Gyrokinesis at Kinespirit
Fitness NYC, March, 2009

This week I tried a new class: Cardio Gyrokinesis at Kinespirit. Typically, I have some idea what I am in for when I take a class, this is was not the case for gyrokinesis. I read about Kinespirit on VJD a few weeks ago, and was pretty curious as to what a class that blended yoga, pilates, dance and tai chi would be like.

I went to the studio only knowing what I could find on the Kinespirit website, which wasn’t much, but that made it more exciting in a way.

The Madison Park studio was basically a very open loft, very calm and zen. The front desk was just a desk, so there was no pretention of some of the other upscale studios in the city.

In the front were really large Gyrotonic Tower machines, kind of like big pilates reformer machines. Kinespirit decribes Gyro as: a three-dimensional exercise taught on unique weight and pulley based equipment (pictured at right). Founded by Juliu Horvath, in the principles of yoga, dance, tai chi, and swimming, Gyrotonic training is a series of circular and fluid exercises that works the entire body through muscular, skeletal, and cardiovascular stimulation.

In the middle of the studio was a little seating area with tea, water, MAGAZINES and seating, plus some chocolate. Huge points for cozy factor and chocolate.

In the back of the studio was a small space for mat classes and pilates reformer machines. You can see Rachel Ray trying it out for her show here.

There were a few people taking private gyrotonic lessons. And one girl taking a private pilates reformer lesson when I arrived.

The class I took , Cardio Gyrokinesis, is in its infantcy at the studio, and it was just me and one other person, the instructor and another studio instructor.

The class took place on a chair, mat and standing. The main portion of the class was on the chair using flowing motions to align the body and strength the muscles. I would say the class was closest to pilates, but had the body awareness and presence of yoga. Unlike most yoga classes, my mind never wandered, and I never got bored. It was definitely engaging, although I felt a little silly doing some of the moves.

I am not sure if I would really consider the class cardio because my heart rate never got up to high, but it was definitely a killer ab workout-surpisingly intense actually. Sitting on the chair circling your legs just off the ground really torches up the stomach muscles. We moved from the chair to standing to do some squats integrating large circling arm motions and spirals. The flowing nature of the movements really allowed me to stretch out my tight muscles–huge bonus.

After another round of chair-based exercies, we hit the mat for pilates-like toning moves that like in yoga and pilates really got some heat going in my legs and abs.

We ended the class with some turning and then rapid blinking to “re-enter the world.” That was a little weird.

Overall I think this class is a little more my style than yoga. If you have a short attention span, there isn’t a lot of repetition, you move from one thing to the next fairly quickly. I can see why it would be good for dancers-allignment, elongation, but it is not really what I would consider dance based. I can see myself doing it once a week to stretch, allign and center myself. But it is definitely a supplement to a workout regimen, it really isn’t enough cardio or even enough strength on its own.

In addition to the mat classes Kinespirit offers the Gyro Tower and Pilates Reformer class which I actually find even more intriguing. I may have to try those next. The studio is definitely affordable by NYC standards, plus due to its small size you get lots of personal attention.

So what are the benefits of Gyrotonics and Gryokensis?

I can not really attest to anything from one class, but according to the studio:

Core Benefits

• Promotes strong, lean muscles
• Increases flexibility, coordination, and balance
• Enhances joint mobility and articulation
• Frees the body of pain and restrictions
• Increases circulation of blood, lymphatic fluids, and energy
• Strengthens the nervous system
• Compliments/supplements physical therapy and other rehabilitative body work
• Helps prevents osteoporosis
• Helps to slow the aging process through mental and physical stimulation and regeneration
• Promotes spine and joint articulation and mobilization
• Increases muscular contraction, extension, flexibility, and coordination
• Increases circulation of blood, lymphatic fluids, and energy
• Improves elimination and absorption
• Compliments traditional cardiovascular activity and cross-training
• Provides a mobile workout that can be easily performed while at home, office, or traveling
• Increases body awareness