Being a person who is on my feet all day creating individualized hairstyles, I sometimes find my body in crazy positions without even realizing it. In just one day I can build up some serious body tension! Most is created through standing in an altered fashion arching to one side with a knee locked and rolling my shoulders forward. Also my fingers and forearms can become very tight from repetitive action. Needless to say, I needed to find a way to help rebalance my shoulders and relieve some tension in my arms and fingers.
Although I love yoga and working out at the gym, after trying GYROTONIC®, and GYROKINESIS® I found the exercises to be specifically tailored for someone like me who works with her arms. There are several movements designed to stretch out the tightened pectoral muscle, such as the eagle and others that relieve tension in my hands neck and forearms, like the inverted prayer. The list goes on and on for detailed finger, arm and shoulder strengthening and stretching, I have felt a true release with this practice which has helped me continue to do what I love with a sense of ease.
As with any good system it helps to have a teacher that is knowledgeable and intuitive to your bodies needs. Yelena at Motionlab PDX holds these qualities and trust me, she can zero in on your body in specific ways that will leave you free to fly.
By Summer Cranford
Stylist at Tiger Tiger Salon