Ladies First
Vive les femmes: Yoga centers and workshops specifically designed for women
Things have evolved a bit since Pattabhi Jois, BKS Iyengar and other yoga “classicists” mapped women’s cycles to the Vayus, but there still remains a ways to go.
If you’ve taken a yoga class in the last 28 days, you’ve no doubt heard a teacher say something like, “Yoginis, if you have your period, do Viparita Karani instead of sirsasana” and here’s why:
Yoga regulates the current of Prana, your vital life force. This life force moves about and yogis believe it’s important to follow and work with its flow. The Vayus are the directional flows of your Prana.
Understanding the different flows along which Prana travels—in, out, up, down—as well as which zones of the body are governed by them, can help you refine your various practices (asana, meditation, pranayama) and tailor them to how you feel.
The Vayus
An example: the Vayus and your period
Menstrual blood, originating in the pelvis, has a down and out movement so it’s often mapped to Apana Vayu whose principle aim is elimination. As your body is trying to get rid of blood, traditional yoga teaching discourages menstruating women from doing inverted yoga poses because it’s thought that going upside down hinders your blood’s exit strategy.
By the way science (Science!) doesn’t actually support this idea—humans aren’t built like hourglasses whereby our relationship to gravity affects the direction of blood circulation—so be a student of your own experience. If inverting feels good, do it; if it doesn’t, do Viparita Karani or another supported pose that feels restorative. You know best.
Beyond menstruation and yoga prescriptions for what poses to do or not do, there is a world of yoga out there designed to ease you through hormonal fluctuations: before, during and after pregnancy; during ovulation; and all along the various phases of post-menstrual life.
What follows are yoga workshops that support women of all ages, taught by a fantastic group of women in Paris and online (first session launches today.)
Somatic Woman (Online)
with Judith Hanson Lasater, Mary Richards and Lizzie Lasater
The history of yoga is mostly a practice by men for men. But what happens when we transplant this practice into the maturing female body? In other words, what wisdom can we learn from the female anatomy? In this 6-month immersion, you’ll reclaim and reinvent your yoga practice through active asana practices for energy, mental clarity, body aches, stress, and bloating.
Wednesday May 8th through Friday November 1st, 2024
9h30-11h30 PST (all sessions are recorded)
$550
All sessions meet over Zoom on the New Moon for two hours of lecture, practice, and your questions. More details about individual sessions available here.
Yoga Hormonal (Paris)
with Florence Dugowson at Le Centre Elément
Hormonal balance is necessary for so many things in life: our overall health, our immune systems, vour mood, sleep quality, fertility and libido; our skin, hair and nails, and more. Hormone Yoga, developed by Dinah Rodrigues, is a specific yoga sequence combining poses, breathing techniques and visualizations which can help regulate the hormonal fluctuations of menopause.
Outside of menopause. Hormone Yoga has been shown to benefit women suffering from amenorrhea, PCOS, and PMS.
Friday May 10th, 2024
18h30-20h30
40€
This workshop is not recommended for women who suffer from hypothyroidism. If you have any questions or have a particular health concern, please email Florence directly: flo [at] floflow [dot] com
Cercle de Femmes, Yoga de la Femme & Photographie (Paris)
with Camille Soto and Inès Parker at Yoga Vision
Come experience a soft yet powerful sisterhood! In a safe space conducive to conversation, you’ll share a journey inspired by each other’s experiences and wisdom.
The afternoon will include an opening circle, herbal tea, guided meditation, yoga de la femme, and intuitive writing. For more details, go here (en français).
Sunday May 19th, 2024
16h30-19h30
45€
Each participant will be able to choose three images of herself from the photos taken during the event. These three photos are included in the price of the workshop.
MORE RESOURCES FOR WOMEN-CENTRIC YOGA
Charlotte Muller Method
This studio specializes in fertility yoga with a schedule of yoga and Pilates classes organized around “cycle syncing.” If you can’t make a session in their gorgeous studio on rue Chaptal, they have a full complement of practices available online.Gynécée
Gynécée bills itself as “la maison de la femme” so you can expect private consultations (from massage to mental health to endometriosis to post-partum issues), group classes and a digital platform replete with a library of masterclasses on different subjects.Heimat by Waris Dirie
On the luxury end of things stands Heimat, a private club in the 16e arrondissement devoted to women’s well-being and empowerment. The 300€ monthly membership fee includes private and group classes, a jacuzzi, a sauna, a coffee shop and rotating art shows.Le Yoga de la Femme, written by Tatiana Elle, includes 44 different sequences to suit your ever changing moods. To experience a Yoga de la Femme class IRL, catch Tatiana at Bandha Yoga in the 6e.
Yoga & Co
This studio at the bottom of the bassin de La Villette (if you’ve ever been to the MK2 quai de Seine/quai de Loire, it’s right there) is a haven for women. They offer a weekly Saturday morning Yoga des Hormones class as well as a monthly workshop, and Womb Blessing sessions (aka Bénédiction de l’Utérus).