Village Gyrotonic, New York NY

Upon reaching age 86, I relinquished my first violin chair in the Greenwich village orchestra, so that a younger, more adept young player would be able to join the orchestra. Beginning signs of arthritis and lack of stamina contributed to this decision.

But my violin teacher had impressed upon me a life moulding maxim: to always keep your instrument in top functioning condition.
For a violinist, that means replacing strings as they become untrue to the pitch, not letting the bridge warp, and above all, don’t let the wood get cracked.

My real life profession was as an actor, and an actor’s instrument is herself. Her soul, mind and body. And I had long maintained an instrument that was strong, lithe, and as beautiful as I could, with ballet and voice exercises. But here I was, with signs of irreparable damage due to aging, facing an agonizing decision: to do something, or not.
And if yes, what should it be?
Not ballet any more… far too demanding.
My daughters all did yoga and encouraged me to try that. But I found the positions put too much weight on my arthritic wrists and knees. It was not right for me.

Right down the street from my house is the Bedford street Gyrotonics studio. I often passed the window, saw lithe and not so lithe people doing strange exercises on strange weight bearing machines. More out of curiosity than anything else, I decided to go in and find out what it was all about.

I was assigned a beautiful young trainer, Desiree. Right away we hit it off. She explained that gyro, meaning circular, was the basis of the work. I gathered that muscles, which in yoga would be lengthened by lateral poses, would here be strengthened by circular repetitions. The strange machines would assist in helping to isolate which muscles to concentrate on. That normal positions instill good alignment, and that I did not know what normal positions were. It means to respect the lumbar curve, and not tuck your behind underneath. A cultural thing, to a wasp like me. To make the pelvis your floor! To let it swing a bit! Unheard of to a ballet dancer! Another thing was to learn to walk with my feet parallel, not turned out. And although my hair is white and it’s more comfortable to slouch, I must try to keep the torso pulled up and hold the head high.

That was 5 years ago and Covid came during that time. The studio remained open and all the preventative measures were taken to keep everyone healthy. I reached 91 and never got sick.

Desiree never forces me to do more than I am comfortable with. If I get light headed, she is right there with a glass of water. If I get tired doing repetitions she assures me, just 3 more…I won’t say it doesn’t take effort and determination to do the work, but it’s not exhausting.

I was relieved to know that there’s a package plan for payments.
I go twice a week at a time when the studio is relatively empty, but there are times when floor space is at a premium.

I just wish I had this training long ago. But believe me, it’s never too late to start.

I have been going to Village Gyrotonic since 2009. I was used to doing Pilates so when I started Gyro, I was familiar with the notion of keeping a strong core and healthy spine, which informs both practices. They are similar systems because they both insist on flexibility, strength, and alignment, but Gyro expands movement creating a 360-degree body awareness. The one-hour sessions consist of circular and spiral movements that work muscle opposition to find extension. The instructor finds the rhythm and pace according to your needs.
Sometimes, I work with Lauren on releasing tension via breathwork and we focus on my nervous system. During peri menopause I worked with Esther, the owner and master trainer, who helped me manage my symptoms by promoting joint lubrication, increasing bone density, and keeping me centered. My goal is to continue to age as healthily as possible by being a lifelong student of Gyrotonic and Gyrokinesis. The experienced trainers and the intimate atmosphere of Village gyrotonic makes it the perfect studio to learn to be at home in your body.

I've been coming to this studio for 4 years. I see extraordinary improvements in my body. My strength, muscle tone and posture have improved dramatically. I work with Jamila and it is the treat of my week.

I came to Village Gyrotonic as part of a path towards recovering physical resilience after a long illness. As a West Village resident, the proximity to home and the importance to be supportive of a local business in my community were key to my choice.

What I found was a new understanding of the body, new frontiers of movement, fascinating and challenging, revolutionary even, an approach that is very much aligned with what I was looking for and from which we can all benefit.

