Yoga in Paris

International Yoga Day-no photo source

Those who read my blog know I met my Italian en route to yoga one evening in Soho, New York. A fortuitous meeting that changed the path of my life, and led me to Paris. For the last 10 years yoga has helped me to achieve inner balance and peace of mind, as well as strengthening and toning my core. I practiced yoga around the world during my travels, from Bali to Mexico, and as soon as I arrived to Paris I found a studio and my ohm-ing continued. In recent years, many more studios have opened in the city of lights, covering  all 20 arrondissements. Last year the world celebrated  the first International Yoga Day, with 1,500 yogis gathered beneath the Eiffel Tower.  As a firm believer in this centuries old practice, I wrote a comprehensive directory of yoga studios for Bonjour Paris, and am sharing with you the studios that offer classes in English, including those where I practice. Every Saturday morning the American Church in Paris hosts a Guerilla Yoga donation only community class, led my my friend and neighbor Anne who I know from the New York chapter. And should you need any fashionable and functional yoga gear, head over to Marais shop Yoga Concept where you can also find my custom yoga mat bags. Namaste!

Big Apple Yoga, 20 rue Dussoubs (2nd). www.bigappleyogafrance.com. +33 (0)1 42 36 76 11                                     They offer an unlimited class 10 day pass for 35€ and community classes at 10€

Centre de Yoga Du Marais, 72 rue du Vertbois (3rd). www.yogamarais.com. +33 (0)1 42 74 24 92                              They offer community classes at 10€

Omm Studio, 14 rue Saint-Gilles (3rd). www.ommstudio.fr. +33 (0)1 40 09 26 69

Rasa, 21 Rue Saint-Jacques (5th). www.rasa-yogarivegauche.com. +33 (0)1 43 54 14 59

YogaYoga Paris, 6 passage de la Vierge (7th). www.yogayogaparis.fr. +33 (0)1 47 20 71 56

Paris Yoga Shala, 9 rue Magellan (8th). www.parisyoga.com. +33 (0)1 40 70 14 44

Mysore Yoga Paris, 17 rue Eugène Varlin (10th). www.mysoreyogaparis.com

Beyoga, 17 rue Campagne Premiere (14th). www.beyoga.fr. +33 (0)9 65 31 60 11

Sahaja Yoga, Espace Fontanelle – 38, rue Fondary (15th). www.sahajayoga.fr. +33 (0)6 10 44 13 10

Yoga in Paris, 10 Rue Francoeur (18th). www.yogainparis.com. +33 (0)6 84 42 43 80

yoga high

It is via the spiritual path of yoga that I arrived to Paris, albeit indirectly. Hence, it will continue to be an integral part of my journey. But in French? Surely yoga needs no translation. This worried me, as my French was not yet as advanced to include body parts and movements. With much research and a fair amount of good fortune, I discovered a suitable yoga studio several cobbled streets away, the Centre de Yoga du Marais. As though sent by the yoga gods, my teacher is American, from NYC no less. Her energy is warm and welcoming. Immediately I feel well. For ninety minutes I am at home. The clatter of a foreign world ceases to exist. I am momentarily living and very deeply breathing, familiarity.

Upon leaving this sanctuary, I am filled with vigor and an enlightened perspective. The challenges ahead seem much more attainable. I float homewards and smile at the life that has been granted me.