If I was to try and sell you Budokon yoga, you would probably say “Budo-what now?”
But if I was to sell you ‘sexy ninja’ yoga, it would be another story.
Combining the rhymthic stretching of yoga with the flowing power of martial arts, Budokon yoga is the closest us mere mortals will ever get to feeling like Uma Thurman in Kill Bill.
In other words, it is badass as hell.
This was my second ever Budokon class – last year at Wanderlust in the Sunshine Coast, I experienced it for the first time with Cameron Shayne, who created the style of yoga.
In a twist worthy of an E! True Hollywood Story, Cameron was once the bodyguard of Charlie Sheen, who turned his 30 years of studying yoga, zen meditation and several types of martial arts (he holds two black belts, one brown belt) into Budokon yoga.
Yep, he’s cool as hell.
Cameron Shayne then, with Charlie Sheen and Chris Tucker.
Yoga master Cameron Shayne now.
The practise of Budokon is all about the undulation – you never stop moving, constantly shifting between poses.
When done properly, you look a beautiful, lethal wave – flowing from one yoga shape through to another – or a sensual, tropical snake – there are a lot of quick jabs and fast movements.
Some moves are identical to yoga – a downward dog is still a downward dog – but other moves take on new, martial-arts inspired interpretations.
Your Warrior Two pose, for example, becomes an actual Warrior pose and you are made to move as if ‘holding a sword in one hand.’
It is the closest I have ever felt to being a deadly samurai and let me tell you, it felt good.
This time I’m doing a 90-minute workshop in Newmarket – Budokon is not part of the mainstream yoga-class culture in New Zealand yet, but the workshops happen fairly regularly.
Here’s where things get tricky though: it was one thing to it at Wanderlust; after three days of yoga, I was feeling very limber and the moves were easy.
But in a 90-minute Saturday workshop, after a normal working week of sitting in my chair, things were a lot more creaky and there were a fair few moves where my mind and body both thought “Nope. Not for me.”
Verdict: I would not make this your first ever yoga class, as it does require a good level of flexibility, but I will say it is probably sexiest and most lethal I’ve ever felt – and that definitely counts for something.
Where we went: Hot Yoga Auckland in Newmarket
Where you can do it: Apollo Power Yoga in Christchurch, or visit http://theyogaconnection.co.nz for workshops
*Sinead and Emma are the Anything But The Gym girls. Bored with standard workouts, they have begun the hunt for new and fun ways to get fit. Follow their weekly adventures here, and in New Zealand Good Health Choices. If you have a suggestion for something interesting for them to try, email [email protected] with Anything But The Gym in the subject line.
The Anything But The Gym Girls are now on Instagram! Follow them @theanythingbutthegymgirls to keep up with their fitness adventures.*
