A Yoga Session in France – French Story & Translation

Author: Chloé

Practice your French yoga vocabulary: learn about French yoga pose names, and useful yoga directions in French translated into English. A great way to prepare for a yoga class in France!

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Maintenant que vous connaissez le vocabulaire gĂ©nĂ©ral du yoga en français et  le noms français des postures de yoga, je vous propose de suivre une session typique de yoga en français avec moi, ma mĂšre et mon frĂšre !

Now that you know the general French yoga vocabulary and the French names for yoga poses, I invite you to follow a typical yoga class in French with me, my mom and my brother!

1 – French Yoga Movement Verbs

  1. inspirer = inhale
  2. expirer = exhale
  3. respirer = breath
  4. Ă  quatre pattes = on all fours
  5. fléchir / plier = to bend
  6. tendre = extend
  7. s’allonger = lay down
  8. observer = observe
  9. se détendre = relax
  10. relĂącher = release
  11. lever = put up
  12. baisser = lower
  13. retourner = turn over
  14. ramener = bring back
  15. garder = keep
  16. se placer = place yourself
  17. Ă©tirer = stretch
french yoga class vocabulary practice immersion in france

2 – French Vocabulary – Yoga Class

  1. une sĂ©ance de yoga – yoga session
  2. une classe de yoga – a yoga class
  3. un cours de yoga – a yoga class
  4. un tapis – a mat
  5. un coussin – a cushion
  6. une brique – block
  7. une sangle – strap
  8. les pieds nus – barefoot
  9. un mouvement – movement
  10. une posture – pose
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3 – A Yoga Session in France

De quel matĂ©riel avons-nous besoin pour la sĂ©ance de Yoga ?

What equipment do we need for the Yoga session?

Vous devez porter des vĂȘtements confortables et propres, mais pas de chaussettes ! Le Yoga se pratique pieds nus. Je vous prĂȘte un tapis, des blocs, un coussin et des sangles. Ces accessoires sont parfois utiles pour faciliter la posture.

You must wear clean and comfortable clothes, but no socks! Yoga is practiced barefoot. I lend you a mat, blocks, a cushion and straps. These accessories are sometimes useful to make the pose easier.

french yoga class vocabulary practice immersion in france

4 – Learn French and Practice Yoga in Immersion in France

Est-ce que tu proposes des séances de Yoga aux étudiants qui viennent en immersion ?

Do you offer Yoga sessions to the students who come for the French immersion?

Oui, bien sĂ»r ! C’est une excellente maniĂšre d’apprendre le vocabulaire du corps et des mouvements. Si besoin, mes Ă©tudiants Ă©tudient le vocabulaire en cours de français avec moi et nous mettons ensuite en pratique ce qu’ils ont appris. Si je vois qu’ils ne comprennent pas bien les indications verbales, je montre la posture. C’est une expĂ©rience trĂšs ludique et authentique !

Yes, of course! It is an excellent way to learn the body and movement vocabulary. If necessary, they study the vocabulary during the French class with me and they put what they have learnt into practice. If I notice that they do not understand very well the verbal instructions, I do the pose. This is a fun and authentic experience!

Alors c’est parti ! On commence la sĂ©ance !

Let’s go and start the session!

Une minute ! Avant tout, je dois prĂ©parer la sĂ©ance. Pour cela, je dois d’abord savoir si vous avez des problĂšmes de santĂ©, des douleurs et des besoins spĂ©cifiques. Ensuite, je construis une sĂ©ance unique et spĂ©cifique. Avant de guider la sĂ©ance, je dois moi-mĂȘme me concentrer et me dĂ©tendre !

Just a minute! First, I must prepare the session. To do so, I need to know if you have health problems, pains and specific needs. Then, I build a unique and specific session for you. Before guiding the session, I need to get myself centered and relaxed.

french yoga class vocabulary practice immersion in france

5 – A Typical Yoga Practice in France

J’ai pris quelques photos d’une session que j’ai fait pour ma mĂšre et mon frĂšre dans ma salle de Yoga.

I’ve taken a few pictures of a session I did for my mother and my brother in my Yoga room.

