GJY Dance Movement

15/06/2025

Been practising these kneeling series from the Gyrotonic Level 2 program. The upper body strengthening series kneeling was a thigh burner when we first did it for the course! Decided to work on the kneeling sequences to get back that range and control.
Now I realise how a clean ACL tear (8 years ago) is different from an ACL tear with some meniscal injury (about 2months ago). A clear cut ACL rupture — when knee swelling has dissipated, really doesn’t have much pain or discomfort in the knee, only instability. As long as one feels stable and can function as desired without the knee buckling or hurting other parts of the knee or body, then technically no surgery is needed. Just proper rehabilitation and retraining for movement patterns. The tail-end discomfort I feel now that’s taking time to go away I suspect is from the meniscus (mine is a medial meniscal ramp lesion), and it’s the end range of motion of slight knee hyper extension and deep flexion, especially with weight bearing, that needs more time to regain. But good news is I can grande plie and coolie squat again, though it will probably take more time to be fully comfortable in those positions.

11/06/2025

2025 shall be a year of slowing down and healing..from emotional and physical wounds. 천천히 shall be my mantra. Take time..practice patience towards myself and others.

I was reflecting on what is it about the Gyrotonic method/equipment that makes me turn to it when I need healing. Whether it’s rejuvenating my body/spirit or rehabilitating from an injury.. there’s something about the pulley system as opposed to the Pilates spring system, and the circular and gentle movements that stimulates and awakens the body more gently. Perhaps it’s the constant resistance in full range of motion, and each limb being able to move freely and independently but with constant tension/weight provided that allows for the body to access its full rotational capabilities of the joints, with breath and deep core connection. It really is the closest to dancing when I can’t, and a somatic practice that feeds the soul.

After my recent ACL tear I couldn’t extend my knee fully due to inflammation and swelling from the injury, and so walking around with a bent leg (and constantly flexed hip) made my hips and hamstrings feel so tight and caused more pain and instability when I walked. The hamstring series (lower straps) on the Gyrotonic machine helped unlock my hips and I could access my hamstrings and glutes much better. My body that had felt imprisoned in its tight and coiled up state, began to feel free again. It felt lighter from regaining the freedom to move better, and my spirits also felt uplifted.

I’ve always wanted to take more time to practise the gyrotonic work I have learnt over the years and revisit sequences. There is so much material to delve deeper into. Here’s to spending more time on myself for the rest of 2025 and committing to filming sequences I revisit. It will be a great way to see things from an outside lens and watch my form during self-practice.

07/05/2023

Interested in a Bachelors in Performance Making? Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts’ partnership with University of the Arts London is OPEN till end of May 2023!

06/02/2023

Yesterday marked the end of the Lunar New Year celebrations. I was elated to welcome my favourite special guest at the start of the New Year to “huat” my new space! 🐶 I was overwhelmed and thankful for all my clients’ gifts and ang baos. 🧧🍊 A visit by old dance friends rounded off the Lunar New Year with lots of laughter and dance memories, and I gave them a little GYROTONIC taster 😁 I also dug back deep into my Chinese Dance roots and found some old photos when I first started dancing at Hokkien Huay Kuan!

04/01/2023

Bade old spaces farewell and welcomed new spaces, hoping for a fresh start and a different energy to carry me through 2023 🌈🙏🏻

Thankful that I’m doing what I love, and especially for wonderful clients who have been very supportive. Included photo of a special (and cutest) guest 🐶 - was such a memorable moment!

To more delicious movement that can heal the body and feed the soul ❤️🧡💛

21/09/2021

Looking forward to share Gyrotonic sequences from the Gyrotonic for Dancers 1 course to non-dancers and dancers alike! The course material was created based on the fundamentals of Ballet and Contemporary Dance.

If you have had experience with the GYROTONIC method and are keen to challenge your coordination, flexibility and balance, as well as move with rhythm and flow to music, this is for you!

20/09/2021

..and that’s a wrap! LiTHE 2021 was a whirlwind of bitter-sweet experiences, a rollercoaster ride of ups and downs - the worst being a dancer receiving quarantine order with immediate effect the day before show premiere. It was, nevertheless, a blast. It has been a growing experience, as an artiste, a choreographer, learning how to manage my emotions, adapt to changes, manage my dancers, communicate with my co-choreographer.. the camaraderie forged amongst the dancers, the wonderful lighting design, the continuous toiling and refinement, the light at the end of the tunnel, the satisfaction of creating and seeing your thoughts come to life..the thrill of it all. This is why I love choreographing. Extremely grateful for this wonderful opportunity 😊 hopefully more to come!

