I must have really good luck, because when I (finally) took my first yoga class in Paris at Rasa yoga, I took it with the best teacher in Paris.  Wisely chosen?  Or just luck?  I guess we'll never know.  I got a 10 class pass that day, it was an investment, but it had no expiration date, so I thought why not, and it was a smart move.  The pass lasted me almost 2 years, and I took 8 of the 10 classes with the same person, Sharon Jacobs.  

I've been wanting to share this information with you, my loyal readers, since the very beginning, but despite my best efforts, I couldn't get any other information on Sharon.  Rasa's website has only her first name, and even when I found out her last name, I still couldn't find any information about her online.  It sort of reminds me of my favorite teacher in SF.  No one but her loyal students knew her.  Her website was basic, she didn't market herself, but despite all that, her classes were full.  What conclusion can you draw from that ladies and gentlemen?  Awesomeness!  

Sharon's classes are Alignment based, but flow magnificently.  Her attention to detail is exquisite, and the -one in a million- time she can't get you into the perfect pose with her words, her hands are like magic!  Don't expect a vinyasa paced class, but do expect to  be taught by one of the most experienced and trained teachers, to sweat, to breathe heavily, and to be sore in all the right places the next day.  And don't even consider worrying about belonging.  Even with a (formerly) broken wrist and a weak body after not having done yoga while recovering, her classes were always accessible.

She is perfectly bilingual and teaches at Rasa and at the Gasquet Institute.  Lucky for you, she's teaching a donation based class this Saturday at 11:00 at the American Church of Paris, so you can actually take a class with her during non-office hours.


Teacher:  Sharon Jacobs
Studio:  Rasa Yoga
Class:  Alignment/Anusara 
Language:  Perfectly Bilingual in English and French

Direction:             ★★★★★
Experience:          ★★★★★
Alignment:           ★★★★★
Flow:                        ★★★★★
Feel Good Vibe:  ★★★★★
Adjustments:       ★★★★★
Sweaty-ness:       ★★★★

Spiritual Lesson:  Short, thoughtful, attainable and always uplifting.  
Would I pay 20€ to take a class with her?  Yes, yes, yes!  


Bonus, if you'd like to take a private class, or know more about her schedule:  
Email : [email protected]
Tel : 0660147486

I purchased a 10 class pass at Rasa Yoga when I first started doing yoga in Paris, and since they don't expire, I've been using it ever since.  I feel a bit bad that I've had it so long and haven't used it up, so I'm making an effort to get out and do some non-home practices now that it's 'la rentrée' and the regularly scheduled teachers are back.  I decided to take an Iyengar class at Rasa.  BKS Iyengar is responsible for bringing modern yoga to the western world.  His 'Light on Yoga' book is the bible of asana (pose) yoga and Iyengar classes are great for making sure your alignment is in proper order.  So I found an Iyengar 2 class at Rasa with Alex and was on my merry way.  According to the bio I found on Alex, he has a humble and precise style and an absolute respect for his master BKS Iyengar (translation).  After having taken his class, I would say that's an accurate description.  

We started with some seated breathing and Iyengar centric spinal alignment and diaphragm work, then, first pose -tadasana (mountain pose), second pose 'hop' -sirsanana (headstand).  Nice!  I've been doing headstand since I was a kid and my crazy Uncle Dado taught me how to do a tripod headstand, so I did mine in the middle of the floor.  'Descends' he said to me, "top of the head on the floor."  My vinyasa headstand on the front of the crown of the head was not appropriate for Iyengar class, and my wrist was bent in the wrong direction, so he manually straightened  my (broken) arm, and 'hop', I was back up.  The remainder of the class was similarly strict (from the stories I've heard, this is typical French instruction) with magnificent direction focusing on alignment of the pose via the center axis of the body.  I admit, I didn't understand all the directions he gave, as they were in French, and they were an Iyengar vocabulary that I'm not accustomed to, but he was excellent at getting students into the correct alignment with only his words and a few pokes and prods.  Iyengar is all alignment, with no flow in between.  We did maybe seven poses in the entire class, one being downdog.  There were no vinyasas or chaturangas, so this class is probably not so interesting for those lovers of Vinyasa, but if you're looking to sweat, get your alignment more precise, and grit your teeth a bit, this was a good class, especially if your french is better than mine.  


