VaYU Student Teaches Yoga at the Olympic Fan Zone in Paris
What is better than watching Olympics in Paris? When you are able to do Yoga while
watching Olympics!
The city of Paris has set up 16 Olympic Fan Zones where people gather to watch Olympic
events on big screen TVs. The famous Parc Sainte-Perine in the 16 th arrondissement is one
such fan zone. The Indian Conservatory of Paris (IC Paris) invited VaYU to teach Yoga at Parc
Sainte-Perine (16 th arrondissement) on 31 st Jul and Aug 1 st . IC Paris was selected from among
thousands of organizations to showcase aspects of Indian culture to Olympic fans.
Marlies Tobias, a student in the MS (Yoga) Program at VaYU, and a yoga teacher of vast
experience who runs the “Yoga are the Buddha” Yoga Academy in Breda, The Netherlands. She
travelled to Paris to teach two well-received Yoga classes at the Parc Sainte Perine on 31 Jul
and 1 Aug. One the days that Katie Ledecky reasserted her dominance to win the swimming
1500m gold, and Simone Biles capped off her magical and inspiring run by winning the
Individual All-Around gold, Marlies celebrated by teaching yoga in the arboretum like setting of
the park. Below is her report.
VaYU is the first Yoga University outside of India. If Yoga is your passion, check out this article
on <TBD: Insert link to Bhumika ji’s blog post on Diabtetes>
The Olympic experience was absolutely incredible and truly unforgettable. I am excited to share
my journey with you.
Yoga and Connection: One of the most beautiful aspects was seeing people from all over the
world come together. Yoga served as a universal language, connecting participants of all ages
and levels, from beginners to experienced practitioners. The diversity and enthusiasm of the
attendees made each session unique and inspiring.
Spreading Joy: Pradyumna Kandadai, vice-president of the Indian Conservatory of Paris,
emphasized the importance of spreading joy and positive energy. The shared smiles and joy
during the sessions were some of the most rewarding moments. It reminded me that yoga is not
just a physical practice but a way to spread happiness and positivity.
The Vibrant Atmosphere of Paris: Despite the heatwave, the energy in Paris was palpable.
The city was filled with visitors and participants who embraced the Olympic spirit. The vibrant
atmosphere combined with the opportunity to experience French culture—delicious food, fine
wines, and the warm hospitality of the locals—made my time in Paris truly special.
Challenges and Surprises: We had quite a bit of rain before and in between the events, which
meant we focused mainly on standing postures to accommodate the conditions and because there were no mats available for participants. In a delightful twist, just two minutes before one of
my sessions began, a class of young children arrived to participate. Their energy and
excitement added a wonderful dynamic to the session. Additionally, I was thrilled to see that my
two lessons attracted the largest number of participants up to that point.
Thank you again for this incredible opportunity. It was an honor to represent Vivekananda Yoga
University at such a prestigious event.
Warm regards,
Marlies Tobias