WorkingWell

I can’t believe I went back for more, but I did. Nancie was great. She is very physical and very down-to-earth. She studied me very closely as I lay there on the floor of her Gyrotonic® studio. After she tried several exercises with me and monitored my sciatic pain level, she said, in a very matter-of-fact way, ‘You need to trust.’

I was very surprised that she was so straightforward about this. Isn’t that my therapist’s job? But no, Gyrotonic®, like yoga, is all about the mind-body connection. Nancie assured me that I have to trust that I can heal myself.

Back on the floor, She eliminated some of my leg extension exercises and added twists. Twists! The forbidden fruit! Other chiropractors and physical therapists have banned me from twists. But these twists nurtured along by the breath are working for me.

My sciatic pain is down considerably. I feel much more flexible. I am so anxious to get back to yoga and kayaking, but I fear re-injury. Trust/fear/trust. Oh boy.

Gyro Jane

I practiced my exercises diligently. All exercises were done supine with bent knees and all started with the breath. Deep inhales through the nose. Open-mouthed and deep exhales. She said to imagine a football lying length-wise in the abdomen. Squeeze all of the air out of the football on each exhale. Inhale deep into the lower belly while keeping some muscle tone there.

Each GYROTONIC® exercise focused on lengthening the sit bones away and filling and broadening the pelvis and low back with each exhale.

Sadly, my pain was exacerbated during my first week of exercises. I became incredibly frustrated and cried a few times. I’ve always defined myself as an athlete. I’m a yogi and a kayaker, but this winter I am neither. My identity is gone. The pain that resulted from the GYROTONIC floor exercises sent me into a tailspin.

I emailed Nancie and went back for more…

Jane

I went to GYROTONIC Montreal. Nancie Lepore is the trainer there. She is Andrea O’Connor’s teacher and she is a French Canadian firecracker. Her studio is tiny and filled with all kinds of incredible GYROTONIC machines. I could not wait to get on the Tower Expansion System (or whatever it is called). But no, she started me on the floor.

Breath exercises. of all things! I must say, I was a bit disappointed, I must say, but half-way through the hour-long session I had the warm feeling of pumping blood into my spine. I actually felt that my spine lengthened. It was an incredible feeling.

GYROTONIC makes all kinds of claims. I started to believe them

Jane

In yoga philosophy, Shiva and Shakti are the masculine and feminine manifestations of the One Divine. Shiva is the power of creation and destruction. Shakti is joy, compassion, welfare and solace.

I can muse about Shiva as the structure of things. Like my house. A strong structure (I hope as it is an old house), a holding space for elements of my life. And I think of Shakti as that which makes my house a home. It’s the joy and compassion that I weave into my home life.

The house can be the Universe, of perfect design, and the home is the little web that I spin in a corner of the Universe, my free will.

So in spinning this week, I want to make a beautiful web. One that reflects the radiance of light and holds the softness of dew drops

GYROTONIC® Journey.

I subscribe to an online word-of-the-day. Some days it’s just educational. Other days, like today, it’s an electronic I-Ching. Today’s word is halcyon. I choose to base my life today on the last from the list of definitions: marked by peace and prosperity; as “halcyon years.”

This morning I wake and do the back exercises prescribed for me by the physical therapist. This morning, like every morning, I’m optimistic that today will be the day I start to make progress healing my herniated disk. A bad bingo game, the rupture at L5 - S1, torments me everyday with sciatic pain and prevents me from doing all the things I love: Anusara Yoga, kayaking, hiking. But today is different, even if my back pain isn‘t.

Today I start on my Gyrotonic® journey! Today I go to a master GYROTONIC trainer who assures me that gyrotonic exercise can help me heal my low back. She is so confident that the GYROTONIC® method works, she brags about a patient whose disk healed and was able to return playing hockey - A terrific testament to the healing effects of GYROTONIC therapy.

I wonder how a healing methodology designed for dancers by Juliu Horvath, a Hungarian ballet dancer turned healer and exercise guru, can send a hockey player back to the ice. I hope that it’s a true story. Seeking to heal my low back and start a new career as a GYROTONIC Movement Therapist, I’ve put a lot of eggs into this GYROTONIC basket.

Jane

Welcome to Working Well! No it’s not a drink, but it is very refreshing: it’s yoga and GYROTONIC® movement therapy.

Anusara yoga is a hatha yoga system based on principles of alignment. The GYROTONIC® method is an exercise program that stretches and strengthens muscles and tendons. Both use breathing and movement to create health and vitality. And they are both fun!

This blog will explore, demystify, educate, cajole, and inspire you to participate in improving your health and well-being. You can be better, stronger, faster. But you can also be happier and healthier.

Your body has an optimal blue print for well-being. Anusara Yoga and GYROTONIC movement can bring you back into yours. I look forward to helping you improve your health and happiness.

Bliss,
Andrea O’Connor