Tennis Star Andy Murray adds GYROTONIC to his Training Regime in Pursuit of Wimbledon Title

TWINKLE TOES: Andy Murray is hoping that his new training regime wil boost his chances of defending his Wimbledon title.

TENNIS ace Andy Murray begins his bid to retain his Wimbledon title today after turning to an exercise regime favoured by ballet dancers.

Murray has been spending up to two hours a day on Gyrotonic training.

It involves the use of a machine fitted with weighted pulleys to strengthen the muscles.

The Gyrotonic system, developed in the US, combines exercise principles from ballet, yoga, gymnastics and t’ai chi.

Former ballerina Franziska Rosenzweig, now a Gyrotonic instructor in east London, said: “It has a lot to do with bending and extending the spine.

“It changes your muscle tone and you become long and lean.

“For Andy Murray it is probably very revitalising and realigns the symmetry of the body in a sport where you are using one side of your body more than the other.” 

It is popular with many ballet dancers as well as golfer Tiger Woods, 38, and rock star Sting, 62.

Murray, who takes on Belgium’s David Goffin on Centre Court today, started using the technique during training in Miami. Matt Aversa, vice president of Gyrotonic, said: “Andy was curious at first but gradually grew to really like it.”

[Excerpted from an article in the Daily Star by Ed Riley, published June 23, 2014.  "Wimbledon 2014: Andy Murray chases title number tutu as his ballet secrets are revealed"]