Yoga for couples – yoga positions for two people

Dinner and a book, a walk and a cup of warm tea, or maybe Netflix and “chill out”?! There are several ideas for relaxing after a long day of work. We usually like to “stick” to the proven ones, but they can become a bit too predictable, not to mention boring. If you are looking for a new way to spend time together with a loved one, yoga for couples may be the answer.

If you practice yoga at home online or attend classes at a yoga studio, you undoubtedly already know the benefits of an individual practice. So why not try yoga for two? Yoga for two people will support a solo yoga practice because it requires the same skills, mindfulness, awareness and presence. What is the difference? When exercising as a couple, it is not only about ourselves and our own breathing, but also about our partner’s breathing.

Advantages of yoga for 2 people

Regular yoga practice can help you find inner peace and reduce the tension that accumulates in the body due to stress. It’s extremely important and good, so why not share this gift with your loved one?! Especially if it can deepen and strengthen the bonds in your relationship.

Yoga for couples has a beneficial effect on mutual communication and an even fuller understanding of the needs of yourself and your loved one. Joint exercises and yoga positions develop mutual trust when a given position requires the partners to trust the other person ( to just hold me tight ). This “physical” trust, resulting from deepened intimacy, is later translated into everyday situations when emotional support and understanding are needed in difficult situations.

The increased attractiveness felt by partners who exercise together is also important. Practicing yoga in pairs is also a way to reduce stress and achieve balance. Yoga for two also allows you to achieve common goals, which gives satisfaction to both partners and encourages them to set new ones. Partners also benefit physically by working together on proper breathing and posture, increasing muscle flexibility and awareness of their own body and the body of their loved one.

However, before you start lifting your partner above your head in an acro yoga position, it is worth starting slowly with simple asanas. It is important to give each other time to get to know and experience both your body and your partner’s body. To start with, set the bar low and choose a few beginner yoga poses that will help you gently transition into a more meditative two-person yoga practice.

Yoga for couples – exercises

The most important and sometimes the hardest thing is to start. If you’re already wondering “is yoga right for me?” , your experience will certainly be helpful in encouraging your loved one to practice and take new yoga positions together. Before starting the exercises, you should open up to the other person, their doubts, sometimes fears or even embarrassment. In any intimate relationship, communication – including non-verbal communication – will be the key to a fruitful yoga practice as a couple.

Be alert to the other person: direct words or instructions when the partner is more experienced in yoga. Non-verbally, set yourself up to feel the messages expressed through touch, look, or breathing together (or not). Mutual trust will help ensure your own safety and the safety of the couple. Let’s not be afraid to learn about our limitations and capabilities and express them clearly to our partner. This will allow you to achieve a satisfying and pleasant yoga experience for two.

8 yoga poses for couples

The following set of yoga poses for couples will be suitable for beginner partners.

1. Sukhasana: cross-legged position

This uncomplicated sitting meditation position for those starting to practice yoga for couples will allow both partners to gently adapt to the energy and intentions of the other.

How to enter Sukhasana? Both of you sit on the floor with your back against your partner. Feel the steady but not overwhelming support from your partner as you both lean on each other without overpowering each other. Close your eyes and take deep, long breaths together. After a few breaths, you may notice that your breaths synchronize themselves and you breathe in the same rhythm.

2. Ardha Matsyendrasana: Half Sage Twist Pose

You can easily transition to this figure from position 1. Remain in a seated position with your back to each other. Inhale and place your right hand on your left knee. Exhale and with your spine straight, turn to the left and reach your left hand to rest it on your partner’s right knee. Before you release the position, take a few deep, long breaths on this side of the twist and do the same on the other side.

3. Badha konasana: tethered angle pose

Move your legs into position, keeping your feet together. Adjust the distance of your feet from your groin to suit your flexibility and, if necessary, place a support under your knees. Your partner can do the same or place their feet on the floor. Inhale and lengthen your spine, then exhale and bend forward. Once you do this, allow your partner to lean their back against yours to help deepen the bend towards your comfort level.

If necessary, signal to your partner if you feel discomfort or too much weight on your back. The weight should be enough to help deepen the pose, but not so much that your breathing becomes strained.

Stay in the position for a few long, deep breaths and switch roles, remembering to be as attentive to your partner as you would like them to be with you.

