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Moises Martin, principal dancer with Atlanta Ballet, shared his experience of getting back to shape after the injury.
Team Zarely: Why did you choose to master Gyrotonic? The options for additional physical training are numerous – from yoga and pilates to extremes like crossfit. Did you evaluate them somehow or the choice was obvious for you from the start? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the method for you?
Moises Martin: I started doing Gyrotonics and Pilates at the same time to become an instructor once I stopped dancing after a back injury when I was dancing with the Dutch National Ballet.
I couldn’t find a way to get back to dancing because of that injury so in order to find another profession I started to study both methods. I became an instructor in Gyrotonics and I almost finished the formation in Pilates also, this gave me a better understanding of the methods, anatomy, quality of movement and my own body injuries. Practicing almost daily for months made my back and the rest of my body feel great, Pilates gave me a new alignment, made me understand how to use my body without over recruiting my maximum power and to feel organized and collected.
Gyrotonics made me feel free, in touch with my breathing in a meditating way, relaxed but with strength, understanding the body as a whole, learning to move in an organic way and realizing that the continuity of movement and flow could recover old injuries by restoring the flow and circulation.
I also do other kinds of things, I have a personal trainer, we work together to stay fit and strong and overcome the challenges of the repertoire I have to face.
Cardio training it’s a part of my routine also.
Team Zarely: Do you find mastering the program difficult or you picked it up effortlessly making fellow students jealous?
Moises Martin: Like in anything, mastering something takes time and dedication, Gyrotonics is evolving continuously so there is always something new to learn, the method keeps developing and expanding so this keeps people motivated and wanting to accomplish new challenges.
As a dancer movement is a part of you, there is a clear connection between being a dancer an practicing or teaching Gyro so at times this can be a very important advantage.
Team Zarely: Do you stick to the routine now?
Moises Martin: I practice often
Team Zarely: You are a certified teacher. Given your super-tight schedule as the principal dancer do you have time to teach it?
Moises Martin: Not so much now. I’m not good at selling it and I also don’t have the time to make it a business. I really like to work with people that are truly interested on improving their connections and their movement qualities. If somebody is looking for this I’ll make time to teach them.
Team Zarely: From your perspective does Gyrotonic offer the space for creativity and exploration or is it more follow-the-manual approach?
Moises Martin: It depends of the situation, if I’m teaching to someone for the first time I try to be clear with the concepts and respectful to the method. When I practice I tend to play more with it, essentially the movements are what they are but I play with rhythm, repetition and variations.
Team Zarely: What other disciplines would you like to add to your arsenal and why?
Moises Martin: There is a strong connection also between Gyrotonic and Yoga, Juliu Horvath, the founder, was very much into practicing it. I’d like to deepen my knowledge in it, I like principles and philosophy behind it.
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