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Eva Ruchpaul

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Éva Ruchpaul
Born
Felix

(1928-03-13) 13 March 1928 (age 98)
Béziers
OccupationYoga teacher training
Years active1958–2023
Known forYoga in France
Notable workHatha yoga bien tempéré — P.U.F. 1978
Websitehttps://yoga-eva-ruchpaul.com

Éva Ruchpaul (French pronunciation: [eva ʁyʃpol], born Felix[1] on March 13, 1928, in Béziers) is one of the first yoga teachers in Europe, a French yoga teacher trainer, and author of books on hatha yoga. She developed a style of hatha yoga suited to Westerners.[2]

Biography

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Childhood

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Éva Ruchpaul was born in Béziers in the south of France in 1928. She contracted polio at the age of 18 months, which paralysed her left side and right arm.[1][3][4][5] She spent her mornings at the clinic undergoing rehabilitation, and her afternoons at the beach. She then lived in Alexandria, where her father was a philosophy teacher at the French Lycée. She was unable to walk, but was a strong swimmer. From an early age, she explored the potential of her body and breath. She realised that the rehabilitation technique she was made to follow was not suitable for her. The progress she made through intensive practice was undone as soon as she fell ill. However, as her immune system was weak, she often fell ill. Rather than repeating the same movement endlessly, she tried doing it once, focusing all her attention on the movement and breathing. This method proved effective, enabling her to regain some mobility. It was only much later that she realised that what she had been doing was yoga.[6][7][8] She did not go to school: "I taught myself to read by cutting letters out of cardboard."[5]

Teenage years

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In 1939, Éva and her family returned to France because her father wanted to defend his country in the event of war. In September 1939, France entered the Second World War. Éva underwent major surgery, enabling her to walk at the age of 12 after many long months of painful rehabilitation. The Nazis occupied northern France, while the rest of the country turned to collaboration (the Vichy regime, known as the Zone libre). The family lived in the Zone libre. For her, this period was a happy memory because she could go to school. She moved up from Year 7 to Year 10. Her family was involved in the Resistance. Her father worked for the intelligence services, while her brother joined the Maquis in the Vercors region. In 1942, the Nazis invaded the Zone libre. Éva and her parents moved in with an uncle near Nice, which was occupied by the Italians at the time. She passed her Baccalauréat in philosophy and mathematics at the age of 14, four years ahead of schedule. The Nazi occupation replaced the Italian fascist occupation in September 1943, and lasted until the Allied landings in Provence in August 1945. These last few months of the war were the hardest for Éva. Her family lives in near-clandestinity: "I was fleeing from place to place with my mum and my limp."[a] Over 17 months, they changed their identities and places of residence 11 times, using false documents and new names. Éva suffered from a lack of food, but above all from unsanitary conditions. At the end of the war in 1945, she returned to Alexandria with her family. She suffered from depression, but continued in further education.[3][1][4][5][9]

Youth in Paris

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Ruchpaul moved to Paris to study graphic design and painting at the École Claude Bernard. She lived with the Casadesus family of musicians for two years while she was there. They introduced her to the vibrant intellectual and artistic scene of the post-war period. She was given a consultation with Haymant Ruchpaul, an Indian Brahmin, for her 20th birthday. He practised physiotherapy in the West, but was originally an Ayurvedic doctor. He had studied in France under Boris Dolto, a leading figure in orthopaedics. Haymant assuref her that she could walk just like everyone else. Two years later, they married. Due to the after-effects of polio, her two pregnancies were difficult. During her second pregnancy, she had to stay in bed for seven months to avoid the risk of miscarriage. To keep her occupied, the Casadesus family sent her a suitcase full of books. These were the writings of doctors who had practised at the Russian court and travelled to India. These works introduced her to Eastern and Far Eastern thought. She gave birth to her children in 1956 and 1957.[1][3][4][8][10]

Hatha yoga

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It was around then[b] that her husband introduced her to hata yoga;[5] but forbade her from studying with a teacher. She had to figure out the technical aspects of hata yoga independently.[9] She read extensively and was interested in the yoga taught by Sivananda in Rishikesh: "I «recognised», so to speak, the principles of the discipline of yoga as taught in Rishikesh by Shivananda. This technique seemed strangely familiar to me!"[1] She drew on Louis Frédéric’s book "Yoga Asanas, méthode naturelle de culture physique et mentale et de rééducation respiratoire".[11][8][9] The book consisted mainly of photographs of postures performed by Vishnudevananda, a hata yoga teacher at Forest University in Rishikesh and a disciple of Sivananda. Inspired by the calmness that Vishnudevananda exuded in the photos in this book, Ruchpaul attempted the poses for the first time, using the book as a guide.[8] As during her rehabilitation, one of the after-effects of polio serves as her guide. Her vision becomes blurred as soon as she overexerts herself.[12] If the pose is not quite right, her vision deteriorates.[5] For the same reason, she introduces a moment of recovery between each posture,[7] as suggested by Swami Vishnudevananda.[11] However, rather than simply relaxing, she expands upon this by structuring it into three breathing phases: the 'nothing phase' (where the practitioner lets go of all control), the 'small breaths phase' (where they bring their attention back to their breathing) and the 'deep breath phase'. For the latter phase, she draws on the Swami's breathing exercises — breath retention with the lungs full, then empty. The essence of Éva Ruchpaul's style is formed by these three breathing phases after each posture.[7]

