YOGA

Yoga never went out of style here in France, as it seemed to do in the US between the 70s and the 90s, although its image is getting a makeover. Yoga is an excellent form of exercise that provides benefits on a number of levels, whether physically with toning, stretching, respiratory work, or relaxation, or mentally, for calmness of mind or spirituality. The burst of popularity for mind/body fitness in the late 90s has spread to Paris, with an American accent. . Michelle Jacobi opened her Centre de Yoga du Marais in spring of 2002, and a number of teachers have integrated yoga into their fitness classes. Most Club Med gyms now offer yoga classes as well. Check out journalist David Lebovitz's look at yoga in Paris.

Centre de yoga du Marais, 72 rue du Vertbois, 3rd arr., Metro Arts et Metiers, tel: 01.4274.2492, email: yogamarais@wanadoo.fr or check the website at www.yogamarais.com. Weekend workshops offered, plus pre- and post-natal yoga classes.

YogaYoga is a relative newcomer, opened by Oliver Bell in the 7th arrondissement, just off rue Cler - full schedule of classes with a good variety of styles. 6, passage de la Vierge, 7eme, tel: 01.47.20.71.56.

YogaFitness - Melanie mixes her experience and expertise, teaching yoga, fitness, step & dance, for private or group classes. For more info, tel: 06.1802.3558 or see www.yogafitness.fr, which includes her blog.

Les amis du yoga du quartier Ecole militiare : Marie-Rose Bardy (French), group or individual, 7^th arr., tel: 06.8072.3888

Ashtanga Yoga offered at Ashtanga Paris studio, 64 avenue d'Italie, 75013, Metro Place d'Italie, tel: 01.45.80.19.96 or 06.22.32.52.16, email ashtangaparis@yahoo.com.

Also offering Ashtanga is Caroline Boulingues, at Samasthiti Studio, in the 4th arr., tel: 01.44.07.31.33, email: caroline.boulinguez@samasthitistudio.net.

One of the more established yoga institutions is the Sivananda Yoga Center, 123 bd de Sebastopol, 10e, tel: 01.40.26.77.49, email paris@sivananda.org. Saturday workshops are held weekly, participants can choose either 14h-16h or the whole day from 11h-18h+. For a schedule of topics, see their website, www.sivananda.org.

Bikram Yoga: For those who like it hot, check out the centre for Bikram Yoga, 17 rue du Faubourg Montmartre, 9e, tel: 01.42.47.18.52 or email: info@bikramyogaparis.com. A second location recently opened, BikramYoga 2, at 13, rue Simon Le Franc, 75004.

Red Earth Centre, mind-body center offers yoga classes (hatha, kundalini, vinyasa), as well as shiatsu, butoh and flamenco classes, in English and French. 235, rue La Fayette, 10e, tel: 01.40.38.40.52, website: www.redearthcentre.com

Prana Stretch, yoga-based bodywork classes by dancer Ann Moradian, tel: 01.40.70.07.85, for info email: pranastretch@yahoo.com or see Perspectives in Motion

Meritxell Farré, New York Open Center certified teacher, offers Dynamic Yoga classes, groups or in a personal setting, tel: 06.20.45.35.86, email: xell28@hotmail.com.

In St. Germain-en-Laye, there is a yoga centre based on Yoga Mala, offering a good choice of classes. Nick Marshall is a personal trainer and yoga teacher there and he likes the idea of integrating yoga with sports. See: www.yoga78.fr.

Paris Yoga, School of Agni Yoga, 9 rue Magellan, 8th arr, Metro George V, tel: 01.4010.1444, www.parisyoga.com.

Both Ashtanga and Vinyasa yoga are offered at the Rasa yoga centre and spa, 21 rue Saint Jacques, 75005, tel: 01.43.54.14.59.

Kundalini yoga is offered at a few places, including chez Isabelle Silvagnoli, at 123 Yoga; and with guru Hans Kaur, including weekend workshops, see Kundalini Yoga.

Julie Platus, an American teacher with a spiritual approach, teaches as part of Yoga in English, 17th arr. and other locations in Paris, tel: 01.56.68.04.26 or email: yoga.in.english@wanadoo.fr.

Kim Roberts offers Ashtanga yoga, at the American University, 11, rue Pierre Villey, 7eme, tel: 06.2264.0701.

The Red Earth Centre offers an eclectic array of classes, including yoga, shiatsu, botuh and flamenco, at 235 rue La Fayette, 75010, tel: 01.40.38.40.52.

Gymnaprana yoga, by Virginie Girard, in French, at the American Church, the CEASC (1st arr) and the Tennis Club des Ibis Le Vesinet, tel: 01.4608.4855.

Art et yoga du 5eme, tel: 01.4736.5483, gymnase Amyot.

Vinyasa yoga centre: See below, the Institut française de Yoga, 2 rue de Valois, 1er.

Shivam, a certified Indian yoga teacher, offers yoga group or individual classes in the 14th arrondissement near Metro Alesia, tel: 06.8458.5033, email: yogi_shivam@hotmail.com

French yoga federations:

La Fédération française de Hatha Yoga was created in 1969. Website: www.ff-hatha-yoga.com/. Located at 50, rue Vaneau, 7e, tel: 01 45 44 02 59, or email: info@ff-hatha-yoga.com.It publishes a bi-annual newsletter, available at their site, and organises conferences, workshops and classes.

La Fédération française de Yoga offers classes, workshops, retreats, and teacher training in Vinyasa yoga, and they have an English version of their website: www.yoga-paris.com/. Located at 11, passage Saint-Pierre-Amelot, 11e, tel: 01.47.00.26.12.

Fédération française de Kundalini Yoga - tel: 04.76.41.90.24, email: info@goldentemple.fr, website: www.kundalini.fr.

The Institut française de Yoga - Created in 1983 (originally called the Fédération française de Viniyoga), it organises conferences, provides a list of teachers by region, and offers classes and workshops throughout France and in Paris at 2, rue de Valois, 1er, tel: 01.42.96.44.55, email:info@ify.fr. See: www.ify.fr/index.php.

The Yoga Journal offers a search of its directories for studios around the world. Not many here for Paris, but give it a shot, here.