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Grab your sweetie, friend, workout buddy, partner, sibling, or child, and let’s do some partner yoga!! The word “yoga” means the union of mind, body, and spirit. In partner yoga, we come together in union with another person in a creative, playful practice.

I have also included some great Valentine’s Day gift ideas at the end of this post!

Partner yoga can bring us closer to each other discovering more about each other, deepening our relationships. We become sensitive to other’s needs and work together. We carve out this time to be totally in the moment with our partner. We must communicate with each other, be patient with each other, and give each other space and time to connect and come into the poses together.

 

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Basic Considerations

  1. It is best to practice yoga on an empty stomach. At least wait a few hours after eating a full meal.
  2. Make sure your body is warmed up already. Do some stretching or try these partner yoga poses after your regular workout.
  3. Communicate with your partner! The other person cannot feel what you feel inside your body and everyone has a different level of flexibility/strength. Each body has its own strengths and weaknesses. Work together and honor each other.
  4. Work within your limits. Honor your body and respect it, don’t push beyond your limits.
  5. Have fun! Your pose performed together with another, may not be the same as you would do on your own. Connect in the present moment, be with each other. Laugh together!
  6. Always begin your practice by sitting together and breathing consciously, aware of each other’s breath, connecting.

Pose #1 – Seated Mindful Breathing

  • Sit in a comfortable cross-legged position facing each other on a yoga mat on the floor. Lengthen the spine, sitting tall with your back long, shoulders relaxed down, hands resting on the thighs with the palms facing upward. The hands can be held in gyana mudra if desired. Or you can hold hands with your partner as we are doing in the picture above. Soften the gaze or close the eyes if desired. Sync your breathing together. Breathe together for 20-25 breaths, breathing smoothly in and out through the nose.
  • This establishes a connection with your partner through the breath and touch. Focusing on the breath is calming to the mind. You will feel grounded and connected.

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Pose #2 – Seated Twist

  • Sit back to back in sukhasana (cross-legged) with your backs touching. Inhale and lengthen through the spine.
  • Exhale as you come into the twist. Twisting to the right, each person brings their left hand to the outside of their own right knee. Reach back with the left hand and place it on your partner’s left knee.
  • Turn your head to look over your right shoulder. Firm the belly. Take 5-10 breaths in the twist.
  • Repeat, twisting to the left.
  • This pose is beneficial for digestion and detoxifies the body. It stretches muscles along the spine and stimulates blood flow to the lower body.

Pose #3 – Seated Forward and Backbends

  • Sit back to back, cross-legged or soles of the feet together or legs extended, whichever is most comfortable.
  • One partner reaches forward into a forward bend as the other partner reaches the arms overhead and does a backbend over the forward bending partner’s back. Hold as long as comfortable, or for 10-15 breaths.
  • Switch roles.
  • To exit the pose, inhale lift the torso (arms to shoulder height), exhale lower the arms.
  • Beneficial for opening the chest and lungs, opening the hips, and increasing circulation to the pelvic region.

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Pose #4 – Gate Pose at the Feet

  • Position yourselves in table position on all fours, approximately 6-7 feet apart. This will vary depending on the length of your legs!
  • Extend your inside leg toward each other, with the outer side of your foot touching.
  • Walk your hands back to the bent knee and lift the torso. Check the alignment so that the hip is directly over the knee.
  • Inhale and lift the arms to shoulder height. On the exhale breath, take a side bend with the outside arm overhead, reaching out over the extended leg in toward your partner.
  • The hand of the inside arm, rests on the extended leg, either above the knee or below the knee. Do not put any pressure on the knee with the hand.
  • Take 5-10 breaths in the pose. Synchronize the breath if desired.
  • To exit, inhale lift the torso and bring the arms to shoulder height. Exhale release the arms and bring the extended leg in, coming onto both knees (in a high kneel).
  • Repeat on the other side.
  • Stretches and tones the abdominal muscles; stretches the legs, hips, back, and shoulders.

 

 

Pose #5 – Warrior 2 Twins

  • Standing side by side, take a wide straddle, with the inside leg feet touching each other.
  • Turn the outside leg foot out at a 90-degree angle.
  • Inhale lift the arms to shoulder height, grabbing ahold of your partner’s forearm/wrist.
  • Exhale bend the knee of the outside leg coming into Warrior 2 pose. Keep the knee directly over the ankle.
  • Turn the head to look out over the outside hand’s fingertips.
  • Stay for 5-10 breaths, breathing smoothly in and out through the nose.
  • To exit the pose, inhale straighten the legs, exhale release the arms. Turn the toes forward walk the feet in.
  • Repeat on the other side.
  • Strengthens and tones the entire body, especially the legs, hips, back, and shoulders.

 

Pose #6 – Two Trunk Tree

  • Stand beside your partner with your inside legs approximately 12-18″ apart. Bring your inside arm around each other’s waist.
  • Bend your outside leg placing your foot at the inner thigh (as pictured), or at the calf or ankle.
  • Bring the hands of the outside arms together at approximately chest level, pressing the palms together.
  • Find a point to focus the eyes on, near eye level.
  • Breathe in and out of the nose smoothly for 5-10 breaths. Sync the breath together if desired.
  • To come out of the pose, exhale as you release the foot to the floor.
  • Repeat on the other side.
  • Increases inner awareness and balance. Hip stretch.

Pose #7 – Side by Side Savasana

I forgot to take a picture of my hubby and me, in side-by-side savasana. But here is a picture of me in one of my favorite poses, savasana!

  • Lie on your back beside your partner. Come into close proximity to each other so you can feel each other’s presence.
  • Make yourself comfortable, using props to become as relaxed as possible (e.g. cover up with a blanket, eye pillow over the eyes, a folded blanket under the head, rolled up blanket under the knees).
  • Let the legs and feet relax and fall open.
  • Rest the arms beside the body with the palms up.
  • Close your eyes.
  • Release any noticeable tension in the body.
  • Observe your breathing. Feel the movements in your body as you breathe.
  • When the mind wanders off into the past/future, bring your awareness back to following the breath. Do this as often as is needed.
  • Stay in savasana for 10 minutes or longer.
  • To exit, gentle bring movement back into the body. Then roll over onto the side for a few mindful breaths. Press yourself back up into a seated position, sitting with a long back. Bow your head and bring the hands together at the heart center.
  • Namaste.

A book would make a great Valentine’s Day gift for the yoga lover in your life. I have the book Yoga for Partners by Jessie Chapman which is a great resource for more partner yoga poses! A few other books on partner yoga that look interesting to me are Partner Yoga: Making Contact for Physical, Emotional and Spiritual Growth by C. Carroll and W.D.L. Kimata, and The Joy of Partner Yoga by M. Edmond.

Another great Valentine’s Day or anytime gift for your Yogi or Yogini (or You) would be a yoga-inspired gift from Sivana or Buddha Groove (link in the sidebar).

 

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Make your sweetheart some aromatic bath salts for a Valentine’s Day or any day gift! Check out my easy recipe in my post Easy DIY – 4 Ingredient Bath Salts.

Union is the essence of yoga. Coming together in poses with a partner, synchronizing your movements and your breath. Add some partner yoga into your Valentine’s Day plans for a new twist in your celebration and deepening of your relationship with each other!! Also, you can try these fun poses anytime for a different workout trying something new!