When GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS® Master Trainer, Miriam Barbosa, contracted Covid-19, she relied on the basic breathing work from her Gyrokenesis practice to help regain her physical strength.
Miriam was diagnosed with a heart condition called Mitral Valve Prolapse when she was a teenager. During that time she experienced many episodes of tachycardia, a rapid heartbeat of more than 100 beats per minute. However, for many years after diagnosis Miriam led a symptom free life until contracting Covid-19 in March 2020. The virus triggered inflammation within her body and exacerbated her heart condition.
Covid-19’s impact caused fatigue and exhaustion. "The exhaustion was incredible." said Miriam. "I would feel as if I ran a marathon while just seated on a chair. Sometimes, I had to simply lie down and breathe because sitting was too much effort."
To regain physical strength, Miriam relied on basic breathing work from her Gyrokinesis training. "Some techniques I practiced over 20 years ago came back to me and helped me when I could barely walk."
It was the breathing formats designed by Gyrotonic founder, Juliu Horvath, which really made the difference to Miriam's recovery.
Juliu reached out to Miriam after hearing about her diagnosis, and in weekly Zoom meetings he shared his breathing patterns with her, starting with simple breathing variations, including the tapping of the rib cage to create a better heart rhythm and to establish a better sense of lung and diaphragm vitality. By the 7th week, the feeling of exhaustion started to gradually be replaced by surges of energy.
Miriam continued with Gyrokinesis self-practice after six weeks of working on breathing patterns. Miriam is currently celebrating 90+ days without Covid-19.
"I am mesmerized by what the breathing work is doing for me on a daily basis. The situation with my heart condition could be much worse had I not worked on re-patterning and resetting my body’s abilities through daily routines of meditation, breathing, and movement. It has helped to create the ultimate equilibrium on a cellular level, balancing my body and brain."
The Diaphragm
Gyrokinesis and Gyrotonic movement and breathing patterns can promote a sense of good health and help to increase physical strength, mobility and prevent injuries. Knowing how to breathe well is key. The diaphragm is the primary muscle used in the process of breathing. The dome-shaped muscle is located just below the lungs and heart. It contracts continually as you breathe in and out. The GYROTONIC® Method teaches you how to make the diaphragm more elastic and, at the same time, stronger in order to control it voluntarily. There's no better ingredient to feed your body than oxygen.
The importance of Oxygen
Oxygen fuels our cells and helps provide the basic building blocks that our bodies need to survive. Our cells combine oxygen with nitrogen and hydrogen to produce various proteins that build new cells. When oxygen is combined with carbon and hydrogen, you get carbohydrates that provide energy to our bodies that is necessary for us to do what we live. Oxygen is also necessary for constructing replacement cells for our bodies. Every day, about seven hundred billion cells in our bodies wear out and must be replaced. Without oxygen, our bodies cannot build these new cells.
Oxygen is also a particularly important part of our immune system. It is used to help kill bacteria, and it fuels the cells that make up our body's defenses against viruses and other invaders.
Like to know more?
Hayley Oxley is a qualified GYROTONIC® instructor and practices the GYROTONIC EXPANSION SYSTEM® method. For more information on how the Gyrotonic Method can keep you healthy as well as improving overall fitness and flexibility why not get in touch.
Information for this blog post has been taken from gyrotonic.com