The word Gyro means circular or turn and kinesis means movement or activity. The Gyrokinesis Method is usually well-practiced on a mat and chair, without any machine or equipment. Therefore, without the feedback and guidance of the right equipment, students in a Gyrokinesis session are more dependent on their understanding of the body movements. Gyrokinesis is considered as designed to increase your range of motion, strength, and movement efficiency.
In Gyrokinesis, movement patterns and rehab exercises gently work on the joints and muscles through rhythmic and undulating exercises. The physical postures are gently and smoothly connected through the use of breath. This makes exercises appear and feel more like a dance than the yoga practice.
If you check the Pilates, the focuses will be on key alignment issues. It uses your muscular, skeletal, and nervous systems simply to re-educate movement patterns within the body. The Gyrotonic System focuses on your muscles, fascia, skeletal and nervous systems as well as your entire energetic body. Gyrotonic classes are usually conducted as private sessions or in a small group class.
Let us see what is the peculiarity of the Gyrotonic System. Gyrotonic is considered a unique system of exercise that usually incorporates movement principles from yoga, t’ai chi, dance, gymnastics, and swimming. This kind of Gyrotonic System is usually made as part of a wooden frame. This setup allows the exerciser to strengthen their muscles through a specific exercise that can be incorporating circular and spiraling movement patterns.
Hence Fitness researchers have found that Gyrotonic System is a complete system of effective exercising:
- Articulates your joints,
- Improves the flow of energy through the physical body,
- Stimulates acupuncture pressure points,
- Builds up the stamina and the strength and
- Improves the health of the whole body.
The Gyrokinesis Method is a movement method (which usually circular or turns):
- Which addresses the entire physical body,
- Opening the energy pathways,
- Stimulating the nervous system,
- Increasing the range of motion, and
- Developing and creating functional strength through rhythmic, flowing movement sequences.
The machine part which is The GYROTONIC EXPANSION SYSTEM® was developed by Romanian-born Hungarian Juliu Horvath. Juliu Horvath was born in 1942 in a small town Temesvar, in Romania. Juliu’s love for movement was apparent from the time when he was a small child who later designed this Gyrotonic System.
The history of Gyrotonic is interesting. Initially, Gyro was practiced seated on a chair or mat, without any equipment, and called “Gyrokinesis.” Then, the creator Juliu Horvath designed a simple machine with a pulley system. And he made this machine to mimic your body’s natural movement, which became Gyrotonic. This machine helps people learn the complicated movement pathways, and provides resistance to build strength. But at the same time, there are tons of Gyrokinesis exercises one can do without the machine also.
Most of the Gyrotonic and Gyrokinesis classes in Europe and America are unique forms of exercise devised by Julio Horvath from Hungary. The system was developed and structured using key movement principles from yoga, Tai Chi, gymnastics, dance, and swimming. Gyrotonic and Gyrokinesis will enhance structural fitness, range of joint and muscle motion, coordination, and strength while achieving grace and the mind-body connection.
Both Gyrotonic and Gyrokinesis classes aim to balance the chakras and re-energize the body systems. The main benefits are:
- It promotes the flow of Chi (energy) through the body, including the organs and the nervous system.
- This is usually achieved by stimulating the flow of blood and lymph and correcting dysfunctional patterns of the muscular and skeletal systems.
- A key benefit of Gyrotonic System is that which is assisted by a machine, and
- In Gyrokinesis, which is often performed in a group, there is the release of excessive tension which often inhibits functional movement.
The immensity of exercising using The Gyrotonic System during pregnancy provides the perfect system for the pre partum or postpartum woman by relieving fatigue, lower back strain, and constipation. Fitness Professionals recommend Gyrotonic System for prenatal preparation and postpartum recovery. Fitness professionals design a fabulous delivery program with more modified exercises with specific issues as and when it arises to support the mother and baby in the transition into motherhood.
Most of the people who are rehabbing certain injuries turn to Gyrotonic because it’s smooth, gentle, and graceful, and can even help to break down scar tissue. The technique very well builds on systematically and gently works the joints and muscles through rhythmic and undulating exercises. The circular movements can stimulate internal organs at the same time different breathing patterns are integrated. The researchers of Gytonics suggested seven natural elements of spinal movements, such as 1) forward, 2) backward, 3) left side, 4) right side, 5) left twist, 6) right twist and 7) circular movement.
The Gyrotonic system is designed to work with a performer’s specific requirements and help them to be less prone to stress and injury so that the system allows a performer not only to achieve freedom of movement but also to increase the range of body motion. Gyrotonic training develops a performer’s physical and mental abilities by emphasizing joint articulation and integrating movements with the corresponding breathing patterns.
Both Gyrotonic system and Gyrokinesis Do:
- Strengthens and tones the abdominal muscles.
- Elongates the musculature and helps to shape the body.
- Improves stability, balance, coordination, and neuro muscular control.
- Increases stamina with little or minimal impact on the joints.
- Opens up energy centers and relieves the energetic stagnation.
- A smooth invigorating and pain-free workout.
Then, next is the nonavailability of good teachers. Need to travel far and not locally available. Gyrotonic classes are not available in groups since the machines are so big. Hence it is not sociable. One must choose Gyrokinesis if they want group classes and enjoy the company of exercising in a group.
Initially, it will take time to understand the movements of the machine and coordinate with that. It can be frustrating and confusing. But relax and try to understand the same. You need to give yourself much time to see your body change as you learn the different moves with patience.