Gyrotonic ®
Currently being hailed as Yoga for the 21st century, it is best described as a mixture of yoga, tai chi, gymnastics and dance. Invented by Juliu Horvath, a renowned Romanian ballet dancer, it uses three dimensional, circular movements on hand crafted wooden equipment with friction, spring and weight resistance, while employing yoga breathing techniques. Although there are several machines, the Gyrotonic ® tower is the machine most commonly used.
Juliu became injured during his dancing career and tried all sorts of therapies but to no avail. He then set about working on this own body, developing his own system of exercise which completely healed his problems.
He brought the method back to the States where he taught mat classes to dancers and actors.From then on he began to develop his own machine to assist people in gaining strength and flexibility. There are now fifty studios in New York and three in Aspen whilst others are popping up in Spain, Germany, Italy and Paris.
Gyrotonic ® is fast gaining credibility over in the U.K now thanks to the likes of Madonna and other celebrities practising the method. As Gyrotonic ® is low impact, it is suitable for people with injuries. A wide range of ages and abilities are able to practise the method as there are several levels to the exercises. It is designed to create flexibility and strength and it cleanses the system and detoxifies the body.