Kundalini at Les Berges by Anna and follower

Vinyasa yoga with Denise at Les Berges

I've signed up for the yoga class along the Seine a couple of times but didn't make it the first few times (it's at the shockingly early 10am Sunday slot).  This past weekend I finally made it with my mug o' joe in hand.  It seemed a bit disorganized, as apparently no one is accustomed to waking at such an ungodly hour on Sunday morning in Paris.  If ever you're jet lagged, and get up before 9 AM (on a Sunday) to visit Paris, you (and the runners) will experience a crisp nearly silent morning in Paris in all its glory.  Anywhoo, I made it, got myself signed in and put one of their half mats under my full mat to even out the wood planks in preparation for a few downdogs and warriors.  The teacher Anna showed up all in white with a groovy matching headband and, low and behold, an assistant(?) in even groovier John Lennon sunglasses to teach a Kundalini class.  Could it be true?  My first yoga class in Paris with an assistant to do adjustments?!  Quality, Les Berges, quality!  

Class started with Anna and her assistant on their mats in front of the class and a 10 minute warm up, then 10 minutes more of warm up with loud music so even though I was in the 3rd row I couldn't hear the teacher.  Then 10 minutes more of warm up, then there was  15 minutes of savasana (corpse pose), then some chanting to music, which Anna seemed to enjoy but the rest of us were unaware of what we should be chanting, because, well, we couldn't hear.  The  'assistant' never once rose from his mat, nor did Anna.  She never attempted to make her voice heard over the loud music and the passing boats, nor did she open her eyes much to check on her students, to see if they could understand or were performing the poses correctly.  Wow!  ...quality lacking, Les Berges, quality lacking...   At least I had a common subject to discuss with my fellow classmates afterwards and there was agreement that it was a less than stellar class.  I had decided somewhere in the second 10 minutes of warm-up that I was going to get my own practice in that day and invited a few of my classmates to join me.  So just after class, we laid out our mats on the lush grass on the floating island at Les Berges and had an impromptu practice. Lemonade from lemons, people!  One of the lovely women I met has offered to find a more secluded, just as lush grassy place to have another impromptu class with a few friends next weekend!  

And there it is, my first not so great review.  Being a yogi I realize I should be more positive about it all, being a human, I think I did a pretty good job.  Plus, if I were all zen yogi, this would be a really bad review site. 

Les Berges -YogaPort du Gros Caillou
Metro: Alma Marceau (Ligne 9)
Bus: 42, 63, 80, 92 / Arrêt Bosquet-RAPP -or- 63 / Arrêt Jean Nicot-Eglise Américaine -or- 83, 93, 63, 28 / Arrêt Pont des Invalides

Teacher:  Anna
Price:  FREE
Yoga Style:  Kundalini
Language:  French
Changing Rooms:  None
Secure Lockers:  None
Mats:  Very thin half mats provided.
Toilets:  Public toilets can be found along the banks of the river. 

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