyrotonic, says Bergey. She has a client whose horseback riding instructor noticed she was sitting taller in the saddle than normal and asked what she had been doing to improve her posture. Upon learning that Gyrotonic was responsible, the instructor came to Body Design to check it out for herself.
Bergey, a dancer and athlete, was herself converted to Gyrotonic after trying pilates and wondering what else was available to help her stretch her body.
“I got on this machine and said oh my gosh, this is it,” says Bergey. “It felt so right and it resonated with my body.”
Wide range of benefits
Anyone can benefit from Gyrotonic, says Bergey. She has many golfers who swear their swing has improved since trying Gyrotonic, while other clients such as Judy Cwiertnia do it to stay flexible and stabilize the spine.
“For those of us over 50, it’s so important to keep the spine flexible. As I age, I want to lengthen my spine,” notes Cwiertnia, who has been taking Gyrotonic classes for nearly five years. “I do Pilates and ballet, but Gyrotonic takes it to a while new level it works the muscles in a different way.”
Cwiertnia says she does a Gyrotonic workout once a week at Body Design, and describes the experience as an “adult playground.”
“There is no set plan with Gyrotonic,” says Bergey. “Everyone comes in with a different body and a different goal and a different set of problems, or even no problems. One person might need more opening in the upper body, another might need more strength in their legs, and this system can give all that.”
“When you’re learning, you go slow and smooth, which is good because you can feel the stretching,” continues Bergey. “Once you get the choreography down, it becomes more of an aerobic exercise so you get the cardio, the stretching and the muscle toning.”
Bergey was trained on the Gyrotonic equipment in New York and San Francisco with master trainers. She did her final training and certification with Horvath.
She says most clients do one-on-one training with her anywhere from once a week to several times a week. Semi-private sessions are also available. This equipment can only be used with an instructor, which ensures proper form and use, but home versions of the Towers are available and range in price from $900 to $1,400.
For more information go to www.gyrotonic.com. OCM
Christopher Trela reports on health and fitness.
Creating Gyrotonic
Juliu Horvath, a Hungarian, was born and raised in Romania. As a youth, he participated in swimming, gymnastics, rowing and other sports. At age 19 he became interested in classical dance and within a year was dancing principle roles with the Romanian State Opera.
While on tour in Italy in 1970, Horvath defected and stayed in a refugee camp for six months. After receiving political asylum from the United States, he headed to New York, where he did everything from painting houses to dancing on a car in Central Park. After performing with several civic dance troupes, Horvath was noticed by someone in the New York City Opera and was hired as a dancer for their touring company which included such international stars as Margot Fonteyn, Jacques d’ Amboise and Melissa Hayden.
Later, Horvath danced as a guest artist at Radio City Music Hall and then got a job as principal dancer with the Houston Ballet. While with the Houston Ballet, Horvath ruptured his Achilles tendon, which brought his dancing career to a sudden halt.
After the injury, Horvath indulged himself in yoga practice. He moved to St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands where he built a humble dwelling in the mountains and continued an intensive study and practice of yoga. During this time, he discovered the inner workings of the body and developed a system that he called “Yoga for Dancers”, which evolved into a more advanced level he called Gyrokinesis.
Horvath returned to New York in the 1980s and began teaching his Gyrokinesis method in Central Park. When he developed a large enough following, Horvath opened White Cloud Studio. His dream of a machine that would help a dancer achieve a better turn or pirouette became a reality when he created the Gyrotonic Expansion System. OC
STRETCHING: YES OR NO?
Stretching is good for you or is it? Depends on which expert you believe.
The American Council on Exercise says a good dose of stretching should precede and follow just about any exercise routine. They say that stretching, or flexibility training, allows greater freedom of movement and improved posture, increases physical and mental relaxation, releases muscle tension and soreness, and reduces risk of injury.
The council suggests taking a few minutes to warm up, as stretching cold muscles can cause injury. When performing any stretch, start slowly, exhaling as you gently stretch the muscle. Try to hold each stretch for 10 to 30 seconds, and be sure not to hold your breath. Ideally, spend at least 30 minutes, three times per week on flexibility training.
Sounds like good advice, but according to Dr. Stephen Thacker, co-author of a new study that examines the research on stretching, it typically isn’t worth the time or effort.
“It’s not so much that stretching will injure you. It’s that it doesn’t do anything,” he says.
But the views of Thacker and others like him are far from widely accepted, and many exercise experts continue to recommend that athletes and weekend warriors devote some time to stretching.
At issue is whether the stated purpose of stretching to boost flexibility, thus reducing the chance of injury is ever actually accomplished.
