Gyrotonic: The New Mind/Body Wave

Pilates has long been a common name in the exercise community, but in the beginning it was mostly used by dancers and athletes for several decades before it came into the mainstream. So, what about Gyrotonic? This is not a name commonly heard from the lips of trainers and therapists, but it is starting to come into the mainstream as well. Gyrotonic (which is often incorrectly referred to as gyrotonics - with an "s" on the end) is now at a stage where Pilates was in the 1990's. Many have never heard of Gyrotonic, but it is predicted that it will take off in the same way as Pilates did, and it will become the new mind/body wave of the exercise community.

As a physical therapist, I have been exposed to both Pilates and Gyrotonic training. Six years ago was when I first had the opportunity to experience alternative exercise trends, I spent a 6 week period of time learning and eventually teaching and training patients in both Pilates and Gyrotonic. Although there are similarities between the two methods of exercise, they are distinctly different in their core methodology. Pilates is a method of exercise that builds on a philosophy of movement.

Pilates exercises are designed to develop long lean muscles and help align the body, improving posture. Pilates was initially an exercise program on resistance machines which had pulleys, and was later developed into a mat program as well. Similarly, Gyrotonic uses a machine with pulleys and, additionally, a handle unit. Gyrotonic also has a mat-related exercise program named Gyrokinesis. However, Gyrotonic is set apart from Pilates and other mind/body disciplines such as Yoga, by it's focus on rotational motion. Gyrotonic pulls it's exercise elements from Pilates, Yoga, dance/ballet, swimming and even martial arts. Spinal fluidity is an important element in Gyrotonic exercises. The rotational motion during the exercises allows the spine to move in a wave-like motion, increasing spinal fluidity and mobility of the body.