I am most grateful to Esther Moreno, the owner of Village Gyrotonic and Zoe Brod, Studio Manager, for the warmth and kindness with which I was welcome to the Studio, which has made my experience so pleasant, rewarding and fulfilling. I loved the relaxed, friendly, and very professional environment you provide which helps us all accomplish our goals smoothly and successfully. It was everything I expected and way, way more.

I would also like to especially thank you for having listened to me when I first contacted you and having paired me with the Instructor who was best suited for my needs amongst all your extremely well qualified professionals. I needed a specific kind of Instructor, and you could not have found a better fit for me. This Instructor is Olga Maidan.

Olga's set of skills and experience were instrumental in this training process. She is an incredible Instructor, an accomplished professional, dedicated, vigorous and at the same time, creative, with a keen sense of humor that never compromises focus. She talked "Gyrotonic" to me in a way that I could see and execute it as a fluid, expansion system that allows smooth and harmonious movement. Olga is very hands on, always strives for perfection, wants more of you, which makes you want to push yourself and develop. I felt growth, excitement, an awareness of my body in a way I have never had, discovered specific movements I did not know we had in us (!), had great "break-through/"a-ha! " moments that were almost magical (at least to me). And to top it all, we share the same birthday!

In my recovery journey, I have been fortunate enough to have met and partnered with great people who have helped me get where I am now. That's one if the best lessons and rewards in life - we can accomplish better results together. I have found in your Studio and in Olga a killer combination that I look forward to coming back to as I continue to pursue my recovery goals. Slowly and humbly, I am getting there!

In the meantime, enjoy your summer and please send all in the Studio my very best!

Kind regards
Paolo

The very best! The teachers here truly care about your progress and are not only experts in gyro, but have a gifted sense of what is going on with your body. Whether you are totally out of shape or a seasoned athlete, you will see results. Shout out to Zoey who makes you feel so welcome when you walk in the door!

Amazing experience. Great instruction. Beautiful space. Loved the workout. It made my spine feel wonderful

Village Gyrotonic is a gem. A small (three Towers plus another station) independent studio run by Esther Moreno and her excellent staff of trained, expert, caring, and compassionate trainers. You are as likely to work across from a famous actor, as from a neighborhood denizen wanting to maintain a fit body (my reason for choosing gyrotonics), or someone sent to the studio (by a medical or other professional) to rehab an injury. The variety of exercises one can do with the Tower is endless, and Esther's crew seems to know them all, as well as which to apply in whatever circumstance.

When I enter, my trainer Jamila Youngstedt always asks how my body is. She really doesn't need to ask, because she has already accurately assessed its condition, just by watching me walk through the door. For the past 5 1/2 years, Jamila has seen me through both major emotional trauma and bodily injuries. During one six month period, I gained 25 pounds and 'shrank' 2 inches as my body withdrew into itself from stress and anxiety and depression. My twice weekly gyrotonics sessions kept me sane. Through stretching ("traction"), hanging, and relentless arch-and-curl variations, Jamila guided me to a straighter and more supple spine and a stronger body. One day, when I walked in looking particularly crestfallen from unexpected bad news, Jamila put me on a mat on the floor and gave me an hour of restorative care that perked me up both physically and emotionally. Within a year I had lost (most of) the weight and 'grown' by an inch! (I'm still working to regain the second inch.)

Today my spine is straight (er). My posture is much improved. And best of all, this life-long flatfoot now has arches!
-

Absolutely incredible. Loved the instruction and the facility. Very knowledgeable and friendly.

Life changing! Hands down the most incredible studio and instructors. I’ve done many different types of movement therapy for my back and alignment, and Village Gyrotonics is the only place that has led me to long lasting relief and change. Esther and all the instructors are amazing - the best of the best. Highly recommend!

