Sweat with Intent in Buti Yoga – The Dance Yoga Craze

While the ancient practice of yoga has been around for thousands of years, new, modified–and sometimes odd– yoga forms like goat yoga, beer yoga and stoned yoga became popular just a few years ago. And now we have the dance yoga variation – Buti Yoga.

Created by Bizzie Gold in 2012, Buti Yoga quickly became the obsession of celebrities like Jennifer Love Hewitt. The practice is a combination of traditional yoga moves, tribal dance and plyometrics (also known as ‘jump training’). These high intensity dance yoga classes can burn up to 800 to 1,000 calories a session and, just like in a hot yoga class, be prepared to SWEAT.

The Buzz about Buti–Watch The Video

Buti is a Marathi Indian term that can be translated as, “…the cure to something that’s been hidden away or secret.”[1] And it seems like these classes do just that. People rave about the mental wellbeing they feel after a session and say they are inspired and energized in ways they haven’t felt in awhile.

Yogi Approved describes the practice as this way. “”Buti Yoga is a powerful blend of tribal dance and primal movements, plyometrics and vinyasa-style yoga. It is not your guru’s yoga. Buti is for the boss babes (and) every woman and any man comfortable enough with his sexuality.”[2]

If that doesn’t peak your interest, we don’t know what will.

The Evolution of Yoga

Just as language modifies with the times, so does fitness, and a practice 6,000 years old is bound to have some evolutions. Plus, when we are shorter on time than ever, we feel the need to condense our exercise routines. This makes a HIIT Yoga class, such as Buti Yoga, very appealing.  Think of it this way: Buti combines mental wellness with physical fitness with a hint of dance yoga, helping you feel revived and restored but also confident and powerful. That’s a lot of therapy in one class.

Sweat without the Price Tag

Buti Yoga offers the same confidence boosting playlist as a Soul Cycle experience without the $40 dollar price tag–and you’ll see results. It also gives you the same detox a sweat yoga class might, without a high temperature room. This means you can do this practice at home with a fitness DVD or YouTube series. It’s not surprising. (Take a look at the instructors’ abs and you’ll see why Buti Yoga has quickly climbed the ranks of popular fitness trends.)

Honoring the Traditions of Yoga

Not all yoga enthusiasts are fans of Buti. Some in the community feel that Buti Yoga is the cultural appropriation of Indian culture. It’s true that Buti Yoga contains very little of the mental practice of traditional yoga. And the combination of aerobic exercise and yoga moves makes Buti a far cry from the yoga of 6,000 years ago. Just like some of the yoga practices we listed above, it can feel like another erasure of Indian culture.

Culture appropriation can be a difficult topic, as there are those who want to enjoy a yoga practice that brings them a lot of joy and happiness. However, we can look inward and honor the yogis and culture that developed it. Awareness and respect can go a long way.

Find yoga classes near you.

---

[1] The Independent, “Buti Yoga: What is it, what are the benefits and where can you find it?”  Sabrina Barr, March 2018
[2]  Yogi Approved, “What is Buti Yoga + Why Are So Many Women Obsessing Over It?” Ashton August