Voici quelques exemples de postures pratiquĂ©es pendant la sĂ©ance. Un excellent moyen d’apprendre le vocabulaire français du corps et les verbes de mouvements !

Here are some example of the poses we have practiced during the session. This is an excellent way to learn the French body and movement vocabulary. (See Camille’s article about the French body vocabulary with a video!)

6 – French Yoga Practice –  Posture 1: Adho Mukha SvanĂąsana

Pose 1 : Downward Facing Dog – La posture du chien tĂȘte en bas

Placez-vous Ă  quatre pattes, les mains sous les Ă©paules et les genoux sous les hanches.

Come to all fours, hands under your shoulders, knees under your hips.

Retournez les orteils et rapprochez les fessiers des talons. Étirez bien votre colonne.

Turn your toes under and bring your tailbone on your heels. Lengthen your spine.

Inspirez, tendez les jambes et levez les hanches vers le plafond. Gardez les bras tendus. Si possible, ramenez les talons vers le sol. Gardez le dos droit. Respirez profondément.

Inhale, stretch your legs and raise your hips up. Keep the arms straight. If possible, push the heels toward the floor. Lengthen the spine. Breath deeply.

7 – French Yoga Practice Posture 2 : UtthanĂąsana

Pose 2 : Standing Forward Bend – La Posture de la Pince Debout

Placez vous debout, pieds joints ou légÚrement écartés et parallÚles. Inspirez et levez les bras. Baissez les épaules. Allongez la colonne.

Stand straight with your feet together or slightly apart and parallel to each other. Inhale and raise your arms up above the head. Release the shoulders. Lengthen the spine.

Expirez et descendez le buste vers le sol en fléchissant les hanches. Gardez le dos droit et les bras au niveau des oreilles.

Exhale and bend forward from the hips. Keep the back straight and the arms next to the ears.

Quand vous ne pouvez plus flĂ©chir les hanches, relĂąchez le dos. La tĂȘte et la nuque sont relĂąchĂ©s. Si besoin, pliez les genoux. Ne forcez pas, allez aussi loin que votre corps vous le permet. Respirez profondĂ©ment et calmement.

When you cannot bend the hips anymore, release your back. Head and neck relaxed. Knees can be bent. DonÊŒt strain, go only as far as your body allows you. Breath deeply and slowly.

Ajustement : Si vous ne pouvez pas tendre les genoux, posez les mains sur des briques. Ne forcez pas. Gardez les jambes tendues et le dos droit.

Modification : If you can not keep the knees straight, place your palms on blocks. Stretch your legs and lengthen your spine.

8 – French Yoga Practice – Posture 3 : ShavĂąsana

Pose 3 : Corpse pose – La Posture du Cadavre

learn french yoga class in france bilingual practice

Allongez-vous sur le dos, les bras et les jambes lĂ©gĂšrement Ă©cartĂ©s. RelĂąchez les chevilles et les genoux. Le ventre se dĂ©tend, il se soulĂšve Ă  l’inspiration et descend Ă  l’expiration. RelĂąchez la cage thoracique. DĂ©tendez les Ă©paules, les coudes et les poignets. DĂ©tendez la nuque et la gorge. DĂ©tendez la langue, les ailes du nez et la peau du front en insistant sur la zone entre les sourcils. Laissez les yeux couler Ă  l’arriĂšre du crĂąne. Laissez tomber le cerveau Ă  l’arriĂšre de la tĂȘte.

Lie on your back, open your arms and your legs. Relax the ankles and the knees. The abdomen softens as it rises and falls with the breath. Relax the rib cage. Soften the shoulders, the elbows and the wrists. Soften the neck and the throat. Soften the tongue, the wings of the nose and the skin of the forehead, especially between the eyebrows. Let the eyes sink to the back of the head. Release your brain to the back of the head.

If you liked this article, why not consider a stay at Isabelle’s home near Arcachon to better your French (and practice yoga)? Here is more info about the French Immersion Residential courses recommended by French Today.

Author: Chloé

Chloé

Bonjour - My name is Chloé (Klo é) I live in the countryside of Dordogne where I used to offer French immersion homestays to adult students. I hope you'll enjoy my articles on French Today!

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