“A practice essential to my well-being”: resumption of Sunset yoga sessions on the heights of Millau

Le groupe s'installe pour la séance. Midi Libre – Romane Levi

Séance Sunset Yoga proposée par Audrey Maneglia, la première d'une longue série estivale perchée sur les hauteurs de Millau. 

Audrey Maneglia became a yoga teacher after several years of personal practice. “I mainly did hatha yoga, that is to say the original practice. It is a rather postural yoga where you take the time to breathe”, explains the one who now gives classes all year round, known as Kamala yoga. The young woman could not imagine changing career paths so quickly, having originally worked for fifteen years in tourism in Millau, at the Communauté de commune. “This professional experience was important for what I do now. I have explored many little places off the beaten track that serve me well today."

"Turning constraints into strength"

After training hampered by the Covid-19 pandemic, Audrey Maneglia was able to bounce back by initiating outdoor sessions called "Yoga by nature". "I made constraints a strength. We couldn't stay inside so I said to myself that we would go outside." The young professor looked for unusual places around Millau, going ;#39;drawing on his tourism knowledge, to install the mats and hold outdoor classes. 

Yoga practice facing the view. Midi Libre – Romane Levi

"When I saw that it was popular and that it brought something other than the indoor session, I decided to do it renew it every summer by renaming it "Sunset yoga"", explains Audrey Maneglia. Since the launch in summer 2022, the sessions have had a "very nice response", notably with people from Milla who are not going on vacation, but also with tourists. "From one year to the next, I have a growing audience of tourists". 

The growing success of yoga

The young woman notes a growing interest in this discipline, especially among 35 to 60 year olds. The "Sunset yoga" that she organizes twice a week during the summer allows for a different practice. "I look for places where there is peace and quiet to develop listening to oneself but also to nature. The latter helps us enter a meditative state." 

First session of Sunset yoga 2024

Audrey Maneglia does not reveal the location she has chosen for the session until 24 hours before, to keep the element of surprise. For the first session of the summer period, she has decided to make the summit of Pouncho her playground. The practitioners meet in the parking lot to share cars. Most of them know each other, and are present at the sessions offered by Kamala yoga throughout the year. “You have left no room for tourists”, laughs the teacher. 

The travel time gives Sophie Frayssinhes, a great follower of the classes offered by Audrey, time to detail what she likes about the practice. “For my well-being it is essential. Being in contact with nature is also very important for the body and mind”. 

Matteo Soulé and his mother in front of the setting sun, after the session. Midi Libre – Romane Levi

Matteo Soulé, a young member of the national climbing team, agrees with Sophie. “Yoga is very effective for body relaxation and mobility.” However, he highlights the many prejudices that persist around this practice, particularly among men, even though its benefits have been widely proven. The practitioners in any case seemed to benefit from it, their bodies relaxed at the end of this first session, their gaze fixed on the sun falling on Millau. 

Practical information: 

Booking website

Unusual places located within a radius of 10 to 20 km around Millau. Every Tuesday until August 20 and every Thursday until August 22 from 6:30 p.m.  at 8:30 p.m. Price: 15 euros 

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