Picture this. You wake up in the morning, and with a really big yawn, you reach out with your full body and stretch your limbs. That early morning stretch can feel amazing. It can be both energizing and like a massage all in one.

Now imagine that you could access a fitness class that is full of that feeling. A class that would simultaneously feel that great and bring mobility to your joints while building strength and ease of movement. That fitness class is Gyrokinesis movement, and I’m here to share more about this movement method that I love so much.

What Is Gyrokinesis Exercise?

Gyrokinesis exercise falls under the larger umbrella of the GYROTONIC EXPANSION SYSTEM®. This exercise system was developed by Juliu Horvath as a way to heal himself and regain his strength and agility after a dance injury that affected his whole body.

The Gyrotonic Method uses specialized equipment to guide the movements and add resistance. Gyrokinesis exercise uses the same movement principles, but is practiced on a stool, mat, or standing without equipment. In a Gyrokinesis class, you’ll explore movement sequences using just your own body.

The Gyrokinesis method articulates the joints and works the entire body through six natural elements of spinal movement:

• Extension – This looks and feels like arching your back.
• Flexion – The opposite of extension – when your spine curves forward.
• Side Bend or Lateral Flexion – When you tilt your head toward your shoulder and bend your body sideways.
• Rotation or Spiral – Your shoulders and upper body turn one direction while your hips and lower body head the other way to create a gentle twist through your spine.
• Lateral Glide – Without twisting, the shoulders and ribs will shift to one side while the hips stay centered.
• Circumduction – All these motions come together when we circle our spine in a fluid movement.

In addition to increasing mobility and building a strong musculoskeletal system, all of these movements stimulate the body’s internal organs, fluids, glands, muscles, and bones. Any one posture will not be held for long periods of time. Instead, they are smoothly and harmoniously connected through the use of breath, making exercises appear and feel more like a dance or swimming.

What Are Some of the Benefits of Gyrokinesis Exercise?

All that information is a lot to take in, right? There are many technicalities that go into these movements making them incredibly effective. Your instructor gets to take care of all that for you.

You get to follow along and move your body in ways that will feel wonderful while reaping some pretty incredible benefits. When you practice the Gyrokinesis method regularly, these are some of the benefits you will enjoy.

Gyrokinesis exercise:

• Promotes strong muscles.
• Increases flexibility, coordination, and balance by allowing the forces of movement to transfer evenly throughout the body.
• Enhances joint mobility and articulation to help avoid injury as we age.
• Frees the body of pain and restrictions, minimizing daily discomfort by decompressing the joints.
• Increases circulation of blood, lymphatic fluids, and energy.
• Strengthens the nervous system by using breath to stimulate movement.
• Helps prevent osteoporosis and improves upright posture.
• Helps to slow the aging process through mental and physical stimulation and regeneration.
• Benefits every aspect of health when all systems of the body are connected and stimulated by movement.

Why Take a Gyrokinesis Class?

Gyrokinesis classes are an efficient, effective, and safe way to increase your flexibility, develop your core, and release tension.

The method has many fans from celebrities and athletes to our very own MOVE Trainers – read why Angela Sutcliffe loves the Gyrokinesis method and see a photo gallery of the movements. Gyrokinesis classes can be adapted to people of all ages with a wide range of abilities from fitness enthusiasts to those just starting out.

We encourage you to see for yourself. Enjoy a free trial of our interactive, livestream classes at MOVE Wellness including a twice weekly Gyrokinesis class.

NOTE: MOVE Wellness’s license for GYROKENISIS® classes only allows the studio to teach “live” classes, either in person or online as a livestream. MOVE Wellness is not allowed to share pre-recorded classes.

What do you know about Gyrokinesis classes? Have you been stretching your body each morning? What do you do to get going for the day? Please share your morning stretching routine!