7 Healthcast: Gyrotonic exercise

Gyrotonic exercise is done on a machine that combines a bench, rotating exercise wheels and a weighted pulley tower.

"The intention in a full workout is to work all the major joints in the body through their full range of motion," said Ellen Barlow, a Gyrotonic instructor. "They're complex movements, but the machine is always assisting you. It's pulling you, and so, you're releasing your body."

"It's a full body workout, and every routine varies," said Lynne Williams, a Gyrotonic studio owner. "You never get bored. Taught correctly, and done correctly, there is no part of your body that isn't addressed."

Breathing patterns are essential to Gyrotonic exercise.

"If you're doing a certain movement doing that deep exhale, that's when you can really grip your abs, that's really going to be much more effective work on the abdominals," Williams said.

Gyrotonic enthusiasts say the movements can be altered for all levels of fitness.

"We have people who are rehabilitating from surgery, who have had back issues, knee issues or just have chronic joint problems," Barlow said. "[On] the other end of the extreme, we have ballet dancers. We have professional athletes."

They say a session leaves you lengthened and strengthened, physically and emotionally.

"My feeling is of a complete, complete workout, but also a feeling of being at peace with myself," Williams said.

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