Cassidy Miller went from the North Harford dance team to studying dance at Towson University. This brought her to her current place of employment that introduced Miller to the GYROTONIC® Method.  

     The GYROTONIC® Method is a crossover of Pilates and dance. Juliu Horvath, a former dancer, created the GYROTONIC® Method about 40 years ago. It started out as Yoga for Dancers but then Horvath created a machine that matched the movements which lead to the method.  

      GYROKINESISⓇ is the same thing but without the machines. Miller states that as Horvath has gotten older, he’s created more modifications to his method so it can stay universal and healthy.  The movements are more choreographed and styled, bringing in the dance aspect.  

     Miller explains that “when you’re a dancer you reach a point where you must ask yourself if this is how you want to pursue your dance career.” When she asked herself that question, she knew she wanted to go a different route. After dancing her whole life, she states, “it was a wonderful way to transition from dancing all the time to keep moving in a similar way.” She knows she’ll “be moving forever and is so happy to know that.”

      Miller accidently discovered this method after moving to Grover Park in DC.  She interned at the Kennedy Center for dance and then worked part time at a fitness center. She then found her current job at Elements Fitness and Wellness Center through a Google search and it became “clear that after being a dancer this intrigued her as a form of exercise.”  

      The alumna started as a part time employee and moved to full time as the Studio Manager. She was then given the opportunity to go through teacher training for the GYROTONIC® Method. To complete her training, she must go through four courses. 

       These courses go pretraining, foundation, apprentice review, and final certification. She needs 60 practice hours and is about halfway through them. The whole process takes about a year.  Miller says, “between the courses and the practice hours needed the whole thing is about 200 hours total.”  

      There are levels of teaching this method. It goes apprentice, certified trainer, then master trainer. Miller says, “there’s only about 100 master trainers in the world, and most have trained with Horvath.” The owner of Elements Fitness and Wellness Center trained under Horvath in New York. 

      The alumna got her degree in business at Towson University, and she says “owning her own studio isn’t out of the question, but [she’s]really happy at Elements.” It’s one of two studios in the country that offer final certifications. It’s large and lots of people come from all over and “[she] feels lucky to be there.”

      Before COVID-19 the GYROTONIC® Method wasn’t allowed to be taught online. Horvath wanted to keep his method safe and as close to the original as possible. Due to COVID the trainers needed a way to make money so they allowed it to be taught online.

       People from all over the world would join zoom classes with master trainers, and “it brought the community together so beautifully,” says the dancer. There’s a Facebook group where they all communicate about classes. 

       Miller “loves that it’s made to support everyone, no matter their age.” She talks about how no matter where you are with your physical abilities this method can be modified for that person, such as “professional dancers or people with scoliosis.”  

      Miller says she “finds so much joy in telling people about [her] experience and how unique and exciting it is.” She shares it with friends and family on social media and they share her posts. As a dancer she “see’s the ripple effect in the community when people reach out to learn more about the exercise.”