Photo credit:

06/09/2021

Posted • Over the weekend we had our first full run with the livestream team! I’m proud, to say the least, to be a part of LiTHE 2021 this year, choreographing on a bunch of wonderful and receptive dancers. Also being able to witness some amazing dancing by this company of dancers (with our most senior dancer in his 50s!), all of whom are not dancing full time but are juggling their own professions outside of dance..truly warms my heart and feeds the soul 💛 Come and watch these talents in their relentless pursuit of their passion for dance 🔥

Tickets to live in-theatre shows are sold out except for the Thurs 8pm show, but online livestream tickets are always available and up for grabs 😉 Spread the word! Less than two weeks away to LiTHE 2021! 📆

01/07/2021

THIS. THE PSOAS!! Muscles that we should get to know intamtely

🔈 WHY ARE THE PSOAS MUSCLES CONSTANTLY CONTRACTED DURING PROLONGED PERIODS OF STRESS?

Whether you run, bike, dance, practice yoga, or just hang out on your couch, your psoas muscles are involved. That’s because your psoas muscles are the primary connectors between your torso and your legs. They affect your posture and help to stabilise your spine.

The psoas muscles are made of both slow and fast twitching muscles. Because they are major flexors, weak psoas muscles can cause many of the surrounding muscles to compensate and become overused. That is why a tight or overstretched psoas muscle could be the cause of many or your aches and pains, including low back and pelvic pain.

👩‍🔬 ANATOMY

Structurally, your psoas muscles are the deepest muscles in your core. They attach from your 12th thoracic vertebrae to your 5 lumbar vertebrae, through your pelvis and then finally attach to your femurs. In fact, they are the only muscles that connect your spine to your legs.

Your psoas muscles allow you to bend your hips and legs towards your chest, for example when you are going up stairs. They also help to move your leg forward when you walk or run.

Your psoas muscles are the muscles that flex your trunk forward when bend over to pick up something from the floor. They also stabilize your trunk and spine during movement and sitting.

👩‍🔬 THE PSOAS AND FIGHT OR FLIGHT RESPONSE

The psoas muscles support your internal organs and work like hydraulic pumps allowing blood and lymph to be pushed in and out of your cells.

Your psoas muscles are vital not only to your structural well-being, but also to your psychological well-being because of their connection to your breath.

Here’s why: there are two tendons for the diaphragm (called the crura) that extend down and connect to the spine alongside where the psoas muscles attach. One of the ligaments (the medial arcuate) wraps around the top of each psoas. Also, the diaphragm and the psoas muscles are connected through fascia that also connects the other hip muscles.

These connections between the psoas muscle and the diaphragm literally connect your ability to walk and breathe, and also how you respond to fear and excitement. That’s because, when you are startled or under stress, your psoas contracts.

In other words, your psoas has a direct influence on your fight or flight response!

During prolonged periods of stress, your psoas is constantly contracted. The same contraction occurs when you:

➡️ sit for long periods of time
➡️ engage in excessive running or walking
➡️ sleep in the fetal position
➡️ do a lot of sit-ups

💡 Here are some tips for getting your psoas back in balance:

✔️ Avoid sitting for extended periods
✔️ Add support to your car seat
✔️ Try Resistance Flexibility exercises
✔️ Get a professional massage
✔️ Release stress and past traumas
✔️ Stretch

💡 HOW TO STRETCH

Roller Psoas Stretch
Use a foam roller for this passive, relaxing stretch that lengthens your psoas, one of your deep hip flexors.

1. Place the roller perpendicular to your spine and lie with your sacrum (the back of your pelvis) — not your spine — on the roller.
2. Pull your left knee toward your chest, keeping your right heel on the ground. You should feel a stretch on the front of your right hip.
3. To increase the stretch, reach your right arm over your head and open your left knee slightly out to the left.
Hold for 30 seconds, then switch legs. Repeat as needed.

07/02/2021

Some abdominal work in preparation for the CNY festivities! 🧧🍊

Curl ups into arches are a great way to find suppleness through the spine and connect the upper and lower body through the torso and the body’s “seed centre” (the body’s centre of gravity).
Adding different leg combinations give variety and increases the challenge.
Finishing off with some extension work after all the flexion - a chest-pelvic lift to open up the chest and hips, and another heart-opening move with “swan lake” arms to fly into the Year of the Ox. 🐃📆

Still need to work on more softening in the sternum for more upper back flexion 💪🏻