"Is it really possible to turn an old oak into a flowing willow tree?

I’ve tried to keep moving throughout my life. I was fortunate enough to ski until I was 76. At 77, my knees went, and things began to slow down. One knee replacement took me off the slopes. A second took me out of the mountains and hiking.

Then my shoulders decided it was their turn. A fine orthopedic surgeon told me that I should probably have both shoulders done sooner rather than later. I complained about this to my neighbor, a recently retired doctor.

“You should try Gyrotonic,” she said.

“What?” I asked. “Geriatrics? That’s rapidly becoming my problem.”

“No, no. Gyrotonic. I’ve been working with Leslie for years. I was committed to Pilates 100 percent, but it did not do for me what Leslie has done. And I think she might really help your shoulders before you go under the knife.”

Why not, I thought. What have I got to lose?

So, a little over two years ago, I dragged myself off to meet Leslie. My body has been saying thank you ever since.

Week by week, through disciplined and enthusiastic practice, the old oak began to move a little more like a willow. The painful shoulders disappeared. My mobility improved remarkably. The old oak did not disappear entirely, of course, but the wind was moving through the upper branches again.

On September 11, 2026, I celebrated my 89th birthday rafting the rapids of the Salmon River in Idaho.

I could not have done it without Leslie’s talented and generous help."
 

David