I Prefer Paris: Yoga Classes in Paris

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

Centre 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.

New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook. First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotte’s professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.

Cost: 185 euros per person (about $240)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday
Minimum of 3 students, maximum 6 students.

Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.

Tourslogo4

I am pleased as punch to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I will personally be leading. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.

I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com