Focus On: Buti Fitness
While I was at the IDEA conference, it was kind of my heaven: new fitness gadget and education OVERLOAD. I read in the last IDEA Journal that during the conference, you learn and see too much to even begin to use or absorb, which I totally believe. There were some jewels that I’ll keep with me for the rest of my teaching and training life, and there are a lot of other things I can’t help but drive myself crazy wondering “What did we do and how did we do that again?!”
There were a lot of new classes I barely got to know; before we could become good friends, it was on to the next. Like Buti (pronounced like “booty”)
Edited to say: The video below is SFW, but maybe will get some high eyebrows from coworkers strolling by. The dance moves are kind of suggestive, so just a heads up.
I got a small glimpse of Buti while I was at IDEA, and intrigued would be an understatement. As a huge fan of dance and yoga, I loved how the presenters gracefully moved form pose to pose, while adding in movement and hip swings. The energy was contagious, and it was a fun surprise to see the combo of strength components and dance. Even though I didn’t get the chance to take a class, it looks like something I’d absolutely love.
What is it?
Buti is a workout that combines elements from yoga, tribal dance and plyometrics. This empowering fitness craze focuses on transforming lives with movement, nutrition and overall wellness. Buti was created by LA-based trainer Bizzie Gold, and includes Buti, Buti Sculpt and Hot Buti (all trademarked).
From the website:
“In Buti classes, we focus on spiraling movements aimed at unlocking the Shakti Spiral as well as releasing the hips to help energy flow freely in the 1st and 2nd chakras. Buti combines various styles of Hatha yoga with tribal-influenced dance sequences to keep the heart rate up, free the female spirit and help women form a tribe or sisterhood.”
What to expect:
Lots of hip movement, cardio drills, short dance sequences, and pulsing with traditional yoga poses. I like how they’ll hold a warrior pose or squat and perform micro movements or arm variations within the exercise. As far as the hips go, I can tell it’s one of those classes where you need to leave your inhibition and shyness at the door. My tip for classes like this: all of the newbies probably feel the same way you feel, and everyone is too focused on their own workout to care about what others are doing.
Possible pros:
LOTS of core work. From the videos I checked out on Youtube, I noticed a ton of core stabilization and balance exercises. This is fantastic for strengthening your deep core muscles, working your obliques (lots of twisting), improving performance and posture for your other activities.
Cardio. There seems to be a fun cardio element to the class, utilizing plyometric exercises (think mountain climbers, squat jumps, and hitting the floor). If you want something a little more cardio-intense than yoga, it seems like it would be a fun option to try.
Empowerment. I’m all about the “girl power” workouts, which I think are amazing for developing a team spirit among fellow participants. It’s always motivating to feel like you’re connected and working together, whether it’s through synchronized movement (like dance) or accomplishing a common goal (like CrossFit).
and cons:
Buti seems to be one of those “love it or loathe it” type of workouts. It’s very unique, and with that comes the expectation that it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, and that’s ok. Buti is like many workouts in the sense that you get out of it what you put into it. If you walk in thinking it will be lame and half-try everything, chances are that you’ll leaving thinking it was boring and didn’t get a great workout.
So what do you think? Does it look like something you’d enjoy, or notsomuch?
Have you tried a Buti class?
Some more resources:
They also offer online classes via their website
32 Comments
Leave a Comment
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
OMG that Buti video is so not suitable for work! The slow motion pulsing moments are borderline pornographic, or would at least seem to be to a passerby boss. lol.
I like the idea behind this workout, but am always a bit apprehensive or “Let’s all be amazing women and let our shaktis free” workouts. I mean, every woman in that video is a size 0/2 yoga noodle. It’s like the Victoria Secret “I love my body” commercials…OF COURSE YOU DO! ;P I think I’ll stick to Body Pump/Fitnessista lower body workouts for my “buti”.
This comment made me laugh…so true.
This is an awesome comment! So true!
Baha love this comment
i totally agree!! maybe it should have been prefaced before video was posted. it is borderline.
sorry about that- i’ll add it to the post
I have been going to a Buti class my Zumba instructor recently started for a few weeks and LOVE it! I DEFINITELY do not have a “yoga noodle” body and it kicks my buti for sure! But I can already feel myself getting stronger and although the moves are never easier I feel more comfortable doing them and stronger in my poses.
When my instructor first mentioned she was going to start a Buti class I watched the videos online and was VERY apprehensive. I was pretty sure I could never do any of those moves and was worried that the suggestive moments would make me uncomfortable, but I think if you find a good group of girls to work out with none of that matters. And although hard the moves are possible.
I am always sore (in a good way) and have been developing muscles I didn’t even know I had. I preach Buti wherever I go now because I really feel like its the best workout!
I’m sorry but this Buti looks like a joke. I could totally see this as a skit on SNL. You are right when it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea 🙂 It looks like something similar to all the crazy workouts Tracy Anderson creates! I hope this stays in LA!
