Can you introduce yourself, please?
Hello, my name is Charlotte Muller, I’m 37 years old, and I’m the mother of Romy, a 3-year-old little girl. I am a fitness coach, a yoga instructor, and the founder of Fertility Yoga Paris. Recently, I created my own method that combines fitness, yoga, and wellness, synchronized with the female cycle. I’m also opening my new studio in the heart of the 9th arrondissement in Paris!
Can you tell us about your journey to motherhood?
After several years of fertility treatments that ended in failure, I took some time off to focus on myself. It was while practicing a lot of Fertility Yoga, just as I was opening my first studio, that I naturally got pregnant, despite having PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome). Romy is definitely a “miracle Fertility Yoga baby.”
How has motherhood impacted your view on feminine balance and hormones?
Motherhood is a huge upheaval, filled with love, great joy, and wonder at all the “firsts,” but it also brings an immense sleep debt! This is the aspect that has changed my view on feminine balance, in particular. I have always talked a lot about oxidative stress caused by excessive work and sports activity, but since becoming a mother, I realize that sleep deprivation or poor-quality sleep clearly also impacts our hormonal balance. This led me to design and refine my Fitness Yoga Wellness method with less cardio and exhaustion, and more focus on strengthening, mobility, and relaxation.
How did you start getting interested in feminine yoga?
I’ve always been extremely athletic (French basketball championships, intense running, Vinyasa Yoga…) and had a very demanding professional routine as a lawyer. Like many women, I thought the sport that helped me relieve my professional stress was good for my health. In reality, it was just tiring my body more and contributing to my hormonal imbalance. I only realized this after my fertility treatment journey. During my third IVF, I experienced serious complications and decided to look into natural methods that could help me during future treatments. That's when I discovered Harvard studies on the benefits of Yoga before undergoing fertility treatments. As a regular yoga practitioner, I decided to train in practices synchronized with the female cycle to increase my chances of IVF success. At that moment, I launched my first Fertility Yoga classes in France to introduce this practice to women in similar situations.
What is fertility yoga?
Fertility Yoga is a Hatha Yoga adapted to the female cycle. In my classes, I offer a dynamic variation during the first part of the cycle, which includes a lot of pelvic mobility, thereby promoting hormone stimulation and ovulation. In the second part of the cycle and during menstruation, I offer a gentle restorative version that supports implantation and relieves premenstrual symptoms, pain, cramps, etc. I have many students with endometriosis and adenomyosis who follow these gentle classes, which provide significant relief. Fertility Yoga is, of course, aimed at women who wish to conceive, but also at those who want to practice a class in harmony with their cycle.
Can you tell us about your Charlotte Muller method?
Fertility Yoga is a signature class of my Charlotte Muller “Fitness, Yoga, Wellness” method for female well-being. Throughout the female cycle, hormones fluctuate: we feel dynamic and motivated at the beginning of the cycle, and then much more tired and weakened as we approach menstruation at the end of the cycle. These fluctuations are natural, and it would be futile to fight against our cyclical nature and hormones. For optimal female well-being and preserved hormonal balance, I’ve developed a method where physical activity and sports, as well as wellness, are recommended for each phase of the cycle — this is the principle of “Cycle Syncing.”
What types of massages do you practice, and how are they related to your yoga teachings?
I’ve always known that there are massages recommended for fertility, hormonal balance, and overall belly well-being. Having PCOS, irregular cycles, and adenomyosis pain myself, I’m the first client for treatments that relieve abdominal tension. I’ve therefore expanded my method by incorporating a Wellness aspect, training in specific care protocols.
For women on a conception journey, I offer two “fertility” massages: first, the Baby Moon body treatment by Renata França (developed with gynecologist Dr. José Bento), for which I was trained by Renata França herself in Brazil. And secondly, the Arvigo targeted abdominal massage.
I also offer lymphatic drainage to all women who want to detox their bodies and feel better, especially expectant mothers (with an open belly table) and new moms in the postpartum period, always using TALM oil. Lymphatic drainage is essential during and after pregnancy to maintain lightness and mobility.
What advice would you like to share with women on their conception journey?
I’d offer three pieces of advice, linked to the 3 pillars of my method.
First, Fitness: exercising is crucial for our balance and health, but when trying to conceive, it’s important to be mindful of when you’re doing the most cardio-intensive activities. Long-duration, intense cardio spikes create stress for the body, which then shifts into “survival mode.” This can negatively affect ovulation. Cardio is good, but it should be controlled!
Second, Yoga: whether you’re undergoing fertility treatments or trying for a natural conception, Fertility Yoga classes help you reconnect with your body, release tension in your pelvis, and nurture yourself.
Lastly, Wellness: when women are planning to conceive, I always recommend they take time for themselves—just for themselves. To release the pressure, to relax the mind and body. It could be a massage, a moment of solitude, or anything that creates a genuine pause for self-care.
Are there products to avoid or favor during a conception journey or IVF?
I keep track of everyday products that contain endocrine disruptors: cosmetics, cleaning products, synthetic textiles... This excess of microplastics is incredibly harmful to our hormonal balance. It may seem trivial, but in reality, it significantly disrupts our metabolism. There were more IVF treatments in 2022 than ever before in the history of reproductive medicine, which shows how sensitive our bodies are to these environmental factors. So, take care of your body by being mindful of product compositions. I applaud the work of Kenza, the founder of Talm, who always strives to create the cleanest formulas for all her products.
Oocyte quality renews itself every three months. When trying to conceive, take time for a small detox with cruciferous vegetables (the cabbage family) and other fiber-rich fruits and vegetables (like kiwis, which are high in Vitamin C and B9). So, indulge in these nutrient- and vitamin-rich fruits and vegetables that your body needs at this stage of your life as a woman.
Can you tell us about the opening of your studio?
Over the years, my practice has grown, and I’m thrilled to open this new studio dedicated to women’s well-being. It is the first studio in the world to recommend each of the classes and treatments based on the female cycle: strengthening exercises after your period, cardio during ovulation, gentle practices in the luteal phase, and restorative sessions during your period. Each class has been designed and crafted to enhance women’s well-being, and the team of instructors is specially trained in my method.
We offer classes for all women at every stage of their life: during conception, pregnancy with adapted courses, postpartum, at every phase of their cycle, and even in (pre)menopause. Whether for a class or treatment, every woman will find what works for her.
A final word?
Selfcare is Healthcare: taking care of yourself is taking care of your health.
Studio “Charlotte Muller Method”
9 rue Chaptal 75009 Paris
https://www.charlottemulleryoga.com/
