After one visit, she sent me off to the Grand Palais, where an übercool yoga teacher, Mika, and his DJ partner, Marco, were giving classes under the turn-of-the-century glass-and-steel Nef. It was an outstanding yoga class: physical, serious and fun. And the even better news is that they now offer Yogalab classes in the funky 19th Arrondissement, near the Parc des Buttes Chaumont, for a young, hip yoga practice that will have you leaving on an upbeat.

For a more traditional practice, with an equally enthusiastic and professional team, Olivier, at Trini Yoga, welcomes you into his charming neighborhood studio that is oh so Paris, nestled in a rustic courtyard, with a fireplace and decorative moldings, for a low-key Ashtanga practice that has the perfect flow.

Traveling south, to the left bank, Rasa is the city’s ne plus ultra yoga address, winning awards for being one of the nicest in the world. The studio is large and airy, with lots of natural light streaming down on yogis, many of whom have traveled from across the city for any of the dozen yoga classes offered per day, including a Mysore program for early risers.

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The Eiffel Tower’s first-floor skating rink has just opened. Rent or bring skates and cruise on a mini-rink with a fantastic view of Paris. It’s open 10:30-10:30 daily through January 31, 2012. You can buy hot chocolate, pretzels, and—this being France—spiced wine.

Every year the Hotel de Ville rink is packed with locals, as well as tourists who want to experience this winter activity in front of the achitecturally fabulous city hall. Admission is free, and it is 5€ to rent skates. Centrally located along the river in Le Marais, this rink is open Mon-Sat from 12pm-10pm and Sun from 9am-10pm through February 17.

>click here for info on the Tour Montparnase rink

The course also passes 12 of Paris’ 37 bridges along the Seine, including some of its romantic spots, such as Pont Alexandre III and Pont de Bir-Hakeim. Here’s the site course map. The course is relatively flat, with less than 100 feet of elevation gain throughout. 

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Under the watchful eye of a large iron tower and a burning sun, the players – both male and female, some very young, some a little more experienced – began the tournament with energy and great spirit. Some teams clearly seem to be better prepared and more skillful than others, but for once the results here don’t seem to be the most important factor.

According to the tournament’s website, the vast majority of participants, all of whom are homeless and socially marginalized in their countries, “go on to rebuild relationships with family and friends, overcome addictions and find accommodation, education and employment” following their participation in the tournament.

So although the Korean team may have lost their first match 19-0 to a (very well supported!) team from Palestine, they still played the game with a smile and shook hands with their opponents afterwards.

Perhaps the most important of all is the ceremony before the match. As with most other international tournaments, the two teams line up whilst the national anthems are played. For these individuals, who often feel excluded from their societies, it is a powerful and sometimes emotional moment.

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This year the French Open will be held in Paris from May 22^nd until June 5^th. Those who are lucky enough to go will be able to experience all the thrills and excitement that comes with this world-class sporting event. Get your  foreign currency (that’ll be Euros for France), pack your luggage and head to this beautiful city for your taste of the French Open.

Held at the Roland Garros Stadium in the capital of France, Paris; the tournament will play host to some of the most accomplished tennis players in the world. From Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic to Clijsters and the Williams sisters, it’s a chance to see the very best in the profession.

The surface on the Roland Garros Stadium is distinctive red clay, said by many to be the hardest of courts to play on due to the fact the ball moves more slowly but bounces higher. The clay is made from crushed brick packed tightly together and then covered with a loose layer, and surprisingly it needs to be watered just as often as grass. Different surfaces suit players differently; clay requires patience as rallies are often longer on this surface and shots are often won by wrong-footing your opponent.

Visitors to Paris are spoiled by a wide choice of accommodations as well as a mind-boggling array of restaurants to experience some of that famous French cuisine. Some tour operators offer packages that include your accommodation, plus flights, transfers and tickets to the French Open matches.

ATP World Tour (2011). Tournaments.

Road Trip (2011). French Open.

BBC Sport Academy (2011). Find out what it’s like to play on clay.