When I travel alone, I love taking yoga classes in foreign languages.

• When I moved to Europe in 2021, I took yoga classes taught in the native languages ​​of different regions.
• I’m a yoga teacher, and yoga has forced me to approach yoga in new ways and recognize my body’s limitations.
• Taking classes abroad has allowed me to explore different studios and immerse myself in the local culture.

I’m an English-speaking yoga teacher, and I love being in a dark, candlelit yoga class in Paris and hearing my teacher say, “Sense ton coeur,” or “Feel your heart.” It feels great.

I studied French for two years at university, but I don’t speak French. But I find this language incredibly beautiful, like the magic of twinkling holiday lights in the language.

Since moving to Europe alone in 2021, I have taken yoga classes in French, Italian, Portuguese, Flemish, German, and Polish. (My experience in France was my favorite.) When I travel, I try to make time for yoga whenever I can and look for local studios that teach in my native language rather than English-speaking studios.

Attending a yoga class in a language I don’t understand forced me to step outside of my comfort zone and I learned a lot about myself, my practice, and my teaching style.

As a teacher, I learned the value of nonverbal cues

When I don’t understand the words coming out of the teacher’s mouth, I look at the teacher’s hands.

People who speak different languages ​​use hand gestures and incorporate them naturally into yoga teachings. As a teacher, I learned from these experiences that simple hand gestures can be just as powerful (if not more) than demonstrating poses.

When a teacher emphasizes a part of their body, tells them to stand up, or imitates how to twist or turn, their hands are speaking their own language, which I use in my teaching. I have been trying to incorporate it into the.

There is also value in the intonation, emphasis and volume of the voice. By paying attention to how something is said, you can make a good guess as to what the teacher is teaching you. Most teachers do this naturally to signify relaxation or strength so that students understand the intention behind the pose.

Since I became a student, my awareness of my body has increased.

Instead of trying to translate what your teacher is saying when you are posing, focus on translating what your body is telling you. I think my teacher is teaching me how to hold a pose and how to deepen it, but I have to turn inward and feel more grounded in that posture. Think about how you need to adjust.

By doing this, I was able to focus on what felt good, rather than just following instructions. It makes me more self-conscious. You can get some instructions by looking at your teacher and listening to their tone, but sometimes you don’t get all the instructions, so it’s up to you to figure out what path your body wants. I’m taking the opportunity to see if there are any. I felt incredibly liberated and clear.

This lesson also helped me define my limits in yoga. In other words, when I don’t understand the language, my ego is taken out of consideration. You’ll know if you want to be kinder to yourself when your body is tight. If so, I tend to stay still and avoid going deep into the pose. I don’t usually do chaturanga much, so this also helped my shoulders and lower back.

As a yoga enthusiast, I have learned that yoga is a practice of unifying the mind

I appreciate it even more when my teacher uses original Sanskrit words in class. Sanskrit is the original language of yoga and the root of many Indian languages. There’s a lot of understandable discussion about the westernization of yoga, but I enjoy hearing the underlying terminology that was the basis of the ancient practice. Whether you’re taking yoga in Spain or Belgium, hearing Sanskrit words and phrases (such as “adho mukha svanasana” (downward-facing dog)) will help you recognize the origins of yoga. I have memories of doing that.

Taking a yoga class in a language you don’t speak fluently can help you level out. By doing so, even if you are a teacher, you will end up feeling like a beginner again. Because you have to approach your practice differently and learn a new set of cognitive tools.

You can also get a taste of the local community by attending yoga classes in other languages. I love hearing new languages, exploring different studios, and seeing how students interact differently. This allows you to temporarily immerse yourself in the local community.