GYROKINESIS®

In 1970s, Juliu Horvath, a Romanian born ballet dancer developed GYROKINESIS . After personal struggle with pain and injuries, Juliu designed this three-dimensional exercise system, which depending on each movement incorporates a specific breathing pattern. The corresponding breathing patterns in every movement stimulate the nervous system, open up the energy pathways and oxygenate the blood.

The movements are rhythmical and circular. Each movement ends with the beginning of another one. The postures are not held for a long period of time. The corresponding breathing patterns make the movements fluid and free of interruptions. The exercises appear and feel more like a dance than traditional yoga.

The system encompasses many key principles of yoga, tai-chi, ballet, gymnastics, and swimming. It increases the flexibility and strength without any compression of joints and spine.

The beginner class starts by being seated on a stool with warm up movements, what we call "awakening of the senses." This includes learning a self massage routine that will address your fingers, hands, face and feet. It will then continue with gentle and fluid spine movements in all seven natural elements of spine movement: forward, backward, left side bending, right side bending left rotation, right rotation, and circular. The next level is a series of more strenuous exercises on the floor, which includes strengthening and stretching of the arms and shoulders, the entire spine (cervical, thoracic and lumbar), legs and hip joints.

Once the body is stretched and warmed-up, the strengthening exercises for the back and abdominal muscles can begin. The right posture and proper application of the exercise is the key for abdominal muscle exercises so that there is no pressure on the neck and spine. The class will then end with a few minutes of different breathing patterns that help "centralize" the body.