4. Balasana and Matsyasana: fish and child

Get into child’s position. You can widen your knees, which will help reduce pressure on your chest and allow you to breathe more freely. As in the last position, have your partner lie on their back on top of you and straighten their legs flat on the mat so that the entire weight of their upper body is on you.

As before, report any discomfort, difficulty breathing or any pain. Remember that both you and your partner can leave the position at any time.

If you are able to assume both Child’s Pose and Fish Pose, breathe together like this for a few moments. When you are ready, get out of position and switch roles.

5. Upavistha konasana: seated angle pose

In addition to its physical benefits, this yoga pose for two especially helps build trust and support in your relationship. Sit on the floor facing each other, keeping enough distance between your heels. Allow your partner to place the soles of their feet on their inner ankles to maintain distance between them. If there is too much weight on your inner thighs, reduce the distance between your feet.

Hold your partner’s hands (you can also hold your elbows if you are very flexible). Inhale and lengthen your spine. As you exhale, your partner will lean back, pulling you forward. You will help your partner not lean too far back, and your partner will help you deepen your forward bend. Stay in this position, taking deep, long breaths together for as long as is comfortable for both of you. Once the positions become vacant, switch roles.

6. Utkatasana: Chair Pose

This position builds trust and strength, both physically and in relationships, and also has a positive impact on the development of a sense of coordination and teamwork. Even if you and your partner have different body sizes and physical strength, you will need to work together to provide equal support throughout the pose.

First, challenge yourself in Tadasana, or mountain pose. Leave enough space between you so that you can still hold hands tightly with your arms stretched out in front of you. If necessary, you can dry your hands with a towel before starting if you feel they are slightly sweaty. Once you have embraced each other tightly, begin to bend your knees so that you both sit on imaginary chairs. Lean back slightly when sitting and use your hands to prevent yourself from falling backwards. Look into each other’s eyes to connect, breathing slowly and deeply.

To take the next level of coordination and trust in the chair pose for two, carefully change your grip to hold the same hand (have your right hand grab your partner’s right hand). Inhale and move your left arms out to the side, and you both turn towards your left hand. Exhale as you bring your left arm back to center, grab your left arm and make the same twist with your right arm.

7. Anuvittasana (standing backbend)

This is another item that will help build support and strength in your partnership. It can also relieve lower back pain. Stand facing each other in Tadasana – this time close enough that you can hold each other’s elbows well. Bend your knees slightly to avoid hyperextension and protect your lower back. Tilt your head back and begin to tilt your entire body back. Even as the backbends deepen, continue to lengthen the spine through the top of the head to prevent pressure.

Remember that this yoga pose is not just about your flexibility, but about supporting each other to breathe together asana. Remain open and sensitive to the other person’s needs and clearly communicate your own needs to keep each other safe.

8. Navasana: Ship Pose

This pose will help you both develop core strength and stability while lengthening and strengthening your hamstrings. You will need to respect your own limitations and abilities so that you can find balance between your bodies, support each other, and hold your position in a comfortable way to maintain your balance.

Sit facing each other with your knees bent. Hold each other’s hands on the outside or inside of the legs. Move one leg at a time. Connect the sole of your right foot with the sole of your partner’s left foot. As you straighten this leg, bring your other feet together as well, and straighten the other leg as well, so that both legs are extended up, forming an inverted “A” with your legs and arms.

We wish you a yoga practice for couples full of good energy and even greater intimacy in your relationship. Maybe today is the day to try and give yourself a new “challenge for couples”?!

FAQ

Is it worth practicing yoga in pairs?

If you are looking for an idea for spending time together differently than before, yoga for couples will be a good solution, especially if one of you (or both partners) already practices yoga at home. Additionally, yoga for two brings benefits not only physically for each partner, but also emotionally in your relationship.

What are the benefits of yoga for couples?

Yoga for couples allows both partners to find inner peace and reduce tension. Additionally, in addition to working on body flexibility, it deepens and strengthens relationships and builds trust.

What are the effects of yoga for couples?

Yoga for couples has a positive impact on mutual communication and a fuller understanding of your own needs and those of your loved one. Joint yoga exercises and positions develop trust, reduce stress and help deepen intimacy and trust. Yoga for two allows you to achieve common goals, which gives satisfaction to both partners. Partners also benefit physically by working together on proper breathing, increasing muscle flexibility and awareness of their own body and the body of their loved one.

The article Yoga for couples – yoga positions for two people comes from the PortalYogi website.

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