The Origin of Ginastica Natural
During the 1990s, Alvaro Romano decided to share his lifestyle and quality of life with the world. After obtaining his undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Physical Education, he decided to develop a training methodology far beyond anything done before: the Ginastica Natural method.
In the beginning, Alvaro Romano perfected a type of training that he would do on his own to later apply in the classroom, for enthusiasts and athletes. For the safety of practitioners, Romano conducted an in-depth study of the movements. His first experience applying Ginastica Natural techniques was on himself and the athletes he trained.
Alvaro Romano
Founder, ideator, and creator of the Ginástica Natural method, Alvaro Romano holds a degree in Physical Education and a postgraduate degree in School and Recreation. He is the author of the book "Ginástica Natural" (Press editora, 1987). Romano is also featured in the anthology "Uma antologia sobre atividades físicas" (Midiograf editora, 1987), as well as the DVDs Fundamentals, Fighters 1 and 2. Alvaro Romano has studied a variety of different oriental techniques.
As a practitioner of Hatha Yoga, his goal was to improve his performance as an athlete, with training for sports as the main objective, before starting to develop his own bodywork. Alvaro Romano's concept and foundation of techniques and methodology were developed through his practical experience and research with the sports he practiced, oriental techniques, exercises with the weight of his own body, outdoor training in contact with nature, and movements of Jiu-Jitsu.
The exercises were created in long individual training sessions and then applied to different types of people with different goals. Known as a world leader in Fitness and specialist in Quality of Life and Health, Álvaro Romano implements Ginastica Natural as a revolutionary method of physical conditioning and health improvement worldwide, through hundreds of seminars, workshops, and certification courses for instructors.
The Ginastica Natural method has been introduced in various countries and can now be found in 27 countries across South America, Central America, North America, Europe, and Asia.
Alvaro Romano taught Ginastica Natural courses at the Physical Therapy and Physical Education departments at Estácio de Sá University in Rio de Janeiro. He applied the Ginastica Natural method to special forces agents from the United States such as the FBI, DEA, and SWAT in Washington DC. As a physical preparation coach, he also participated in various events in MMA, Jiu-Jitsu, Surfing, Bodyboarding, Soccer, Mountaineering, among other sports.
Renowned athletes have tested and approved the method
Renowned athletes such as Anderson Silva, Junior dos Santos, Vitor Belfort, Georges St-Pierre, Rodrigo Minotauro, Rogerio Minotauro, Demian Maia, Fabricio Camões, Mark Munoz, Roger Gracie, Alexandre Ribeiro, Saulo Ribeiro, Gilbert Durinho, Leticia Ribeiro, surfers Andy Irons, Fred Pattachia, Mark Healey, Neco Padaratz, Cirque du Soleil performer Junior Faitau, football player Ronaldo "Fenômeno" Nazário, among others. At the invitation of physiotherapist Nilton Petrone, Ginastica Natural exercises were applied in Ronaldo's recovery for the 2002 World Cup.
Alvaro Romano is a black belt in Jiu-Jitsu, where he began his training with the legendary and late Master Rolls Gracie (in memoriam), and later trained with Rickson Gracie and Carlos Gracie Junior. He is also a brown belt in Judo, and has participated in triathlon races, crossings, and was also one of the first surfers in Rio de Janeiro to practice Jiu-Jitsu. He was present at the first Ultimate Fighting Championship in Denver, Colorado, in 1993 with the Gracie family.
Currently, Alvaro Romano travels around the world spreading the Ginastica Natural method through seminars, lectures, and workshops.