October 2025

A Secret Garden in Perpignan: Yoga and Wellness ….with Julie Boulanger

I have been doing yoga for 20+ years and have a Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) under my belt. Though I can’t twist myself into a pretzel, I am nevertheless an avowed yoga snob. For me, a yoga studio must be pretty and pleasant. Not too hot in summer or too cold in winter. Proper women’s and men’s changing rooms are expected. As for the teachers, they must be good. They should know the basics of anatomy, be able to assist postures, and suggest modifications. Some pranayama (breathing exercises) added to a class is like icing on a cake.

I also like my freedom. I travel a lot for work, so the system of associations where one registers in the autumn for a class they do every week at the same time does not work for me. I like my yoga “à la carte.”

Like I said, I’m a snob. I have expectations. So, you can imagine how delighted I was to find a yoga studio in the Perpignan area that satisfied them all! It’s called the Jardin Secret, in Cabestany. The space is lovely, the class passes are well priced, the class offering is varied, and the teachers are competent.

I met with its owner, Marjorie Lourador, who shared details about its establishment and plans for the future.

Why Open a Yoga Studio?

Marjorie is a Communication Specialist by trade who discovered yoga in 2015 at the Perpignan studio called Mov’in Yoga (now closed). She really liked the teacher, Coraline, and immersed herself in Vinyasa style yoga. She began to help at the desk and to get involved around the studio. Coraline encouraged her to complete a teacher training so they could share the workload.

The studio grew and more teachers joined the team. Eventually, Coraline moved to Toulouse and opened a second studio there. Then COVID happened. Like many on-site businesses, yoga studios struggled. Coraline decided to keep the Toulouse studio and close the Perpignan one.

Perpignan had teachers, but no place to teach.

To palliate this situation, Marjorie and her then-partner decided to open a new studio. They bought the material and client list from Mov’In Yoga and started looking for a space. Once they found the house, it took them several months to paint and renovate the basement into its present layout. The Jardin Secret opened its doors in September 2022. As the old Mov’In Yoga students were eagerly awaiting the opening of a new space, they had yogis in their classes from the very start.

Location! Location! Location!

The Jardin Secret is in the Mas Guerrido neighborhood of Cabestany. If you know this area, your mind’s eye might be seeing strip malls, but the Jardin Secret is a lovely two-story house surrounded by a lush garden and tucked away behind, well, a strip mall. In addition to the beauty of the setting, the area offers a lot of free parking.

The main floor consists of a sitting area, a kitchen that’s occupied by the vegan caterer Le Petiot, and a yoga room. A second yoga room (equipped for hot yoga and aerial classes) and the changing rooms are in the basement. The rooms on the first floor are leased to various health professionals, and a space in the attic can be rented out for small events.

As Marjorie explained to me, when she and her then-partner decided to open a yoga studio, the possibility of renting out spaces was integral to their business plan. They knew that the studio could not exist solely on what the classes bring in; they needed revenue that would ensure financial stability.

As for the house, they fell in love with it right away. The location was good, and the house is hidden away in a patch of nature that felt enchanted, hence its name: Le Jardin Secret.

A Space of Synergies

As for their tenants, Marjorie says their list came together organically. She is aware that they offer interesting spaces for independent health workers. Firstly, there are few spaces that offer a structured environment, where practitioners are not stuck alone in their offices. Secondly, few spaces are aesthetically pleasing on plan, so practitioners must cover the costs of renovations when they move in. Finally, their pricing is within range. As a result, though they have had turn-over, they have a waiting list of interested practitioners.

Currently, their tenants include a make-up artist, a naturopath, a speech therapist, a doula, a kinesiologist and two massage therapists. You can find out more about them and reserve an appointment on the Jardin Secret website (link at the end of the article).

What Yoga Class Is Right for You?

The classes at the Jardin Secret are mostly dynamic ashtanga and vinyasa. The choice of offering “harder” yoga classes is intentional. As Marjorie points out, there are often hatha yoga classes on offer in municipal associations. She wanted to fill the gap for the stronger types of practice – and the Jardin Secret adherents – myself included – thank her for it!

However, if you want an easier class, either because you are new to yoga and are unsure about your coordination, or you just need something mellower, here are my recommendations:

• Yoga restoratif / Restorative Yoga: Yoga poses are supported with props. A slow pace that does wonders to the nervous system.
• Soft Yin Flow: A smooth and mellow flow class in a heated room. It’s more flow than yin.
• Yoga Nidra: Known as yoga sleep, this form of yoga is meant to activate different brain waves while your body relaxes.
• Ashtanga guidé / Guided Ashtanga: I have seen many newbies in this class. The teacher, Virginie, offers loads of modifications and the pace is not too quick.

Events and Other Plans for the Future

The space allows for more than just yoga, and Marjorie is excited to explore and offer different types of events. She is inspired by subjects such as perinatal care, parenthood, entrepreneurship, and coaching, and open to ideas that offer the right synergies with her current tenants.

For example, the Jardin Secret has hosted two spring and three Christmas markets that highlight local creators. (Keep an eye out for the Christmas market 2025!)

They launched “Yoga Brunch Naturo” events last spring, in which Marjorie gives a yoga class, the local naturopath gives a talk, and Le Petiot provides brunch.

They have worked with Artemis, a Perpignan association that accompanies couples from pregnancy to parenthood, offering events around those themes.

Their attic space is also used for “off the mat” (Hors du tapis) workshops by the coaching company AdLib People. Their free events have covered themes such as leadership, personal development, and “No mud, No lotus.”

The Jardin Secret can be rented out for small (max. 15 people) events, which can include a yoga class and/or on-site catering. They have already hosted corporate events and private birthdays. However, Marjorie is clear that no yoga class will be canceled for a private event. The space will remain true to its dharma.

Find out More

You can find out more about the Jardin Secret on their website or their Instagram page. Monthly events are posted on their homepage.

Some of their teachers are active on Instagram and post their schedules regularly (such as Virginie).

The current tenants can be found here, as well as Le Petiot, the vegan caterer.

Find out more about the Association Artemis here, and about AdLib People here