Researchers set out to find the answer by examining six previous studies that explored the benefits of stretching.
“What we found was that stretching prior to competition or other physical activity did not prevent injury,” says Thacker, director of the Epidemiology Program Office at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “We also found that stretching prior to activity could have a bad effect. You might not jump as high or run as fast.”
Thacker acknowledges his study didn’t look at two areas where stretching might be beneficial: in the short periods between competitive events and during physical therapy. But the time between competitions doesn’t have much to do with typical exercise, he says.
“That’s not right before you’re going to go run your 5K or play in your basketball game,” he adds.
Overall, the researchers said there isn’t enough firm evidence to recommend stretching or fully reject its usefulness. But they did find plenty of evidence that warming up by actually exercising muscles helps boost flexibility and performance.
“If you’re a jogger, start slow,” Thacker says. “If you’re a golfer, start with some easy golf swings.”
Some activities, such as gymnastics, dance, diving and swimming, seem to require more flexibility, while sports like basketball and volleyball don’t, say researchers.
Bottom line, say researchers: flexibility should be an overall component of your conditioning program.
Try these stretching tips, courtesy of the Women’s Heart Foundation:
• The proper way to stretch is slow and relaxed. Don’t bounce because this can cause you to pull the muscle you’re trying to stretch.
• Don’t overstretch because it might cause damage. Only stretch to the point of mild tension, and ease off if the stretch feels painful.
• Maintain the stretch for a minimum of 15 seconds, without bouncing, and breathe slowly and naturally.
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Created by Juliu Horvath after an injury to his Achilles tendon ended his career as principal dancer with Houston Ballet, Gyrotonic combines the principles of yoga, dance, gymnastics, swimming and tai-chi into a simple workout that provides strength training, flexibility and coordination. A combination of the Latin words gyro (circular) and tonic (toning), Gyrotonic stretches and strengthens muscles while simultaneously stimulating and strengthening connective tissues in and around the joints of the body. Specific exercises are done on specially designed equipment a pulley tower unit that looks more like a Medieval rack than a fitness machine which offers total freedom in movement, no restriction to speed and versatility, and enhances rather than distracts from coordination, strength and flexibility. These exercises are synchronized with corresponding breathing patterns to enhance aerobic and cardiovascular stimulation and promote neuromuscular rejuvenation. The motion patterns are natural, turbulence free and pure with no interruption, creating a bridge between contraction and extension through the rotating movement of the joints, resulting in a balanced support system for the skeleton. “Most traditional exercises are linear, but this is more of a feeling of fluidity and circular motion,” explains Leslie Bergey, a Gyrotonic instructor at Body Design in Newport Beach, a women’s athletic and wellness center that also welcomes men for Gyrotonic and Pilates classes. “Gyrotonic helps the functionality of the spine. A lot of athletes and dancers are doing it, and they love it. It’s also great for older people who don’t exercise as vigorously as regular athletes they love it for the stretching. The point is to walk out of here feeling like you’re taller, have more space in your joints, are elongated, and have good posture.” Proper posture is an obvious result of Gyrotonic, says Bergey. She has a client whose horseback riding instructor noticed she was sitting taller in the saddle than normal and asked what she had been doing to improve her posture. Upon learning that Gyrotonic was responsible, the instructor came to Body Design to check it out for herself. Bergey, a dancer and athlete, was herself converted to Gyrotonic after trying pilates and wondering what else was available to help her stretch her body. “I got on this machine and said oh my gosh, this is it,” says Bergey. “It felt so right and it resonated with my body.” Wide range of benefits Anyone can benefit from Gyrotonic, says Bergey. She has many golfers who swear their swing has improved since trying Gyrotonic, while other clients such as Judy Cwiertnia do it to stay flexible and stabilize the spine. “For those of us over 50, it’s so important to keep the spine flexible. As I age, I want to lengthen my spine,” notes Cwiertnia, who has been taking Gyrotonic classes for nearly five years. “I do Pilates and ballet, but Gyrotonic takes it to a while new level it works the muscles in a different way.” Cwiertnia says she does a Gyrotonic workout once a week at Body Design, and describes the experience as an “adult playground.” “There is no set plan with Gyrotonic,” says Bergey. “Everyone comes in with a different body and a different goal and a different set of problems, or even no problems. One person might need more opening in the upper body, another might need more strength in their legs, and this system can give all that.” “When you’re learning, you go slow and smooth, which is good because you can feel the stretching,” continues Bergey. “Once you get the choreography down, it becomes more of an aerobic exercise so you get the cardio, the stretching and the muscle toning.” Bergey was trained on the Gyrotonic