Yoga may be an individual activity but it can also be practiced as a duo with your offspring. From discovering simple, playful postures to learning to relax, these moments of parent-child bonding are welcome in a busy, not always zen, day-to-day life. Since yoga is the union of body and mind, why not a downward facing dog in the midst of works of art? That's what some inspired museums are offering.
Tucked away in a pretty cobbled courtyard on the Rue de Charonne, a testament to the industrial history of the capital's 11th arrondissement, Compagnie Maya's yoga studio welcomes children aged 3 to 6 in the company of their parents. At the start of the session, each little one picks out a cuddly toy to keep beside them on their mat. Over the course of an hour, the teacher tells a poetic story, leading the mini-yogis on the trail of the winter fairy, and inviting them to take turns embodying the trees, cats, cows and bridges that populate the story. It is a fun way to avoid boredom and generate enthusiasm. Young and old alike can try out the movements in turn, or as a duo, in a relaxed and joyful atmosphere. No need to be flexible or a yoga enthusiast to feel at ease in this moment of complicity and discovery of balance and the benefits of breathing. Namaste!
Compagnie Maya, 77, rue de Charonne, Paris 11e. Price: €25 per duo for a one-hour session. Next session on Sunday, February 2.
You have 74.85% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.