Monday, April 5th, 2010

Kinespirit is a group of fitness studios that give you a unique approach to wellness.  Along with well-known exercises like Pilates and yoga, Kinespirit offers Gyrotonic exercise, the latest trend in fitness that combines tai chi, swimming, yoga, Pilates, and dance.  Upper West Siders are lucky enough to have access to this new trend, as Kinespirit has a location at 85th and Broadway.  Your very own My Upper Wester Lauren got the chance to try out a Gyrotonic training session with the co-owner of Kinespirit (and worldwide Master Trainer of Gyrotonic exercise) Chantal Deeble.  Click through to read more about the Gyrotonic experience at Kinespirit.

Walking into the studio on 85th, the first thing that catches your eye is the row of Gyrotonic towers behind the front desk.  The weight-and-pulley-based machines give an initial impression of torture devices, but spending some time with them actually yields the opposite result, a feeling of calm and strength.  The movement in Gyrotonic training can be thought of as circular, fluid, and three-dimensional, giving you many of the benefits gained through swimming.  A private 55-minute session for a beginner takes it easy, walking you through the motion to ensure that your alignment and positioning are correct.  As you become comfortable with the equipment and movement, you can start going through the exercise more quickly, maintaining the core of Gyrotonic, which is fluidity and three-dimensionality.  It’s easy to see that with time, Gyrotonic can vastly improve anyone’s physical well-being, improving strength and posture, contributing to long, lean muscles, and preventing injury from other activities.

In addition to the private, semi-private, and group sessions using the Gyrotonic towers, Kinespirit offers several other chances for a great workout.  You can try out Gyrokenesis, the Gyrotonic exercise without equipment (the workout is done on a mat), Pilates, yoga, or even Kine-Kardio, a class that will elevate your heart rate while maintaining principles of core and alignment.  The Gyrotonic trainers recommend that you start with three private Gyrotonic sessions (offered at a discounted introductory rate of $180) before going after the classes so that you can get comfortable with the movement and the equipment.  Get more information about this unique, fun, and beneficial new form of fitness at Kinespirit’s website, or sign up for a single session or package by contacting their Upper West Side studio.  Below are a few photos that give you a feel for the Gyrotonic experience.

Filed under: Upper West Side, Upper West Side Blog
Tags: Fitness Studio, Gyrokenesis, Gyrotonic, Kinespirit, Kinespirit Studio