Teacher:  Alex Onfroy
Studio:  Rasa Yoga rive gauche
Class:  Iyengar 2
Language:  French

Direction:               ★★★★
Experience:           ★★★★★
Alignment:             ★★★★★
Flow:                         ★
Feel Good Vibe:   ★
Adjustments:        ★★★★
Sweaty-ness:        ★★★

Spiritual Lesson:  N/A
Would I pay 20€ to take a class with him again?
Nope.  It was a little too much like what I imagine military school to be like and didn't have enough flow for my taste.

The day after I arrived in France, I decided to skip a movie with friends, and take a juicy yoga class.  Who needs to see a movie in your native tongue after being immersed in 10 different languages in 6 months.  I just wanted to lay down my mat on a clean floor and breathe.  I found a studio in central Paris that was English friendly, and I was on my way!  It happened to be in July, the 15th, so I looked up the schedule online, chose a class and showed up, only to be told that that class was cancelled, there was no replacement teacher, and there was certainly no apology.  It was the summer time.  And though it took me another year to fully comprehend, I now get it (I think).  It was vacation time, and during vacation time, Paris is a wasteland, schedules are reduced, restaurants are closed, flower shops are shuttered possibly all of July and probably all of August.  It's a phenomenon, and I know your French isn't great, but call anyway, just to make sure.  Just say "parlez-vous anglais" they speak English.


Months and months later, after a broken arm, many too many surgeries, and lots of pain, I finally took my first yoga class at Rasa.  It was great, the teacher was kind and understanding, and spoke perfect English and French.  The studio is in a beautiful space, and according to reviews, one of the best in the world.  It's hidden behind a huge old French wooden door that opens to a secluded courtyard.  Tranquility is part of the experience.  But it's also 'one of the best yoga studios in the world' and it knows it.  Once you get buzzed in and make your way to the studio, you're greeted by a serenely decorated space, with antique-y hindu deity statues, a rattan floor, a tastefully integrated yoga gear shop, a no shoe policy (didn't you know) and a Parisian at the front desk.  The 2 yoga rooms are nicely sized, (one being larger than the other) clean, have lovely wooden floors, and lots of natural light.  There are proper bathrooms, large changing rooms with lockers and keys, and even a couple of massage rooms for your after yoga 'detente'.  It is not 'populaire' by any means, and I might expect to see a celebrity one day, if I didn't know they took private classes.  But I'm certainly not complaining that I'm not next to 'that' guy/gal who forgot his/her deodorant (bath) today (this week).  

Rasa Yoga (rive gauche)
21 rue Saint Jacques
Paris 75005
+33 (0)1 43 54 14 59
Metro: St Michel (Ligne 4) or Cluny La Sorbonne (Ligne 10)

Price:  22€ a class (reduced 10 and 20 class passes available)
Yoga Styles:  Hatha, Mysore, Ashtanga, Yin, Vinyasa, Iyengar, Alignment (formerly Anusara), Mommy and Me
Languages:  English and French (check schedule for availability)
Changing Rooms:  2 (not separated by sex)
Secure Lockers:  included in class fee
Mats:  included in class fee
Toilets:  yes
Showers: yes (towels for hire or bring your own)
Water: (bottled, room temp) - $$
Massages available


SUMMARY:
Pros - Two practice rooms, clean, bright, amply sized changing rooms, showers.
Cons - A little musty after a sweaty class, changing rooms not separated by sex, website has teacher first name only with no bio's or links.