With its concept that blends yoga, pilates, detox juices, and massages in chic and relaxed settings, the Tigre Yoga Club has become a true success story in just a few years. Its founder, Elodie Garamond, creates about twenty yoga retreats per year in privileged locations. After successfully making yoga trendy in Paris, she’s now spreading her wellness philosophy across France. Meet a woman who wants you to feel good!
Today, there’s a plethora of yoga retreats across France. Almost every yoga studio is creating its own offer… How do you distinguish yourself from the competition?
I think the added value of our retreats is the content. There’s really depth in the content, we don’t just do yoga.
We often combine several activities, such as horseback riding, hiking, with wellness practices like meditation, singing, and massages. I also work with the chefs at our retreat locations to create special, healthy menus.
The goal of our retreats is really to let yourself be carried away. For women today, freedom means allowing yourself to disappoint. You need to know how to take time for yourself, even if it means slightly upsetting the children, the husband…
Our retreats last between 2 and 6 days, they attract clients from our clubs but also regulars from the hotels we choose. They are always inspiring places that offer potential for disconnection.
The Tigre Yoga Club increasingly resembles an “empire”, you now have 5 clubs, 5 capsules, spas opening in various luxury hotels in France… How do you see this expansion continuing?
Yes, it’s true, we are continuing our expansion, for example, we are going to manage a new spa at the Monsieur George hotel which is opening in Paris this winter. However, I don’t want to go towards more products today, I want to move towards more education. That’s why we launched our Yogaplay offer, online yoga and meditation classes, for those who can’t go to our clubs.
I’m not looking to open new clubs for the moment. What interests me today is the multidisciplinary approach. I want to combine Kundalini yoga, meditation, Thai massages… What matters is to offer a holistic experience with quality treatments, healthy food. People are beginning to realize that the body is a unique, fragile, and non-renewable capital, they are eager for this global approach.
How do you see the evolution of wellness in luxury tourism?
I think we need to remain respectful of the planet, and that it’s not contradictory to combine humanist values and luxury. Vacations that are good for oneself, but also for the planet, that’s the real future in my opinion. But it must remain eco-pleasure, meaning never in a guilt-inducing approach, without injunctions.
What types of vacations do you like? Are you a fan of wellness travel?
What I personally love, with my children, are mountain vacations, both in summer and winter. I want to be close to nature, do canyoning, climbing, hiking. I especially love active, even sporty holidays.
Personally, no, I don’t really go to the wellness hotels listed on your site… But a place I adore is La vigne de Ramatuelle, where we organize yoga retreats.
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Find our article on the best yoga retreats in France, which features the Tigre Yoga Club retreats.
