Set up your mat, lie down and close your eyes. Immediately, to feel the light playing with the leaves of the trees on our closed eyelids. Listen to the rustling of the oaks around us. It’s powerful, it’s strong! Life is joyful up there, if you listen to the inhabitants of the branches. Feel the south wind tickle our toes and go up along our relaxed body…To relax completely from the first moments. And then, hearing the deep and warm voice of Annet, with this slight hint of accent seen from the Netherlands, which invites us to begin the course. Open your eyes and see her blonde hair, as bright as her smile! You are at the Madeleine and the yoga class can start…
“Doing yoga at the Madeleine, what a funny idea”! Some sometimes formatted minds of our ancestral Périgord did not always perceive how one could take a yoga class (“this Parisian Bobo thing in need of feeling”) on a heritage site and yet, it was necessary to resolve it. Yes, practicing yoga and meditating on this place could not be more logical, as this cliff calls us to peace and serenity. Knowing how to relax your mind and do your body good in front of a landscape open to the river, inhabited since the dawn of time and which has served as a refuge for so many generations of men and women is not insulting. Quite the contrary!
The frame is beautiful like an impressionist painting! The soft light like a late summer afternoon. And Annet, our young Dutch teacher, is completely in her element, in this site that she loves.
The style, Hatha Yoga, is both simple and sporty. It is in line with the teaching of the Sivananda centers. Annet knows how to adapt to your level. You can come as a pure beginner or an advanced yogi, she will make you work on the postures at your own pace! Beyond the postures (asanas), the emphasis will be placed on breathing exercises (pranayama) and relaxation (savasana) in the introduction and conclusion of the course. Even as a beginner, we observe our rapid progress in holding a position and we want to come back to it to find this famous body-mind osmosis.
What should you bring? A little time at the end of the day (90 min), comfortable and breathable clothing. We also advise you to also take a light blanket to cover yourself during the final relaxation. If you have a yoga mat, great! If you don’t have one, no problem! Just let us know in advance and we’ll lend you one.
In case of bad weather, the course is not cancelled! All at the large shelters of the Madeleine where the cliff offers us a dry and protective roof.
How much does it cost? :
15€ / person for a lesson. If you live in the area and want to participate more often, you can buy a summer membership card (8 classes) with a 15% discount.
Number of participants per course: 4 minimum, 12 maximum.
