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Strengthening Your Spine

A COMO CONVERSATION WITH GYROTONIC® TEACHER DOREEN OEN

Fitness 5 Minute Read
 

LIKE THE SWIRLS ON A SEASHELL, THE CIRCULAR PATTERNS IN NATURE ARE MIMICKED IN THE GYROTONIC® METHOD. DEVISED BY FOUNDER JULIU HORVATH, IT IS A UNIQUE MOVEMENT SYSTEM THAT FOCUSES ON THE SPINE. DOREEN OEN, GYROTONIC® TEACHER AT COMO SHAMBHALA SINGAPORE, TELLS US MORE ABOUT HOW IT CAN TAKE THE BODY BEYOND ITS CURRENT LIMITATIONS.

 

What started your personal journey with the Gyrotonic® Method?

I’ve been in the industry for about 20 years now, and it all started because I broke my back in a skiing accident in 1994. After a period of healing and recuperation, I started Pilates and Gyrotonic® as a form of rehabilitation. But I found the movement in Gyrotonic® to work better for me in regaining strength and mobility, and I loved the practice.

What was the process of becoming a teacher like?

I went to Melbourne, Australia, for three years to learn and get certified. It was scary, because most of the students were dancers or professional physiotherapists — and in comparison, I was a nobody. But it was also so interesting. And I also had the privilege of learning and being certified from Juliu Horvath himself. This was a very niche form of movement back in the day, so there were no visiting practitioners or workshops to learn from.

How would you describe the Gyrotonic® movement?

It’s a mix of dance, gymnastics, taichi, swimming. The movement in Gyrotonic® is smooth, fluid, soft, but also so strong and powerful at the same time. There is a rhythm to it. It expands and creates space while lengthening the joints and spine. It’s controlled, the spiralling motion comes naturally to the body. Because this circular motion — or gyro, which means rotation — is found in nature. Like the spirals of a snail’s shell. It’s a universal motif.  

What makes it different?

Gyrotonic® helps with improving flexibility, extension, and strength — but the difference is that all of this comes from the spine, and from its full range of motion.  You can move forwards and backwards, side to side, and in a circular motion on the machine. The focus is on spinal movement, how you arch and curl and sit and lie down. Pilates is more linear and isolated, and more focused on the core. The breath in Pilates is in short bursts, but the breath in Gyrotonic® is akin to the motion of seaweed in the waves — long, and flowing. 

The practice protects musculoskeletal health and mimics the body’s natural propensity for movement — the wrists, hips, and neck all move in circular motions, for example. The spine and joints are articulated, which makes for a fuller range of motion. While most people come in for rehabilitation, sometimes athletes, like golfers, come in because they want to improve on their swing. 

Are there neurological benefits to this form of movement?

As a practice, it’s able to nurture and develop the mind-body connection. Not everyone is aware of how their spine moves, and focusing solely on that in a session can be beneficial to changing the way we move about life, and the longevity of the body. 

I do have clients who have survived a stroke. Through Gyrotonic®, the movement slowly comes back — but it’s a very long process. The motion helps to forge new brain-muscle connections, and the brain stores that data. So it needs consistent practice to strengthen those new connections.

What are some personal insights that you’ve gleaned through the years?

It’s to keep learning. I go for workshops all the time, and I make sure I know my material well. It’s a long journey, and there’s always new things to learn, which is the beauty of it too. But there are things that are impossible to learn from a book — I have some clients who are sensitive to certain parts of their body that have lost their range of motion. And as a teacher, you try to take care of their emotions, even if it’s something as small as blocking the client’s view of themselves in the mirror by standing in front of them. 

I’ve learnt to be spontaneous, to devise games that can help my clients feel motivated, which creates a sense of purpose in continuing the rehabilitation process — because it can be long, and difficult. And this sense of play helps my clients to loosen up too, and then they can do well because they’re relaxed. That’s a philosophy I carry through life too. 

Doreen Oen has taught the Gyrotonic® Method at COMO Shambhala Singapore since 2014. She was certified and taught by Gyrotonic® founder Juliu Horvath, and continues to empower her clients to live and move better. Having worked with stroke survivors, her empathy, passion, and dynamic approach creates a supportive environment for all. Private Gyrotonic® sessions are available at COMO Shambhala Singapore. To make a private booking or discuss the suitability of a session, please contact our Concierge here. 

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