What is the
GYROTONIC® method?
What is the GYROTONIC® method?
The Gyrotonic Method is a unique movement method that combines elements of yoga, dance, gymnastics, tai chi, and swimming. It was developed by Juliu Horvath, a former ballet dancer, in the 1980s.
The method involves performing a series of exercises on specially designed equipment known as the Gyrotonic Expansion System. The equipment consists of a pulley tower, which features weighted pulleys, rotational discs, and an adjustable bench or seat.
The Gyrotonic Method aims to increase strength, flexibility, coordination, and overall body awareness. It focuses on fluid, circular movements that engage multiple muscle groups simultaneously. The exercises are designed to create balanced and coordinated movements, enhance joint mobility, and improve spinal alignment.
The Gyrotonic Method is suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels. It can be customized to meet individual needs and goals, making it beneficial for rehabilitation, athletic conditioning, stress reduction, and general fitness.
Practitioners of the Gyrotonic Method often describe it as a holistic movement system that not only enhances physical fitness but also promotes mental and emotional well-being. It emphasizes breath control, mindfulness, and the connection between the mind and body.
It's worth noting that while the Gyrotonic Method can provide numerous benefits, it is always advisable to seek guidance from a certified Gyrotonic instructor to ensure proper technique and safety.
To schedule GYROTONIC®, contact:
Pam Blangy, (346) 337-1394, pam@pilatesandmotion.com
Gail Cerruti, (413) 822-7105, Gentlephysicaltherapy@gmail
Shari Sala, (713) 248-4211
Mallory Mehaffey, (832) 686-2205, malmal095@mac.com
Chris Travis, (832) 721-5198, traviscj2@gmail.com
To schedule GYROKINESIS®, contact:
Pam Blangy, (346) 337-1394, pam@pilatesandmotion.com
Shari Sala, (713) 248-4211
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Is Hanna Somatics painful?We always aim for you to be in as much comfort as possible. Since this is brain-education work, the more gently you do your Hanna Somatics movements, the more effective will be. If you are experiencing pain during a session, just let your practitioner know and he/she can modify the way you are working to increase your comfort and ease.
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What can I expect in a Somatics session?Sessions are tailored to the unique needs of your body. We start by examining at how your brain is organizing your muscles while you are standing, walking and lying down. Lying on a table in loose clothing, you will be guided through a series of simple, interactive movements designed to help your brain pick up the sensory signals in your muscles. As you move your body, your practitioner will partner with you adding a gentle hands-on process called assisted pandiculation. This unique form of sensory-motor education reawakens your brain’s ability to lengthen and relax your tense muscles.
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Can I do Somatic work in conjunction with other forms of therapeutic work or medical treatment?Absolutely. A powerful modality in its own right, Somatic exercises also enhances the effectiveness of other forms of bodywork, including improving the body’s ability to hold chiropractic adjustments.
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Are individual Somatics sessions really enough to make a difference?Yes and no. In your individual sessions, your practitioner will be continually evaluating your progress. Your individual session work will give your body the new sensory feedback it needs to break out of chronic muscles tension patterns. However, your body needs this fresh sensory feedback on a daily basis for your Somatics work to have a lasting effect. Your practitioner sends you home with movements to help you carry on the Hanna Somatics process between sessions. These are movements that you will be able to use for the rest of your life to help your body relax and your muscles to soften and lengthen.
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Can Somatics help me even if I’ve been in pain for many, many years?If your chronic pain is being caused by unconscious bracing or a habit of tensing from stress, it is never too late. Even if you have experienced pain or limited mobility for decades, sensory-motor amnesia is not a permanent condition. Most forms of therapeutic work rely on a practitioner manipulating your joints or tissues while you are passive. With Somatics, you are actively and consciously engaging in the process of re-awakening your brain’s ability to relax your muscles. Given the right conditions, it is never too late to re-program the way your brain is communicating with your muscles!
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How does muscle tension become chronic?Muscles can become chronically tight from physical and emotional stress, bracing after injury, surgery or trauma, or from holding certain postures (ex: computer work, playing musical instruments, etc) for extended periods. When our muscles remain tight, it means the sensory-motor cortex (the part of our brain that controls sensation and movement) has lost the ability to pick up sensory signals from our muscles. This prevents us from being able to voluntarily relax our muscles. Our muscle tension becomes reflexive – they keep firing (or tensing) on their own without our conscious awareness or ability to control them. This is known as Sensory-Motor Amnesia (SMA). It means the dialogue between your brain and muscles has become confused.
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What is the relationship between chronic muscle tension and chronic pain?When your muscles remain tight, they compress your joints and nerves, and pull your body out of alignment. Chronically tight muscles do not function the way they’re supposed to. So your body compensates by recruiting other surrounding muscles to help out. Your body is then overworking in two ways: tight muscles overwork because they cannot relax; helping muscles are doing their own job plus a job they are not designed for. As a result, your body is working both harder and less efficiently than it should ~ causing pain.
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What is Somatic Education?Somatics consists of gentle, interactive hands-on work, movement sequences and sensory awareness training that increases brain-muscle coordination and triggers tight muscles to relax. Somatics can help you eliminate or reduce habitual, muscle tension in your body, speed recovery from injuries and surgeries, and increase stability, flexibility and comfort in your body, especially as you age.