Tell us a bit about yourself
A french londoner for the past 28 years, I fully discovered yoga when I arrived in London. I am a mother of 2 and nearly an empty nester! So yoga is helping me rejoice for my children and leave to the side the sadness of seeing them flying away. I also manage a French after-school club in north London for bilingual children, which I co-founded with a friend. So yoga and France are very much at the centre of my life and my being. I have been told I am a very social person…
What does a typical day look like for you?
I cannot function without my 2 cups of coffee. Then I do some admin, reply to some emails, write some posts if I have the inspiration, both for the French school and yoga. Then I go and teach, I go to the French school.. There is always some yoga, French and somehow going to the shop to top up the fridge involved. But no day is ever the same to another… I love it and sometimes … I wish I had a job doing 9 to 5. But it usually passes quickly.
How did your yoga journey begin and what inspired you to become a yoga teacher?
I first came across yoga back when I was doing my baccalaureat in Bordeaux. I was then 17 and in a catholic school! It was a nun who introduced me to yoga. But back then, either in France where I studied or in Spain where I lived for 4 years, yoga was not part of gyms nor very popular! It is only when I arrived in London that I was able to really re-discover the practice and fully fall in love. I went on a retreat in India with my teacher at the time and thought this is what I want to do all day long, every day. I also met my husband thanks to that retreat ( friend of a participant with whom I stayed friend).
What inspired you to specialise in your practice?
I specialise in women in mid-age because that is what I am and I feel very close to all the problems and challenges faced by them. Of course I do not pretend to know them all but I understand some and empathise with them!!
I also specialise in teens because I find it is unfortunately a very un-loved part of the population. Teenagers are not always easy to teach but it is so worth it and yoga is so so helpful to all those young people facing a very very scary future.
I love a yin practice, because it helps to slow down,to create space in my body with the long stretches but also in my head because everything seems to calm down after a while.
How have you seen your practice benefit your students?
Many of my students have come to my classes for many years. Some have been with me since I started back in 2003! Some have become friends. We have evolved together. From a fairly strong, dynamic practice I now focus on strengthening, balance, slower and more focused practice. I also allow myself to talk about yoga philosophy nowadays because yoga without the philosophy is just a physical practice like zumba or Legs/bums and tums!! And my clients all seem to really appreciate it.
What’s coming up for you for the rest of 2026 and into 2027?
I am organising an urban yoga weekend in March 2027, having been previously to Bordeaux, Marseille and Seville. A small group of maximum 12 people. Still thinking about our destination. Maybe Italy or Portugal. Also a few “wellwoman workshops” in Muswell Hill, 2 hours to practice so we have time to go deeper. And always some nibbles at the end to bring us back to reality! And for myself a retreat in May in Italy with Judith Hanson Lasater and her daughter Lizie. So excited about it!!
Find out more about Hélène:
facebook: Helene Fauquet and Yoga with Helene,
Instagram : yoga_with_helene_