Career

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Ruchpaul's husband recognised her aptitude for yoga and her natural teaching ability. As early as 1958, he introduced her to her first pupil. She dismissed it as a joke, doubting her own abilities. However, the pupil returned the following week, bringing new pupils with him.[1] Ruchpaul developed her hata Yoga style through teaching.[8][1] The success was as considerable as it was unexpected.[4] Many famous people wanted to attend the classes. Among them were Françoise Hardy,[13] Christian Dior, Alain Afflelou, Yves Montand, André Malraux[4] André Essel,[7] and Gérard Blitz.[14] Between 1958 and 1968, Honoré Bonnet was the coach of the French ski team. He called on Ruchpaul to help prepare the athletes. The French team had never won so many medals before. Those trained during this period included Jean-Claude Killy, Marielle Goitschel, Christine Goitschel, Guy Perillat, François Bonlieu, Isabelle Mir and Annie Famose.[15][16][9]

She published her first book in 1965 at the request of her students,[2] "So That People Could Help Themselves",[17] especially for those who could not come to see her every week. In 1978, Éva Ruchpaul published Hatha Yoga Bien Tempéré, a book aimed at students undertaking teacher training. A veritable standard-bearer, it became known as the big black book or the bible among the hundreds of trainees who studied it to obtain their teaching diploma from the Institut Éva Ruchpaul.[18]

Institut Éva Ruchpaul

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Éva Ruchpaul in the Diamond pose at IER on Rue Troyon in 1978.
Éva Ruchpaul in the Diamond pose on the famous blue carpet at IER on Rue Troyon, 1978

In order to cope with the growing number of students in her classes, Ruchpaul started training teachers in her style of hata yoga. She founded the Institut Éva Ruchpaul (IER) and its legendary blue carpet[10][4] in 1971 for this purpose.[4] The training program lasts three years.[8] For each yoga posture, the training covers anatomy, psychophysiology, pedagogy and Indian philosophy.[19] The IER offers yoga classes for all levels. It is accredited by the French Ministry of Higher Education.[1][9] To explore topics in greater depth and stay up to date with the latest discoveries, the IER invites specialists to deliver teacher training and professional development; scientists include Valérie Daugé, Dr Trémolière, Hubert Reeves, Paul Masson-Oursel, Alfred Vidal-Madjar, Albert Jacquard, Joël de Rosnay, Karlfried Graf Durckheim and Michel Cazenave; Indologists include Philippe Lavastine, Pierre-Sylvain Filliozat and Colette Poggi.[1] In 1997, the IER relocated from Rue Troyon, near the Champs-Élysées, to Rue de Rome.[20] Éva Ruchpaul lived in an attic flat in the building that housed the IER,[9] continuing to teach until she was 95.[1]

The Fédération Inter-enseignements de Hata yoga[c] (FIDHY) was founded by former students of the IER in 1979.[18]

'Hatha yoga bien tempéré'

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In 1978 at the IER, Éva Ruchpaul and three students on the famous blue carpet
In 1978 at the IER, Éva Ruchpaul and three students in the "poisson sur le ventre" poses.

Ruchpaul's hata yoga is secular and agnostic, with no ritual elements: there are no Sanskrit names for the postures, OM mantras or hand mudras. However, aspects of Indian culture are covered in the teacher training programme. The style emphasises paying attention to the body, breath and posture. During the practice, the practitioner focuses their attention on the direct experience. They are free to study the concepts of Indian philosophy elsewhere.[18] For Ruchpaul, "breathing [...] is the soul of yoga".[1] Breath suspension is central to her style.[1] Most postures are performed while suspending the breath, either with full lungs or empty lungs. Each posture is held for the duration of the breath suspension, which should always be comfortable. Each posture is performed only once. Three breathing cycles are interspersed between each posture. The third cycle consists of suspending the breath with full lungs, followed by suspending the breath with empty lungs. At the end of the yoga class, there is a series of breath suspensions with full lungs.[21] Éva recommends a weekly session.[8][1]

