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Is anyone doing this? It's something I've been wanting to try for awhile...

JILL BARKER - Montreal Gazette, 01.29.02:
[url=http://www.canada.com/montreal/montrealgazette/story.asp?id={A52B3920-14BF-4A0B-9380-6735BC680E83}]more...[/url]

<small>[ 27 June 2003, 08:14 AM: Message edited by: Stuart Sweeney ]</small>

Gyrontonics came up in this thead in May, 2000:<P><A HREF="http://216.97.99.198/ubb/Forum7/HTML/000027.html" TARGET=_blank><B>"cross training" for dancers</B></A><P>...but a follow up thread has since disappeared...<P>Originally posted by trina on 05-21-2000 02:51 PM<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><BR>While waiting for the gyrotonics website to get clarified..I thought I would give my own personal account. I studied gyrotonics in Seattle for about a year a half. There is a studio there called "White Cloud"...I believe there are other white cloud studios throughout the world...in Europe, New York, I think australia. Gryotonics is sometimes confused with Pilates. Anyway, gryotonics was invented by a Romanian gymnast/dancer named Juliu Horvath. He wanted to build a strength training technique which would stretch and strengthen at the same time. The training is done on apparatus (although there is also white cloud yoga, which is complementary technqiue)which is all hand made wood apparatus--beautiful to look at. The movement on the apparatus is 3 dimensional (mostly circular) resistance training which incorporates movement from yoga, biking, swimming and gymanastics. It really "opens up" the joints and the circularity of the movement feels very organic. It also (like Pilates) uses specific breathing technique. I really liked it when I did it--but I tend to have a short attention span when it comes to cross training techniques! Meaning I get bored after a while and try something else...right now I'm exploring yoga, which I'm really loving. But I heartily recommend white cloud/gyrotonics--you don't have to be a dancer to do it---I know of interior designers, health care professionals, stay-at home moms who all used gyrotonics. <BR><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P> <p>[This message has been edited by Marie (edited January 29, 2002).]

Yea, we've been doing it for the past two days.<P>Instead of the wooden machine, we're using lengths of (stretchy) surgical tubing, tied to barres. That's certainly a lot cheaper.<P>The only problem is we only have PORTABLE barres. We put 4 people on each barre, two at each end, with the ropes forming a 45-degree angle (looking down from the top) to the barre. In theory, if the people on each side do exactly the same thing at the same time, the barre will never tip over. It works pretty well in practice because of the 45-degree angles.<BR><p>[This message has been edited by citibob (edited January 29, 2002).]

Yes. There is a White Cloud in Co. I started with it a couple of years ago. The equipment is truly functionally beautiful, and fascinating to work with. There are some very good advantages to working with this equipment. On the other hand, sometimes it's nice not to have to depend on any equipment. I think Trina might agree with me on that! I'm not doing it much now, due to time constraints and financial considerations, but I keep in touch with the instructors there, what with my own work in Pilates and yoga. They're nice people!

I must revise my statement. What we're doing uses apparatus similar in function to that pictured. But when I asked my AD today if we were doing Gyrotonics, he said "no".<BR>

Right Citibob. Just like Pilates, gyrotonics must be done on specifically designed equipment, taught by a certified instructor. After it's learned, it can be done independently, but ideally there will always be a teacher around to spot and correct you, just like dance class.

So Gyrotonics, like Pilates or Montessori, is more than a form of exercise? It's also a trademark, a brand name?<P>Contrast to ballet, which is not a brand name: there is a diversity in what we call "ballet", although you can be a certified "Ceccetti", "Balanchine" or "RAD" instructor.<P>In that sense, what we're doing is certainly NOT Gyrotonics. But that still leaves open the question of whether the goals of what we're doing are SIMILAR or DIFFERENT from Gyrotonics. And also whether the methods are similar or different.<BR>

Pilates is not a trademark. It is the name of the man who developed the work. He did not trademark his name. Someone tried to trademark the name recently. He lost his suit in court. It is used descriptively for the work. I believe gyrotonics is trademarked.<BR>I find these methods' purposes to be more alike than different. Some variations on a theme, if you will.

