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I Love Yoga: I Love Budokon
By Christina | March 30, 2008
“The way we move reflects the way we think. The way we think reflects the way we live. The way we live reflects the world we create.” – Cameron Shayne
I love that quote because it is so true and so much of what makes yoga completely different from stretching. Sure you will feel the flexibility no matter which one you chose but yoga has the power to change you, move you, and free you. My favorite practie of yoga, well maybe not my favorite because each of the styles I haev tried has its very different niche and is wonderful. I just really enjoy the physical aspect of Budokon.
Okay, so what is Budokon? Budokon means “way of the spiritual warrior.” It is a combination that integrates yoga, martial arts and meditation into one wholistic mind-body-spirit system. It allows people at all fitness levels to explore martial arts and yoga in a safe, non-competitive environment. Budokon was created by Cameron Shayne, a 20 year veteran of the study and mastery of body awareness and organization through yoga, martial arts and meditation. What is Involved in a Budokon Workout?
Budokon typically lasts 75 minutes and is an intense workout. The class foes through breathing exercises to yoga poses and into fluid-like dance movements. Then a series of plyometric-style moves are introduced which greatly increase the heart rate as students move around the floor. This is followed by dynamic kicking and punching movements. The class ends with seated meditation and breathing exercises.
Budokon has yin and yang aspects. The yoga practice emphasizes proper alignment, technique, and constant focus on the yin characteristics of stillness and internal energy control. The martial arts and yoga component is more yang energy. Although the physical aspect of the workout can be intense, at the core of the Budokon practice is meditation. Like yoga, the ultimate reason students practice any physical technique is to bring the body and mind to a place of calm and comfort to prepare for meditation. This allows people to connect with their true self or original mind.