BUTI is definitely NOT a joke. And all people of all shapes and sizes can do the workouts. We have a FB page that is designated to BUTI lovers and we absolutely have people on our page who are NOT size 2, myself being one of them.
I have to admit- based on your description, I want to give it a try. Definitely will be trying to find some more youtube videos to give it a good try!
I LOVE Bizzie Gold and Buti. I love her XY plyometric/HIIT workouts even more (they’re free on youtube). I think she is like the anti-Tracy Anderson: body positive, all about empowerment and FEELING good versus TA’s focus on only looking good for other people. Bizzie Gold’s story is also very inspiring. She thought of the program after a traumatic childbirth, when she needed something to open up her first and second chakra and reclaim her feminine power. I love her sense of humor, too. The Buti workouts kind of hurt my back so I stick more to the XY videos, but I love both and think she is an awesome woman and a great trainer.
hey thanks for mentioning the free vids! i checked them out and plan to do a HIIT one later.
So one of my coworkers got an eyeful as he walked by. He definitely thought I was watching a porn! I mean I like it but… idk. I love shaking my booty and doing yoga and dance but idk if I’d like this. It seems kind of like a fad movement.
I’ve never heard of but before, but I think I would enjoy it. I love using yoga poses into any form of exercise so I might have to check this out
I’ve never tried Buti but it sounds like something I’d like! I’m currently addicted to Pure Barre though…
I think I would enjoy trying it in the privacy of my own home, like in a fitness dvd, but I don’t think I’d like a class setting. I will do ANYTHING if no one is watching me! I feel weird pulsing my bridge poses at the gym, so I think this is slightly out of my comfort zone
Wow!! I’ve never heard of Buti before but it looks like fun!! I’ll have to find out where I can try it here after I’m done being pregnant (due date is today!!)!!!
OMG good luck!! 🙂 <3
I’ve never tried this workout before but it sounds really fun!
I’ve seen a couple posts about Buti recently and I was intrigued. After checking out their sample videos, it didn’t seem like it would be a good fit for me, which was surprising since I love yoga and Zumba and out of the box workouts. That said, I’ll try any workout once and shimmy like no one is watching 🙂
The gym i used to work at had these Buti classes…lets just say….it definetely stirred up the men in the health club..often they would all stand outside the glass “watching”…awkward….i could do this in my bedroom..not at a healthclub…
I’ve only done the online classes but I really like the Buti classes. There is a live class near me but I haven’t made it there yet. It’s on the list. I think it is a lot of fun!
I randomly stumbled upon a buti youtube video and tried it out…until I felt too ridiculous with all of the hip thrusting movements and whatnot haha. It seems like a great workout, but I think I’ma stick to my yoga and zumba for now 😉
I love Buti. I stumbled on it not long after I had my babies 9 months ago and while the demo workout on YouTube was so suggestive I kept clutching my chest, the workouts are fun and really challenging! Knowing that the founder – I forget her name – is also a mother as well gave me hope while I was doing them that I too can have a banging post-baby body…but then one of the twins would start crying and I would have to stop :/
Sounds interesting! I’ve never heard if Buti before — thanks for the info!
I love Buti!! It’s so much fun. It’s yoga fused with gyrating hip hop and l
Plyometrics. I’ve done their online Buti tone classes but would love to try a live one. You should check out there website. They have classes you can download for free. And Bizzie Gold the creator is gorgeous and really sweet.
Are bikinis required workout wear? 😉
I want to like it but I think I’d be way too intimidated to try this.
I like the concept, so I think I’ll try it. I just tried Erin sutland’s shrink session preview workout session and loved it! Dance, plyometrics plus affirmations!
I tried Buti a couple weeks ago and loved it! It was called Buti yoga, so I was expecting plenty of yoga moves, but boy was there a lot of plyo and cardio dance in there as well! Of course, this post is much more inclusive and informative than the super short one I wrote, and I actually took a class, haha. 🙂
I loved Buti when I when I was living in LA! I started taking classes with Bizzie and soon the craze began. Love the booty shaking music and my body looked and felt strong from the plyometric work mixed with lengthening yoga postures. A con for me is that I don’t always feel like I’m in the mood to do Buti. I still stream videos online to mix it up if I’m feeling particularly sassy. Would recommend trying it (like everything else) at least once!
I LOVE Buti and I preach it to everyone I know. I’ve gotten all of my coworkers and many friends into the workout. It’s not only a hard workout (I promise you will sweat and be sore in places you haven’t been before) but its also about releasing your fears and not worrying about what you look like shaking your hips. I don’t know where it comes from but my friends and I like to say “first you booty shake, then you meditate.”
My mom, sisters, and I do the Buti online workouts and LOVE them. We’ve all lost a significant amount of weight doing them, mostly because the great music and variety of classes keeps our attention.
I’ve gotten several other people hooked too!