Books

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  • 1965 Hatha yoga, la méthode d'enseignement d'une des premières femmes yogis d'Europe.[d] Photographs by Philippe Billère. Denoël[22]
  • 1969 Philosophie et pratique du yoga.[e] Photographs by Matthieu Ricard. Planet edition [23]
  • 1975 Philosophie et pratique du yoga. Photographs by Matthieu Ricard. Reprint - updated. Denoël[24]
  • 1975 La Demeure du silence[f] Anne Philipe (co-writer). Gallimard. ISBN 9782070292127.[25]
  • 1978 Hatha yoga bien tempéré.[g] Contribution Hélène Bureau; demonstration of the poses by Shanti, Ananda and Éva Ruchpaul, Dominique and Bernard. Photographs by Babu Bommel. Illustrations by Arlette Loquin. Presses universitaires de France (P.U.F.). ISBN 9782130358138 [21]
  • 1985 Le Hatha yoga. Demonstration of the poses by Ana Maria Magalhães; photographs by Michel Denaison. Reprint - updated. Denoël. ISBN 9782207200810 [26]
  • 1987 Le Hatha yoga. Demonstration of the poses by Ana Maria Magalhães; photographs by Michel Denaison. Reprint (paperback). Livre de Poche. ISBN 9782253041184 [27]
  • 2004 Précis de Hatha yoga; stade fondamental.[h] Ellebore. ISBN 9782868980809 [28]
  • 2004 Précis de Hatha yoga; stade classique.[i] Ellebore. ISBN 9782868980793 [29]
  • 2005 Précis de Hatha yoga; technique avancée.[j] Ellebore. ISBN 9782868980816 [30]
  • 2005 Précis de Hatha yoga; sources et variations.[k] Colette Poggi (co-writer). Ellebore. ISBN 9791023001457 [31]

Video

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  • 1984 Hatha yoga: l'art de se faire.[l] Director: André Maurice. Yogis: Éva Ruchpaul, Ananda Ruchpaul and Shanti Ruchpaul. Production: Polygram video. Distribution: Warner home video France.[32]

TV and radio appearances

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  • On December 6, 1966, on France Inter radio, Madame Inter (Annik Beauchamps) interviewed Éva Ruchpaul about yoga.[17]
  • On March 29, 1970, Éva Ruchpaul was invited to appear on the program “L'invité du dimanche” on the Office National De Radiodiffusion Télévision Française  ORTF.[m] She demonstrated exercise for beginners to yoga[33] and explained her approach to hatha yoga.[34] Françoise Hardy, a celebrity of the time and a student of Éva Ruchpaul, demonstrates Hata yoga before answering a few questions on the subject.[13] Éva Ruchpaul then discusses yoga with another celebrity of the time, Georges Moustaki.[35]
  • On October 6, 1978, the program “C'est la vie” on France 2 television aired a “report devoted to a yoga class taught by one of the first female yogis, Éva Ruchpaul.”[10]

Notes

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  1. ↑ Original version: "moi, je fuyais d'endroit en endroit avec ma maman et puis ma boiterie."[5]
  2. ↑ There are conflicting accounts regarding the year in which she discovered Indian culture, and hata yoga in particular.
  3. ↑ Translation: Inter-Teaching Federation of Hatha Yoga
  4. ↑ Translation: Hatha yoga, the teaching method of one of Europe's first female yogis.
  5. ↑ Translation: Yoga philosophy and practice
  6. ↑ Translation: The House of Silence
  7. ↑ Translation: Well-tempered Hatha yoga
  8. ↑ Translation: Hatha yoga Manual; Fundamental stage
  9. ↑ Translation: Hatha yoga Manual; Classical Stage
  10. ↑ Translation: Hatha yoga Manual; Advanced technique
  11. ↑ Translation: Hatha yoga Manual: Sources and Variations
  12. ↑ Translation: Hatha yoga: the art of doing yourself
  13. ↑ Translation: French national television network