I've been attending private classes at Village Gyrotonic for almost 10 years, and I never intend to stop! The dedicated trainers, Ursula, Desiree, Jamila, Emily, Lauren, and the studio owner Esther, have always been there to guide and support me. The studio is a haven for finding growth and expansion on many levels. Consequently, the transition from my 50's to 60's has been one of joy and discovery!

I have been going to Village Gyrotonic ever since I broke my patella in 2019. Esther and her staff helped me through my physical therapy process and now I go for strengthening and general exercise. If you have any sort of physical ailment, I highly recommend Village Gyrotonic! They are knowledgeable, friendly, and they will help you work through whatever issue you have.

One class at Village Gyrotonic with Esther changed my life, as it led to canceling, four days later, a planned epidural steroid injection for a herniated disc in my back. Every class since has slowly changed how I think about doing everything, from standing to walking to moving in all the sports I have now been able to resume playing. Each class at Village Gyrotonic has opened my eyes a little bit more to the right approach to overall health of the body, leading to continual noticeable improvement. I look forward to every session!

Gyrotonic has helped me so much. I previously would work out at the gym, completely unaware of proper form. The result would be nagging injuries and an overall ineffective use of my time. My sessions with Esther Moreno, the owner of Village Gyrotonic, transformed the way I move and feel. I look forward to my session every week. I have become much more aware of how the musculature and skeletal systems connect and move. It has vastly improved my posture and core, and has made me stronger and more grounded. It has also eliminated recurring issues I used to have with my lower back and Achilles.

Esther sees the body very clearly and is excellent at correcting poor form and targeting areas that are tight and/or weak. She is an incredibly engaged, generous, and detail-oriented teacher. She goes above and beyond to help you make profound changes in the way you inhabit and move your body. Highly recommended!

Village Gyrotonic saved me. Several years ago, following the fourth surgery to the exact same spot on my right shoulder, I remained in constant and excruciating pain. My surgeon recommended that I quit my job as a tennis teaching professional, find a new line of work, and lead a "less active" lifestyle.

One of my assistant pros recommended Village Gyrotonic on Bedford Street. I began working with owner, Esther Moreno. After several weeks mobility increased and I experienced fleeting moments without pain. After several months I realized that I was sleeping through the night and no longer rushing home for ice packs and Advil.

I have worked with all of the trainers at Village Gyrotonic. Each one has exhibited the highest level of professionalism and expertise and offered unique insight to help me understand that movement does not come from one tiny, painful joint. I learned from Village Gyrotonic that the body must work as a whole in order to let energy flow and allow the body to function efficiently.

I continue teaching and playing tennis. I have also taken up rock climbing, gone white water rafting, hiked Mount Whitney in California, cross country skied "The Great Race" in Lake Tahoe and ridden my road and mountain bikes thousands of miles.
I can't recommend Village Gyrotonic highly enough. Esther and her team take the time to understand and design a program for every client. They work regularly with everyone from elite athletes to artists to seniors to moms-to-be. They have brought me from orthopedic catastrophe to - literally - mountaintops.

Village Gyrotonic is a unique and magical place and one which I am forever grateful.

Village Gyrotonic helped me recover from knee replacement surgery. It now helps me keep my spine and joints healthy. Gyrotonics puts you in touch with your body in a unique and extremely healthy way. The owner/trainer Esther Moreno knows the body and is a great teacher. I've worked with other trainers there and they are also excellent.

Gyrotonic is an outstanding approach to achieving a strong and flexible body, improving your range of motion in your shoulders and hips, and gaining a stronger and more flexible back. Pilates doesn't come close. The nature of the equipment and exercises allow a really individualized approach. I see people at the studio of all ages (white hair included) and all stages of physical condition, from people who are taking their first steps at doing something physical all the way to athletes. And at Village Gyrotonic, the trainers are expert teachers and such nice people. The atmosphere of the studio is so calm and supportive and down to earth-a little oasis. I'm so pleased with the changes in my body since I discovered Village Gyrotonic. It's an investment in my future health.