Let the rack, aka the Gyrotonic (www.gyrotonic.com) machine help your stretching, adjusting and flexing. Not any home gym—this piece of equipment. It resembles a medieval torture device, complete with ropes, pulleys, bolts and stirrups.

We asked Toni Ferrer (201-209-9205) who trained with the Gyro Master Juliu Horvath, to demonstrate the Gyrotonic method in her Jersey City studio. The machine provides the resistance, your muscles are strengthened and flexed.. Deep breathing helps control your movements.

Toni – born in Spain, arrived here headed for a career in finance. But she caught the Gyrotonic bug, and finds life as a professional Gyro trainer more rewarding. “I felt at home in my own body- energized, peaceful and calm,” she says.

Toni strapped her student, Glenny, into the device, and started her off with wide circular movements. Twisting and turning, Glenny starts to resemble human pizza dough.

The menacing machine becomes friendlier. There is soothing music, the quiet push-me-pull-you—and Toni’s voice as she drilled and encouraged.

There are do-it-yourself versions of the Gyro—not as large or imposing, but equally effective. Warning: the assembly process may require a mechanical engineer at your side.

Gyrotonics. Strap yourself in for a workout. You’ll feel like a new person when you come off the rack.