GOING to a new yoga class in France can be daunting, but with a few familiar words you can soon make a start, writes Carol Miers.
If you are interested in finding a class, ask at your local mairie, visit the tourist office, look in the local paper and read the notices pinned up on the sports hall and salle de fête notice boards.
You can also search online, don't worry yoga is just yoga in French or in English.
In class although it's usually possible to stand next to someone and follow their movements, unless you are told to close your eyes, knowing a few words can make it easier.
So you can practice a few yoga movements while saying the French phrases below:
- Chat-Vache à quatre pattes - Cat-cow pose on all fours
- Assis sur les talons - Sit on your heels
- Levant les deux bras au-dessus de la tête - Lift your arms over your head
- Debout - Standing
- Inspirez/expirez - Inhale/exhale
- Accrochez les doigts - Interlace your fingers
- Faites les cercles avec la tête - Make circles with your head
- Allongez-vous sur le dos/ventre - Lie on your back/stomach
- Fermez les deux poings - make fists with your hands
- Levez les jambes vers le ciel - Lift your legs towards the ceiling (for example in shoulder stand)
- Penchez-vous vers l'avant - Bend forwards
- Assis les jambes tendues devant - Sit with the legs straight out in front
- Accélérez - Go faster
- Attrapez fermement le gros orteil de chaque pied - Grip the big toe of each foot
- Accroupissez-vous - Crouch down
- Gardez la colonne droite - Keep the back straight
- Expirez en vous penchant vers l'avant - Exhale as you bend forwards
And some individual parts of the body:
- le pouce - the thumb
- le menton - the chin
- le gros orteil - the big toe
- l'oncle - nail
- les sourcils - eyebrows
Carol Miers holds Kundalini yoga classes in Villefranche du Perigord, Dordogne and qualified to teach Kundalini yoga with the Amrit Nam Sarovar school in France (KRI Level 2).
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