Gyrotonic: Real Workout or a Whole Lot of Hype?

We know the name sounds funky, but exercising Gyrotonic® style has hooked more than the likes of Madonna and Teri Hatcher. Women across the country are raving about the workout in which yoga meets the machine. We talked to women who have tried it for themselves at New York City's Circular Power Inc. studio. Hear what they think, and say it with us: Gy-ro-ton-ic.

Rave Reviews
Kat, a dance teacher in her mid-40s, first opted to take a Gyrotonic class as "cross-training for ballet." She says she has "been dancing for so many years, it no longer stimulated the muscles." Now, she is so enamored with the workout that she sometimes takes an extra session as a gift to herself. She says she'll even cancel a hair appointment just to fit in another class.

Gyrotonic is often compared to yoga and Pilates, but the women who have tried the new system say it's far from being a lesser stepsister. In fact, it has a focus on flexibility that many prefer. For instance, Toby, a 37-year-old research analyst, has been a devoted Pilates follower for the past eight years. But she admits she's partial to her Gyrotonic class now because it involves more "dance-like moves, as opposed to a linear movement." Toby says she got hooked on the "rotation" and "torquing" (two movements used in the class) because it felt good to stretch her spine and waist while strengthening her body at the same time.

For Becky, a 49-year-old executive recruiter, there was one major difference between the type of yoga she'd been doing and her Gyrotonic class. Although her yoga sessions focused on "relaxation and the whole mind-body connection," her Gyrotonic class required much more actual, well, exercise.

Sharon, a 36-year-old fashion designer who began doing the class as a way to open parts of her body that felt "locked up," says the exercise is complementary to yoga. Yoga, she explains, gradually leads up to twisting and stretching movements, whereas you dive right into them in the Gyrotonic system.

For some women, Gyrotonic acts as a form of physical therapy. Becky had consistent complaints of lower back pain that led her friend to suggest the new workout as a possible cure. For her, the class's emphasis on "opening your body and increasing flexibility" has allowed her more physical freedom, such as being able to turn her body in directions it could not have gone before.

No matter the reason women get into Gyrotonic, Sharon explains they love it because "it feels so good." Even first-timers can walk out of a session feeling lighter in their joints and more energetic.

Before You Go
Thinking of trying it out? Women who've done it say there are a couple of caveats you should know. First, finding a well-trained teacher at a reputable Gyrotonic studio is essential. "It's like anything ‑- check out where you're going," Becky cautions. Also, the class is "not your basic aerobic workout," she says, so you will still need to find an exercise that gets your heart rate going.

Additionally, Gyrotonic comes with a hefty price tag. Because of the unique machinery used in the class, it cannot be performed at home without buying the equipment, and even in the gym, you must be trained on the machines before going at it solo. Private sessions typically cost $50 to $85 each. Many women take only one class a week, but if the cost were less, they say, they would come more often.

Bring a Buddy
Despite the cost, women are still proclaiming Gyrotonic the new "it" exercise. When Kat's students ask how she stays so fit, she points them in the direction of the Gyrotonic system. And other women aren't keeping their workout wonder a secret either. They're bringing their friends and family in on the fun. "My mother is on the verge of coming," Toby says.

To find out more about Circular Power Inc.'s Gyrotonic sessions, visit www.circularpower.com