References

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  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Poggi, Colette (2019). Dans la confidence du souffle : rencontre avec Éva Ruchpaul, une yogini impertinente [In the Whisper of the Breath: A Conversation with Éva Ruchpaul, a Playful Yogini]. Paris: Almora. ISBN 978-2-35118-407-3.
  2. 1 2 N. M.-S. (4 September 1968). "Le Hatha Yoga d'Éva Ruchpaul" [The Hatha Yoga of Éva Ruchpaul]. Le Monde (in French).
  3. 1 2 3 Misset, Marie; Raut, Marine; Lorriaux, Aude (2021). La thérapie de la vieille branche [Old-school therapy] (in French). Vanves: Marabout. ISBN 978-2-501-15825-1.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Piquemal, Marie (18 April 2018). "Éva Ruchpaul, mamie yoga". Libération.fr (in French). Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Misset, Marie (3 March 2020). "Éva Ruchpaul, yogi". Nouvelles écoutes (Audio) (in French). Retrieved 11 April 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ↑ "Éva Ruchpaul, l'intuition du yoga". Journal Esprit duYoga (in French). 5. July 2012.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Dupuy, Céline; Nathalie, Jouan (1 October 2017). "Éva, la téméraire" [Eva, the daredevil]. Yoga Magazine. 15: 16–23.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Swift, Dan (10 July 2021). "Entretien avec Éva Ruchpaul". Infos Yoga. 133: 4–6.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Episode 12 - Éva Ruchpaul, prof de yoga à 93 ans". www.tf1info.fr (in French). 18 February 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  10. 1 2 3 Le yoga (in French). Retrieved 2026-03-09 – via www.ina.fr.
  11. 1 2 Frédéric, Louis (1956). Yoga Asanas, méthode naturelle de culture physique et mentale et de rééducation respiratoire. J. Oliven - Paris.
  12. ↑ Cavallaro, Régine (1 March 2017). "Bienveillance, le maître-mot" [Kindness: the key word]. Esprit yoga. 36: 32–33.
  13. 1 2 Françoise Hardy et le yoga (in French). Retrieved 2026-03-09 – via www.ina.fr.
  14. ↑ Joseph, Anaïs (2016). "Les bâtisseurs" [The Builders]. Yoga Journal (in French): 44–50.
  15. ↑ "Yoga et Sports. 2 - Au service de l'athlète… - Paris Côte d'Azur". pariscotedazur.fr. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  16. ↑ Dussard, Thierry (1991). Jean-Claude Killy : Biographie (in French). JC Lattès. ISBN 9782706269639.
  17. 1 2 "Interview d'Éva RUCHPAUL sur le yoga". ina.fr (in French). Retrieved 2026-03-07.
  18. 1 2 3 Beaulieu, Lise (1 April 2020). "Dans le yoga d'Éva Ruchpaul". FIDY infos. 84: 18–20.
  19. ↑ "Formation Yoga Paris - devenir enseignant à l'institut Éva Ruchpaul". Institut Éva Ruchpaul - Hatha Yoga (in French). Retrieved 2026-03-09.
  20. ↑ "Institut Éva Ruchpaul". L'annuaire des entreprises (Data Gouv).
  21. 1 2 Ruchpaul, Éva (1978). Hatha-yoga bien tempéré. Hélène Bureau. Paris: Presses universitaires de France. ISBN 978-2-13-035813-8.
  22. ↑ Ruchpaul, Éva (1965). Hatha yoga. Paris: Denoël (Impr. moderne du Lion).
  23. ↑ Ruchpaul, Éva (1969). Philosophie et pratique du yoga. Paris: Éditions Planète.
  24. ↑ Ruchpaul, Éva (1975). Philosophie et pratique du yoga. Paris: Denoël.
  25. ↑ Philipe (1917-1990), Anne; Ruchpaul, Éva (1975). La Demeure du silence (in French).{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  26. ↑ Ruchpaul, Éva (1985). Le Hatha yoga. Collection Connaissance et technique. Paris: Denoël. ISBN 978-2-207-20081-0.
  27. ↑ Ruchpaul, Éva (1987). Le Hatha-yoga. Le Livre de poche. Paris: Librairie générale française. ISBN 978-2-253-04118-4.
  28. ↑ Ruchpaul, Éva (2004). Précis de hatha yoga , [Livre premier] : Stade fondamental, [apprendre et comprendre]. Paris: Ellébore éd. ISBN 978-2-86898-080-9.
  29. ↑ Ruchpaul, Éva (2004). Précis de hatha yoga , [Livre second] : Stade classique. Paris: Ellébore éd. ISBN 978-2-86898-079-3.
  30. ↑ Ruchpaul, Éva (2005). Précis de hatha yoga , [Livre troisième] : Technique avancée, [progresser et s'affranchir]. Paris: Ellébore éd. ISBN 978-2-86898-081-6.
  31. ↑ Ruchpaul, Éva; Poggi, Colette (2005). Yoga : sources & variations. Précis de hatha yoga. Paris: Ellébore. ISBN 978-2-86898-082-3.
  32. ↑ Ruchpaul, Shanti; Ruchpaul, Ananda; Ruchpaul, Éva (1984), Hatha Yoga : l'art de se faire, Warner home video France , Polygram vidéo, Polygram vidéo [éd.]] [Warner home video France [distrib.], retrieved 2026-03-11
  33. ↑ Éva Ruchpaul présente un exercie pour le débutant en yoga (in French). Retrieved 2026-03-06 – via mediaclip.ina.fr.
  34. ↑ Éva Ruchpaul le yoga (in French). Retrieved 2026-03-06 – via mediaclip.ina.fr.
  35. ↑ Moustaki à propos du yoga | INA (in French). Retrieved 2026-03-10 – via www.ina.fr.
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