Budokon Yoga With Vinnie

This week we’re excited to introduce you to Vinnie Lucido, a certified Budokon Yoga teacher, joining our team at Acro Enso. Many of you might already know this mindful human as one of the seasoned founders of our play community. You’ll often see him strolling around town on his one wheel dressed as a werewolf or waving down at you from the top of his towering stilts during fun events. This man of many talents has been practicing Budokon yoga for over five years and is looking forward to sharing his primal movement practice with all of you.

So, you might be wondering what exactly Budokon is. We weren’t quite sure when we first learned of it, so we asked Vinnie to educate us. According to Vinnie, Budokon is a trademark self-help program based on Japanese principles that incorporates three main disciplines: yoga, martial arts, and calisthenics. Vinnie informed us that Budokon originates from the ventures of a martial artist named Cameron, who desired to create a program that combined both his martial arts and yoga practice. After opening his first program Dojo Om, Cameron changed the name to Budokon which translates to ‘the way of the warrior spirit’. Cameron went on to create the Budokon University program to bring up teachers like Vinnie.

When we asked Vinnie what he loves most about Budokon Yoga he shared his value of how Budokon Yoga allows oneself to experience the true nature of the body, the fluidity of the spine and the balance of the warrior spirit and the yogi presence. But most of all Vinnie loves the story in which the  7 series of Budokon Yoga  unfold. Vinnie says this story(featured below) relates to the human in its most primal state and is what keeps him excited about Budokon Yoga!! We hope you’re looking forward to learning the refined movement practice of Budokon Yoga with Vinnie once we’ve opened our doors. Thanks for reading and stay tuned to learn about more teachers joining Acro Enso next week!!

The 7 Budokon Yoga Series

Rolling Salutation Section One - Awakening
The Warrior sits observing self, preparing for the unification of mind, spirit, and body - the greatest of battles. The Warrior rises and begins the rolling salutations. The rolling wave is the letting go of the rigid, clinging mind and the embracing of the effortless flow of time as it passes from new to old. The cobra roll represents the snake that sheds the old skin and old way of thinking, and embracing the now. The floating develops fearlessness and creates internal fire preparing the body for the battle that lies ahead.

Archer Series Section 2 - Divided Mind
The Warrior is now ready to confront the enemy - the divided mind. The enemy is strengthened by the resistance of the Warrior to accept what is. The Warrior must battle with the desire to cling to what has past, or what may never be, and embrace what is now. The archer releases the arrow of truth, and the enemy responds by lunging forward with more illusion. The Warrior defends, and returns with sword in hand. The battle continues.

Section 3 - Pride
The warrior is thrown to his/her back, yet refuses to surrender. The Warrior is battling pride now. The need to be right, to control, to direct the course of things. The rising into chair, the crane, the warrior 2, and flying warrior, proud warrior, to kicking warrior, to warrior 3, and finally to falling warrior.

Dancing Dog Section 4 - Unification
The warrior begins to recognize the emptiness of resisting what is. The battle transitions into a dance of unification. The unwavering courage of the warrior is demonstrated here and harmony is now the goal. The dancing dog represents the dance between the warrior and his/her mind. The half split and lizard poses are an effort to rest during the battle. The reverse prayer represents the prayer for peace. Warrior 1 to coiling dragon demonstrates the sword being thrown to the ground. The war has ended. The Warrior is now one with the mind.

Section 5 - Balance
Now balance must be established and sustained. The warrior now seeks to experience true balance. Finally having unified and become one with the mind the goal is now to demonstrate the balance between mind, spirit and body.

Animals Section 6 - Remembering
The Warrior remembers his/her original state before the divided mind. The animals represent rebirthing and returning to our natural state of single mind. A reconnection to the earth. A returning to all fours and to pure playfulness.

Section 7 - Death & Rebirth
The Warrior is now prepared to die. Opening, surrendering and vulnerability are present. Allowing what is to be, be. And with that the opportunity to return again from the corpse pose to rebirth and finally back to our observation of self. The cycle is complete.


Acro Enso.

---