Today is

By: Ikedi Ani-okoye

Fitness class

Float like a frog or perhaps like a crow; crawl like a lion or maybe jump like a cricket. Why would you do these things? In the name of exercise, of course. The latest health craze to embrace our shores is Budokon, a dynamic fusion of yoga, martial arts and meditation which is being exclusively premiered at the Reebok Sports Club in Canary Wharf.

Patronises by tihe likes of Courtney Cox, Who described it as the "perfect workout", and Jennifer Aniston, who apparently attributed her recovery From that break up to the classes, Budokon hones the body's agility, control, speed, power, balance and flow. Invented by Cameron Shayne in 2000, the world Budokon translates from Japanese to 'Way of the Spiritual Warrior'.

Fitness Yoga

Heavily influenced by Iyengar and Ashtanga yogic techniques and alignment, Budokon not only Focuses on imposing a range of motion and strength, but also explores the body's ability to support another person's bodyweight. Added to this are the ground and standing techniques from martial arts like Jiu Jitsu and Tae Kwon Do. Sounds good. So I decided to investigate.

Exploring the body's full range of motion, we started off with basic yoga, which is very slow, as strength, particularly in wrists and the back, is essential. I soon realised that this is not your average exercise class; we were told to put the mats to one side as our teacher, the UK Budokon director Ryan Carldon Miah, explained it is important not to be 'Linear'. Instead of following the line of the mat, we should stand randomly, scattered across the room to allow more freedom of movement However, it is important to note that this is not simplified yoga.

Fitness Weight

As l attempted to emulate a frog mid-hop and to suppress the odd giggle, I realised that it was incredibly hard. Floating is an apt description; the teacher, with slow fluid movements, managed to balance his entire weight on his arms whilst moving his legs beautifully like a dance, as if half his body was hovering. It was mesmerising to watch.

He explained that adults usually sit at a desk or in the car and so have very little natural movement, unlike children, who are constantly climbing, jumping and running. We were therefore encouraged to move across the hall, on all fours, as various animals, focusing on the fluidity of the movement whilst making ourselves aware of muscles we don't use in everyday life. It was significant that at first most of us moved in awkward, inhibited, robotic ways. After a while, we loosened up and it became almost addictive.

Budokon not only tones the body and improves Stress but trains muscles that we rarely use, whilst improving flexibility, balance and focus. Although not suitable for complete beginners, it combines spiritual wellbeing with the physical, perfect for anyone the physical, perfect for anyone trying to cope with a modern hectic lifestyle.