Story edited by Richard Nahem, Eye Prefer Paris CorrespondentMagda Fletcher, originally from Brazil, is an accomplished Yoga instructor certified in different styles. She had a terrific idea of writing about various Yoga studios in Paris that teach in English. Below is a list of her favorite studios and the best classes in different neighborhoods plus information about her classes.Federation Francaise de Yoga
Perhaps this is the oldest Vinyasa yoga style studio in Paris. Gérard Arnaud, the senior teacher, offers excellent Vinyasa classes, but they’re in French. He speaks fluent English and I believe it’s worth attending his advanced lessons. If you are a total beginner and you speak French, you can try other lessons. He’s created Vinyasa sequences in several levels, allowing ways to build your stamina gradually. The studio is very simple: there is neither social atmosphere nor space to wait inside the studio before the class.
11, Passage Saint Pierre Amelot, 11th arr.
Tel. 01 47 00 26 12
Metro: Oberkampf
www.yoga-paris.com
Ashatanga Yoga Paris
Linda and Gerald are excellent Ashtanga teachers. If you love Ashtanga as taught by Sri. K. Pattabhi Jois, a dynamic yoga sequence of postures, it is more than likely you will appreciate your time practicing yoga with them. They have a method of teaching gradually the Ashtanga sequence. Gerald is the most experienced teacher and one of the first French man to have the authorization to teach the method as taught by P. Jois. Linda offers an excellent e-newsletter about the practices and free short demos online. The location is beautiful, overlooking a zen Japanese garden and the environment is peaceful. There are lessons on Sundays and there are two studio rooms.
5 rue Morand, 11th arr.
Tel. 01 45 80 19 96
Metro: Oberkampf
www.ashtangayogaparis.fr
Rasa Rive Gauche
This is a multi-style yoga studio, offering some lessons in English. There is space to calmly arrive, change in a proper changing room and sit in the lounge to wait for your class. I took Anusara lessons with Rajeev in English, and the practice certainly revealed the Anusara principles. I also tried a Vinyasa lesson with Mika (in French), and the sequence was dynamic and flowing. There are other teachers who are fluent in English and teach different methods but in French.
21 rue Saint Jacques,5th arr.
Tel. 01 43 54 14 59
Metro St. Michel
www.rasa-yogarivegauche.com
Centre de Yoga
Faeq Biria is the main teacher, fluent in English, and perhaps one of the most experienced Iyengar teachers in Europe. He and his wife, Corinne, teach excellent lessons. I took lessons in French with them. If you are looking for alignment of the poses and a strong centered practice, it is really worth attending lessons in their studio. The studio is located in a high ceiling apartment, so the yoga room looks like a living room without furniture (cold), but with loads of yoga props. There are lessons in English, and a variety of Iyengar practices, such as pregnancy and restorative.
35 Ave. Victor Hugo 16th arr.
Tel. 01 45 00 28 48
Metro Victor Hugo
www.sfbiria.com
Element Paris
It’s a studio focused on Pilates, but since the staff is very welcoming and the place is charming, I added it to this list. They offer bilingual yoga lessons. The lesson with Caitlin is for beginners. Anne teaches the Anusara method. You will do yoga in a pretty studio and the staff will make you feel at ease.
16 bis de La Grande Chaumiere, 6th arr.
Tel. 01 53 10 86 00
Metro Vavin
www.elementparis.com
entre de Yoga du Marais
It offers a full range of yoga classes to suit different practices. Michelle is the main teacher and the owner of the place. There are qualified teachers to fill out the roster for daily classes in English: they vary from Mommy and Me to yoga for parents and kids, from yoga for teens to Vinyasa style. There are lessons on Sundays. I imagine most of the clients are foreigners. Note that you don’t have room to wait inside the studio before your class begins.
72 rue du Vertbois 3d arr.
Tel. 01 42 74 24 92
Metro Arts et Metiers
www.yogamarais.com
For pregnancy lessons in English, there is also www.chameleonfitness.net. The Bikran Paris offers classes in English.
This photo and top photo courtesy of Julia Griner
Magda Fletcher is certified in different yoga styles, Yoga Alliance registered, and teaches one-on-one and group lessons in Paris. Her references include Parc Biocitech, CNBC Paris and Gymglish. Magda teaches a style of dynamic Hatha yoga tailored to her clients’ fitness and lifestyle needs. She offers weekly lessons at www.lasalleparis.com and www.aabresil.com. Her teaching focuses on the therapeutic effects of yoga postures to release physical tension and on yoga techniques to manage emotional stress. The purpose of her teaching is to empower the students with key techniques to increase attention within a realm of inner joy: they will learn ways to manage daily stress on a day to day scale which will allow them to feel at ease more often: be physically be emotionally. The therapeutic effects of postures also will develop balanced muscle tone which promotes healthy joints and beauty!
For more information and rates please check her website at www.yogaexperience.fr
I have been going to Ashatanga Yoga Paris since March of this year (’09). I have taken a break over the summer (Aug & Sept), but hope to start up regularly with weekly sessions this coming first week of October. I wanted to echo this article’s opinion about how wonderful Ashtanga Yoga Paris is! Linda and Gerald are wonderful people. Also, I speak *very* little French, and Gerald, in the beginner’s class, is very patient to help in English when needed. He leads the class in French, but since I’d had a little experience with Ashtanga in the past, I am able to ucomprehend what is going on and find the class is helping to improve my French, too.
I am absolutely always refreshed, energized, and centered after a class at Ashtanga Yoga Paris.
This is Magda, the girl in the photo. I did mean it. Linda and Gerald have my complete and total support. I send my own clients to them when they want to flow in a group setting. Beyond professional knowledge, they are great people to have nearby. I teach only privates and at companies in Paris, the yoga methods of Doug Keller, doyoga.com, and the philosophy passed by Carlos Pomeda (pomeda.com). (Both teachers were students of Muktananda, in the Siddha ashram in India: the one mentioned in the book, now the film Eat, Pray and Love. Same tradition of the ashram of John Friend from Anusara. I practice for 6 years this yoga tradition, with anusara teachers and Doug Keller (former anusara).
In Paris, I plan to have my own personal practice mostly oriented to zen people around me and I want to learn the challenging postures at Ashtanga Yoga Paris for my own evolution & joy: there is really good vibration.
This information is priceless! Thanks so much for posting it. I’m always looking for yoga when I’m in Paris and will print this and carry it with me next time!