French Yoga Vocabulary and New Studios in Paris
Head’s up yoga addicts!
Parisians used to be famous for their dislike of exercise but that was… a long time ago. Yoga– all across the world– is more en vogue than ever and Paris has loads of options for practicing in the city. If you understand your yoga tutor’s instructions in French, it’s even better! If learning French and practicing yoga in Paris are your two mottos, this article is for you. I will share French yoga movement verbs, yogic poses in French and English. I will also recommend some new studios.
Yoga French Vocabulary You Need to Understand
Yoga Material
During a lesson your instructor might ask you to use different material such as:
Le tapis : mat
Le bloc : block
La sangle / La ceinture : strap
French Yoga Movement Verbs
People from all over the world enjoy practicing yoga in France. However, the French yoga vocabulary and movement verbs in French can be challenging for foreigners. Here are a few movement verbs in the infinitive form:
Se mettre à quatre pattes : to get down on all fours
S’asseoir : to sit down
S’allonger : to lay down
Se placer : place yourself
Se retourner : to turn over
Fléchir / plier : to bend
Tendre : to extend
Se détendre : to relax
Relâcher : to release
Lever : to put up
Baisser : to lower
Ramener : to bring back
Etirer : to stretch
French Yoga Instruction
To understand the yoga instructions in French is a perfect way to understand the imperative form. You will learn at the same time how someone will ask you not to do something.
Echauffez-vous : warm up
Allongez-vous : lie down
Activez la jambe arrière : move the back leg
Ancrez bien les pieds dans le sol : press / anchore your feet on the ground
Allongez-vous sur le dos avec les lombaires collés au sol : lie down on your back, your lumber vertebra touching the ground
Collez les épaules en arrière : stick your shoulders back
Descendez les jambes à 45% : lower your legs at 45 degrees
Fléchissez les pieds : bend your feet
Fléchissez vos genoux et posez vos pieds à plat : bend your knees and put your feet flat on the ground
Levez les jambes à l’équerre : raise your legs at 90 degrees
Ecarter les jambes : open your legs
Pliez la jambe droite: fold your right leg
Placez les paumes de main sur le sol : place the palms of your hands on the ground
Posez le front au sol : put your forehead on the ground
Pressez les mains dans le sol : press your hands on the ground
Poussez sur les bras : press on your arms
Relâchez les épaules : release your shoulders
Ramenez le bas du dos au sol : lower your back to the ground
Redressez-vous vertèbre après vertèbre : straigten up vertebra by vertebra
Tendez les bras vers le haut : stretch your arms upwards
Soulevez le buste : rise up your upper body
Serrez les coudes contre le buste : keep your elbows at your side
Standing Yoga Poses in French, English and Sanskrit
Here is a list of 14 yoga poses in French, English and Sanskrit. You might get a kick out of listening to Sanskrit mantras chanted with a French accent:
La posture de l’arbre : tree pose (vrksasana)
La posture de la montagne : mountain pose (tadasana)
La posture du triangle : triangle pose (trikonasana)
La posture du chien tête en bas : downward-facing dog pose ( adho mukha svanasana)
La posture du guerrier un : warrior 1 pose (virabhadrasana)
La posture du guerrier deux : warrior 2 pose (virabhadrasana 2)
La posture de la chaise : chair pose (vtkatasana)
La posture du lotus : lotus pose (padmasan)
La posture du papillon : butterfly pose (badhakonasana)
La posture du cobra: cobra pose (bhujangasana)
La posture du poisson : fish pose ( matsyasana)
La posture de l’enfant : child pose (balasana)
Where to Practice Yoga in Paris: The New Studios
In recent years, a slew of new addresses has cropped up around the city. Most yoga studios offer different disciplines and classes with a variety of instructors from many backgrounds so that each person can find a type of yoga that fits into his or her lifestyle.
Bromance Paname
A cross between a yoga studio and a café, this studio is a real cocoon in the heart of the 11th. Founded by the hip duo Audrey & Elise, Bromance Paname is open from Monday to Sunday and welcomes you to have a coffee, drink a juice, read a book but also for different courses: pilates, yoga and bar. Different levels of intensity are offered and thanks to its two rooms that can accommodate up to 16 people each, several slots are available for lunch, dinner and weekends. Perfect when you are an active mom or a future mom.
Bromance Paname, 8 rue du Grand Prieuré, 75011 Paris. bromancepaname.fr
ci-Selfcare
A few blocks from the Arc de Triomphe, Ici-Selfcare is a cozy bubble in the heart of the capital. Dedicated to women, the studio welcomes up to 10 participants maximum for each course. But for Sam Guelini, the founder of Ici-Selcare, it’s out of the question to take care of your body while neglecting your soul. Sam brings back from all over of the world the latest recipes of mixtures of herbs to be tasted at the end of classes and with organic magic ointments.
Ici-Selfcare, 44 rue des Acacias, 75017 Paris. ici-selfcare.com
Mirz Yoga
Mirz yoga offers the latest trends in the world of yoga and allows all participants to find a multitude of information on different schools of yoga: hatha, ashtanga or power yoga, iyengar … Miirz Yoga offers more weekly classes in its new well-being studio located in the heart of the 19th district. Workshops like yoga & hypnosis and yoga & running should definitely be tried. And the little bonus: Mirz yoga offers a great selection of health and wellness products.
Mirz Yoga, 11 rue Delouvain, 75019 Paris mirz-yoga.com
Tigre Marais
Tigre Yoga Club has opened last year a fifth address in Paris, in the heart of the Marais. Nestled in a cobblestone courtyard on rue du Perche, this 480 m2 holistic space is cozy with its neo-hippy sofas and cushions and softly painted walls. Bathed in natural light with its large windows, the main room of 80 m2 gives pride of place to the speciality of Tiger yoga, set out in a wide choice of 22 different practices. On the other side of the courtyard are Pilates, TRX, boxing and bar… Another option: the Pilates Machine room. Designed as a laboratory of mind-body practices, the Tigre Marais also houses a Japanese sauna and two massage rooms, while an “offline” meditation lounge is open for free.
Tigre Marais, 11 rue du Perche, 75003 Paris. www.tigre-yoga.com
