“The ultimate aim is to be at home in one’s body, free of pain, unrestricted and uninhibited, and to be one with the nature of one’s self, to be total and fulfilled.” – Juliu Horvath
There’s a moment in the GYROKINESIS® method practice when something magical happens. As I spiraled my spine, allowing each vertebra to articulate one by one, I suddenly felt it—space opening within me. Not just physical space, but energetic space. With each breath, oxygen reached crevices that had been starved, forgotten. The space of my inner landscape seemed to expand, and suddenly, I had room to simply BE.
This sense of pure existence and the continuous, steady flowing rhythm is what draws me again and again to the GYROKINESIS® method. The experience of creating internal spaciousness shifts not just how my body feels, but my overall wellbeing and mood. When I create more space in my body, my heart also opens and flows with it. Life’s circumstances remain the same, but suddenly I have a broader, wider perspective. Like my body, in this more expansive space, breath can flow freely, perspectives widen, and I feel boundless joy—often smiling with satisfaction during practice, simply from pure delight.
For me, the flowing sequences become a kind of movement meditation. These spinal movements in all planes—forward bends and backbends, side arches, spiral twists, and wave-like motions—always guide me back to my center, what founder Juliu calls the “Seed Center.” Life similarly pulls our attention constantly toward the external world. This physical practice of repeatedly returning to the seed center creates neural pathways that remember the feeling of coming back to oneself again and again, allowing us energetically and consciously to return to the present moment, to the body, to our anchoring core.
The Dance of Breath and Movement
“Breath creates movement and movement creates breath; pairing up both doubles the effect.” – Juliu Horvath
In the GYROKINESIS® method, breath isn’t merely accompanying the rhythm of movement—it’s the core of the entire experience. Through the various combinations of movements paired with different breathing rhythms, the body experiences a richer energetic flow. When my breath becomes steady and flowing, my mind naturally becomes calm, focused, and filled with a remarkable sense of tranquility.
In our fast-paced daily lives, our breathing often becomes shallow and hurried. The GYROKINESIS® method invites us back to a more natural, deeper breathing rhythm, allowing the body to release accumulated tension and find that delicate balance between vitality and serenity.
This interweaving of breath and movement feels like a silent conversation between body and mind. It leads us to reconnect with our body’s innate wisdom and, with each practice, rediscover our own inner space.
What is the GYROKINESIS® Method?
The GYROKINESIS® method is a comprehensive movement method developed by Juliu Horvath that addresses the entire body through fluid, rhythmic movement sequences. Originally called “Yoga for Dancers,” this practice has evolved into a sophisticated system that stimulates the nervous system, increases range of motion, and creates functional strength through flowing, spiraling movements.
Unlike many exercise modalities that focus on isolated muscle groups, the GYROKINESIS® method approaches the body as an integrated whole. The practice incorporates elements that might remind you of yoga, tai chi, swimming, and dance—yet it has its own unique quality and principles.
Classes are typically performed on a stool and mat, without equipment. Each session follows a journey: beginning with gentle awakening of the senses and loosening the body, progressing through spinal motions in all directions, and culminating in integrative movements that leave you feeling both energized and centered.
Three Key Concepts of the GYROKINESIS® Method
1. Narrowing of the Pelvis
This is a unique and core technique in the GYROKINESIS® method. “Narrowing” doesn’t mean actually becoming smaller, but rather a specific way of engaging muscles—moderately contracting the muscles around joints while maintaining space for movement. The body’s energy extends upward through the spine while simultaneously the legs and feet connect firmly downward to the ground, creating opposing forces. Between these contrasting motions, the pelvis finds its optimal position, effectively supporting the spine and creating space between each vertebra without compression. This helps maintain internal space within the body, allowing fluids and energy to flow freely while providing strong stability and support.
2. The Fifth Line
This concept refers to the central energy channels that flow through the spine, arms, and legs. The “Fifth Line” is not a visible anatomical structure but describes the body’s internal energy support system. It can be imagined as an energy line flowing through the body’s central axis, helping us extend from our core outward, creating integrated flowing movements in all directions. In practice, this energy line maintains continuity and unity in all movements.
3. The Seed Center
This is the source of all movement and energy in the body—the origin of strength and vitality. Located in the lower abdomen, the Seed Center is like a plant seed, containing life force and energy. From this center, energy radiates to all parts of the body; it’s also the core we can always return to. When you initiate movement from the Seed Center, you feel a strength rooted in your inner being. This connection creates an integrated and complete feeling throughout the body, making movements not just surface forms but expressions from within.
The Creator’s Story
Juliu Horvath developed the GYROKINESIS® method through his own healing journey. As a professional ballet dancer, he suffered from injuries including a ruptured Achilles tendon and damaged discs in his back. Seeking recovery, he retreated to St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands where he immersed himself in yoga, meditation, and movement exploration.
Through this deep personal inquiry, he created a movement system that helped heal his own body. What began as “Yoga for Dancers” evolved into the sophisticated system now known worldwide as the GYROKINESIS® method—a practice that helps people of all ages and abilities find freedom and balance in their bodies.
The Gifts of the GYROKINESIS® Method
What continues to draw me to this practice are the gifts it offers beyond the movements themselves:
- A sense of spaciousness within the body that brings clarity to mind and heart
- Relief from physical tension accumulated through daily living
- Improved spinal mobility that naturally creates more upright posture without effort
- A deeper connection to breath that creates a form of meditative state through flowing movements
Perhaps most valuable is how the GYROKINESIS® method teaches us to move from our “center“—both physically and energetically. This centeredness becomes a resource stored in our bodies, gradually becoming available in our daily lives, helping us respond to life’s challenges with more grace and less reactivity.
This gentle swaying, turning, and breathing with movement accepts you as you are now, whether you’re dealing with stiffness, recovering from injury, or simply seeking a more embodied way of being.
An Invitation to Unwind
For the next 5 weeks, starting in May, I’m offering a special series focused on unwinding through the GYROKINESIS® method—mostly on a chair. These hour-long sessions, available both online and in-person, explore gentle movements to create a sense of spaciousness and ease at the end of your busy day.
We’ll explore gentle spinal movements, breathing techniques, and movement with the body’s natural rhythms to reconnect with our innate wisdom.
If you’re curious about experiencing this practice, please reach out. Whether you’re navigating stiffness, seeking moments of calm, or simply interested in a more embodied way of living, these sessions offer a gentle path of exploration. Let your body soften and flow with rhythm, allowing energy to circulate and helping you feel more of yourself.
The body knows how to heal itself—sometimes, it just needs a little space to remember.
GYROKINESIS® is a registered trademark of Gyrotonic Sales Corp and is used with their permission.