equipment in New York and San Francisco with master trainers. She did her final training and certification with Horvath. She says most clients do one-on-one training with her anywhere from once a week to several times a week. Semi-private sessions are also available. This equipment can only be used with an instructor, which ensures proper form and use, but home versions of the Towers are available and range in price from $900 to $1,400. For more information go to www.gyrotonic.com. OCM Christopher Trela reports on health and fitness. Creating Gyrotonic Juliu Horvath, a Hungarian, was born and raised in Romania. As a youth, he participated in swimming, gymnastics, rowing and other sports. At age 19 he became interested in classical dance and within a year was dancing principle roles with the Romanian State Opera. While on tour in Italy in 1970, Horvath defected and stayed in a refugee camp for six months. After receiving political asylum from the United States, he headed to New York, where he did everything from painting houses to dancing on a car in Central Park. After performing with several civic dance troupes, Horvath was noticed by someone in the New York City Opera and was hired as a dancer for their touring company which included such international stars as Margot Fonteyn, Jacques d’ Amboise and Melissa Hayden. Later, Horvath danced as a guest artist at Radio City Music Hall and then got a job as principal dancer with the Houston Ballet. While with the Houston Ballet, Horvath ruptured his Achilles tendon, which brought his dancing career to a sudden halt. After the injury, Horvath indulged himself in yoga practice. He moved to St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands where he built a humble dwelling in the mountains and continued an intensive study and practice of yoga. During this time, he discovered the inner workings of the body and developed a system that he called “Yoga for Dancers”, which evolved into a more advanced level he called Gyrokinesis. Horvath returned to New York in the 1980s and began teaching his Gyrokinesis method in Central Park. When he developed a large enough following, Horvath opened White Cloud Studio. His dream of a machine that would help a dancer achieve a better turn or pirouette became a reality when he created the Gyrotonic Expansion System. OC STRETCHING: YES OR NO? Stretching is good for you or is it? Depends on which expert you believe. The American Council on Exercise says a good dose of stretching should precede and follow just about any exercise routine. They say that stretching, or flexibility training, allows greater freedom of movement and improved posture, increases physical and mental relaxation, releases muscle tension and soreness, and reduces risk of injury. The council suggests taking a few minutes to warm up, as stretching cold muscles can cause injury. When performing any stretch, start slowly, exhaling as you gently stretch the muscle. Try to hold each stretch for 10 to 30 seconds, and be sure not to hold your breath. Ideally, spend at least 30 minutes, three times per week on flexibility training. Sounds like good advice, but according to Dr. Stephen Thacker, co-author of a new study that examines the research on stretching, it typically isn’t worth the time or effort. “It’s not so much that stretching will injure you. It’s that it doesn’t do anything,” he says. But the views of Thacker and others like him are far from widely accepted, and many exercise experts continue to recommend that athletes and weekend warriors devote some time to stretching. At issue is whether the stated purpose of stretching to boost flexibility, thus reducing the chance of injury is ever actually accomplished. Researchers set out to find the answer by examining six previous studies that explored the benefits of stretching. “What we found was that stretching prior to competition or other physical activity did not prevent injury,” says Thacker, director of the Epidemiology Program Office at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “We also found that stretching prior to activity could have a bad effect. You might not jump as high or run as fast.” Thacker acknowledges his study didn’t look at two areas where stretching might be beneficial: in the short periods between competitive events and during physical therapy. But the time between competitions doesn’t have much to do with typical exercise, he says. “That’s not right before you’re going to go run your 5K or play in your basketball game,” he adds. Overall, the researchers said there isn’t enough firm evidence to recommend stretching or fully reject its usefulness. But they did find plenty of evidence that warming up by actually exercising muscles helps boost flexibility and performance. “If you’re a jogger, start slow,” Thacker says. “If you’re a golfer, start with some easy golf swings.” Some activities, such as gymnastics, dance, diving and swimming, seem to require more flexibility, while sports like basketball and volleyball don’t, say researchers. Bottom line, say researchers: flexibility should be an overall component of your conditioning program. Try these stretching tips, courtesy of the Women’s Heart Foundation: • The proper way to stretch is slow and relaxed. Don’t bounce because this can cause you to pull the muscle you’re trying to stretch. • Don’t overstretch because it might cause damage. Only stretch to the point of mild tension, and ease off if the stretch feels painful. • Maintain the stretch for a minimum of 15 seconds, without bouncing, and breathe slowly and naturally. |
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