Maggie is quite correct. Pilates just recently went through recent legal brouhaha, and a judge ruled that genercic exercise (not the exact words, but close enough)cannot be trademarked. As far as I know,though, gyrotonics is trademarked. You must go through a specific training, under the supervision of Mr. Horvath, to teach gyrotonics. I find the goals or shall I say, focus of yoga, Pilates and gyrotonics to be very similar. I have done all three; Pilates the least, though. They all build core strength and an overall balanced musculature. They all emphasize specific breath patterns during the performance of the movements. They all seek to build strength AND flexibility. They accomplish these goals utilizing different tools and techniques.

<B>Gyrotonics puts muscle in yoga</B><BR>By KIE RELYEA for The Bellingham Herald <P><BR>Elizabeth Fletcher Brown needed a way to get back into shape - and quickly - when she resumed dancing after years of being away. <P>Claire Mintier, who joked that she was "getting soft" because of a new job in management, was searching for an exercise program that worked for her age and body type. <P>They both found it in the basement of a Bellingham building, on equipment that looks more like the stuff of nightmares - pulleys and leather straps - than the promise of a good workout.<P><A HREF="http://news.bellinghamherald.com/stories/20020220/FrontPage/89004.shtml" TARGET=_blank><B>click for more</B></A><BR>

How great! Kristin Carpenter is a friend, and she was my gryrotonics teacher here in Seattle, when she taught at another studio. She now lives in Bellingham, WA and has opened her own studio up there. (Bellingham is about 2 hrs. north of Seattle). It's good to see that some of these alterntive techniques are making their way out of the big cities. Note: Kristin Carpenter is the only person I know who is certified to teach both gyrotonics and Pilates!!

Road Test: Cool Options For Hot Workouts
Five New York City dancers try out exercise programs to boost their technique. From Pointe Magazine. Here's the first:

Gyrotonics

Dancer: Cheryl Sladkin
Instructor: Tony Morales

Cheryl Sladkin, a freelance dancer who was born in Thailand, trained at the Washington School of Ballet and currently works with DanceGalaxy, among others. Having tried many body conditioning techniques, she was curious about Gyrotonics. “I noticed a difference in the first ballet class I took after my first workout,” says Sladkin.

click for more

Just wondering how many sessions of Gyrotonic per week would be necessary to see any major benefit - would one session a week have much effect?

Its good to know that Gyrotonic is getting so much talk!
First lets clarify a few new details about it.
The correct name is GYROTONIC (registered as such with the "r" trademark). There are 2 parts (at this time) to it. Gyrotonic is a system which uses various machines with set exercises. The "yoga" version is called Gyrokinesis, the exercises are similar to those done on the machines except without the machines for added resistance and support.
There are levels in both systems, which over time one can learn should they choose to continue.
If you want more info of Juliu Horvath (the creator) and the system go to: GYROTONIC.com, it lists ALL studios, all over the world and gives you the story of Juliu and how it began.

White Cloud was the name of the original studio in NYC and is what the system was originally called.

Gyrotonic is recognized in Germany as a "VALID" form of physical therapy and is being used in hospitals over there. I believe that Juliu's brother is the person taking care of that.

The system is a GREAT way for dancers to cross train. I first found out about it 20 yrs ago but had little money to practice it and so could not delve into it as I wanted. I finally began to learn it 5 years ago to help get over a major spinal/pelvic injury. I needed physical therapy at first and my Physical therapist said it was safe for me to perform Gyrotonic as long as I only did certain things at first, mostly for strength and stability. When I had finished my PT I continued with Gyrotonic and at a check up they found me stronger and more balanced than they thought, in a short amount of time. I wasn't even doing it everyday! It allowed me to continue dancing for a lot longer than I expected, I was in so much pain I thought I was going to have to leave/retire from the business!
It is also a great way for a dancer to make a transition into a new career if they are interested in this kind of work. I have only seen the benefits to my body, mind and spirit from having found this system. I am certified in both techniques (just last month in Gyrokinesis). I highly recommend this system not just to injured or professional dancers but students and "everyday people" as well. Its like preventive medicine with the addition of early education & knowledge of how the body works. It is a liberating and opening system that can be used on many levels: physical, spiritual or just for plain fun. One of Juliu's motto's is:

"Don't work out, Play in"

Its the best way to describe it. This system is for anyone at any age with healthy or not so healthy bodies. It is endless good!!!
Hope you'll try it out if its near you!