GYROKINESIS® Class Demonstration by Maki Somekawa & Akiko Tokuoka at CRS

GYROKINESIS® is taught by Maki Somekawa & Akiko Tokuoka at CRS (Center for Remembering & Sharing) and elsewhere.

http://www.crsny.org

GYROKINESIS® is a core strength movement system that encorporates the benefits of yoga, swimming, tai chi, gymnastics and dance. The class works in circular and spiral movements to allow the entire body to stretch and strengthen through the seven natural elements of spinal movement.

A typical GYROKINESIS® class begins with participants practicing self-massage and simple breathing patterns. Then the spine and pelvis are engaged through simple exercises: while seated on low stools, participants mobilize the spine through a series of arching, curling, bending, twisting and spiraling movements. These same movement patterns are expanded to release the hip, knee, hamstring, quadriceps and so on, in all possible directions: front, back, twisting and turning.

Benefits of this movement are dramatically increased flexibility, extension, coordination, and a wonderful feeling of well-being. The exercises stimulate the nervous system, open up energy pathways, and support processes of detoxification through blood oxygenation.

Maki Somekawa is originally from Tokyo, Japan. She is a certified instructor in GYROTONIC®, GYROKINESIS®, Leg Extension unit where she was trained under the master trainer Young-ah kim and Billy Macagnone. She became interested in GYROTONIC and GYROKINESIS through her career as a professional dancer and her past back injury. She is always seeking deeper understanding of GYROTONIC system and passionate about sharing this knowledge with all types of people, including other dancers and athletes, yogis, senior citizens, the injured, children, and pre- and post-natal women. She entered college at the University of Central Oklahoma, later transferring to Montclair State University where she received her B.F.A. She is currently dancing with Daniel Gwirtzman Dance Company as a main dancer.

Akiko Tokuoka is from Kyoto, Japan. She has been dancing for 15 years. While in Japan, Akiko both studied and taught and choreographed various forms of dance including street jazz, wacking, popping, and locking. She has started to train the GYROTONIC EXPANSION SYSTEM® and GYROKINESIS® to expand her dance vocabulary under the Master trainer Young-ah Kim. Now she is a GYROTONIC EXPANSION SYSTEM®, GYROKINESIS® and Jumping-Stretching Board certificated instructor. She is also teaching the GYROTONIC EXPANSION SYSTEM® at Japanese Hospital "41st Medical Center" in New York City where she offers specialized programs based on each client's needs to recover injury or keeping good shape.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Maki Somekawa
• Akiko Tokoka
• CRS
• gyrokinesis
• fitness exercise workout

[lrjasen]

Very nicely done! Question: What is the song/CD/background music? Thanks!

[cpelham]

@lrjasen Unfortunately, the person who edited the video and selected the music moved back to Japan and we have lost contact with him.

[cpelham]

I find that 18 inches is good. You want to be able to sit (for many exercises) on the front edge of the chair, with your knees not higher than your sit bones, and your feet pressed firmly flat into the ground.

[cpelham]

Currently, Akiko is teaching Mondays at 1 pm at CRS (Center for Remembering & Sharing), 123 4th Ave, 2nd FL, New York, NY 10003. 212-677-8621

[cpelham]

@StrawberryBigMac: You definitely develop greater core strength doing Gyro because the technique requires that you support all the movements with your core muscles., but Gyro is not designed to increase visible muscle mass. However, by increasing your flexibility and core strength and learning to use your core through a broad range of movements doing Gyro, you will become much better prepared to take on traditional weight training and avoid injury.

[lrjasen]

@WalkIntoGlassDoors Thank you so much!!

[WalkIntoGlassDoors]

@lrjasen The first piece is Minamo by DJ Okawari :)

[WalkIntoGlassDoors]

@Ongakumm Nah it isnt from Nujabes ):

[uqqissuso]

Very nice indeed! Thanks! You could post more! I'm a GYROKINESIS practisioner and miss contact with others who also keep healthy doing this. It would be lovely to exercise with you! A pity I live in Brazil!

[Ongakumm]

@lrjasen i think its from Nujabes but i might be wrong, the specific name of the tracks i don't know but i hope it helps narrow down the search

[brookeogden]

I heard these exercises are great for an hourglass figure.. And taking in the waist. Is this true?