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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.
Basic Considerations
- It is best to practice yoga on an empty stomach. At least wait a few hours after eating a full meal.
- Make sure your body is warmed up already. Do some stretching or try these partner yoga poses after your regular workout.
- 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.
- Work within your limits. Honor your body and respect it, don’t push beyond your limits.
- 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!
- 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.
Full Selection of Prana at Mukha Yoga
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).
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!
Danielle
February 11, 2022 2:05 pmLove these poses and connecting with a partner.
Julie
February 11, 2022 3:00 pmFun to do these poses with a partner!
Mitch
September 26, 2023 9:28 pmOh my gosh! This was so much fun! I loved doing this with my husband because I’m gay!
Julie
September 27, 2023 12:31 pmHi Mitch,
I’m so glad you and your husband enjoyed the partner yoga! Thanks for reading, commenting and trying the partner yoga! 🙂
Prerna
February 11, 2022 2:11 amReally a fun workout to do with your partner. Thanks for sharing.
Julie
February 11, 2022 3:06 pmYes! Fun to do with a friend/significant other!
Tisha
February 2, 2022 4:26 pmSuch a fun way to connect with your partner!
Julie
February 3, 2022 10:26 amYes it is!! Enjoy 🙂
Carissa
February 2, 2022 11:55 amMy husband and I like doing Yoga with each other! I think these are great poses to share with your partner, I can’t wait to share this article with him.
Julie
February 2, 2022 2:51 pmFabulous! I hope you enjoy these partner yoga poses!
Heather Castillo
February 1, 2022 4:06 pmI just have to convince my husband to do yoga with me and then we will try them all! Yoga relaxes me so much.
Julie
February 2, 2022 10:58 amHave fun! Yoga is my go-to for relaxation!
Amber Myers
February 1, 2022 1:56 pmThese look like some awesome poses. I think my husband and I would bust out laughing though. It’s hard for us to be serious.
Julie
February 2, 2022 10:59 amNo need to be serious!! Laughter will make it all that much more fun!
Mimi
February 1, 2022 12:45 pmSo fun to do things together, I need a partner to do yoga with
Julie
February 2, 2022 10:59 amGrab a friend and give a few a try!
Marjie Mare
January 29, 2022 2:24 pmI have never thought about doing Yoga with my hubby. Thanks for sharing these poses with me. Namaste!!
Julie
January 29, 2022 4:08 pmMaybe you can get him to do a few for fun! 😀 Namaste!
Kelly Krebs
January 28, 2022 2:13 pmI’m going to be very honest and admit I didn’t know you could do yoga poses with a partner. This sounds like so much fun. I can’t wait to try these!
Julie
January 29, 2022 12:20 pmI’m so glad you learned something about yoga! Have fun with your yoga partner! 🙂
Elisa
January 27, 2022 8:04 pmOh wow, i love this idea of having a partner to work with and keep you accountable at the same time!
Julie
January 28, 2022 2:01 pmIt can be a lot of fun too!!
Erin
February 14, 2021 3:33 pmSuch a great idea! And I love the dog in the poses too 🙂 I need to get my hubby on board doing yoga with me!
Julie
February 15, 2021 8:28 pmMy sweet little Lily. Thanks for commenting on her <3
Ghanashyam K
February 14, 2021 10:10 amThese are some great yoga poses, and they look so fun! Thank you for sharing these!
Julie
February 15, 2021 8:29 pmThey are fun! Thanks for reading and commenting! 🙂
Flossie McCowald
February 13, 2021 1:07 pmWhat a great idea for Valentine’s Day! Although my hubby isn’t much for yoga – but one of my daughters loves it as much as I do, so may have to try with her! 🙂
Julie
February 13, 2021 6:25 pmThat sounds like a fantastic idea Flossie! How fun!
vidya
February 6, 2021 5:51 pmthank you for these poses… my husband is the one who is more regular about doing yoga while i do it on and off (mostly off tbh).. but i think i will try these
Julie
February 7, 2021 3:50 pmYou guys will have fun doing these together!!
Joanna
February 6, 2021 4:30 pmThis looks like so much fun. My husband leads a pretty sedentary lifestyle so these would be do good for him. Not sure I’ll succeed but plan to dare him to try it maybe on Valentine’s Day!
Julie
February 7, 2021 3:50 pmI hope he’ll try a few!! Good luck!!
Bri
February 5, 2021 9:26 pmHow fun! I think that yoga with my husband might be a workout for my abs too because I probably won’t stop laughing! He could benefit a lot from yoga though to improve coordination!
Julie
February 7, 2021 3:51 pmThat would be so fun! Laughter is great medicine!!
Trina
February 15, 2020 8:30 amWhat a great idea! I’ve been doing yoga for a couple of years. Maybe I could get the hubs started with this!
Julie
February 15, 2020 2:17 pmPick out a few you think he would be willing to try. Maybe after some kind of workout so he’s already warmed up! Have fun! 🙂
Maria
February 14, 2020 11:04 amThese look fun. My husband and I love doing yoga together and this would be a fun addition to our practice. Do some partner poses.
Julie
February 14, 2020 6:34 pmThat’s wonderful that you and your hubby do yoga together! I hope you enjoy the partner poses 😀
Mama Bear Finance
February 13, 2020 4:07 pmThese are great yoga poses. I’ve been wanting to try couple yoga but some of them looked insanely difficult. I think these ones which seem much simpler to do.
Julie
February 13, 2020 7:35 pmI tried to choose partner poses that I thought would be easier to do! These are fun to do with a partner! Enjoy 😀 Thanks for reading 🙂
Tanya
February 20, 2019 2:17 pmI love these! I have been trying to get my husband to practice yoga with me forever. He will watch me practice, even help me with certain poses but will never join in. I am going to show him these poses and put on a puppy dog face. I hope he says yes! Haha. Thank you for these!
http://www.healthandhumility.com
Julie
February 20, 2019 7:49 pmHi Tanya,
My husband and I had fun doing these poses together! I hope yours will give a few of these a try!! I tried to pick ut some that I thought would be relatively easy. Have fun and good luck 😀
Jana
February 14, 2019 5:40 amLove this post! I have been buying scented bath salts, but I am going to try your recipe!
Julie
February 14, 2019 4:44 pmHi Jana!
I have made multiple batches of the bath salts now. Scott loves to take baths, so he uses them all the time. I love how the bath salts help with muscle aches and they smell so good! Planning to try some partner yoga with Chris? Thanks for visiting! 🙂
Trace
February 13, 2019 6:35 amI enjoyed reading your post. My husband loves yoga and it would be nice to practice some poses with him as I know he is a bit rusty. Your photos and step by step instructions are really helpful and I like how you added the benefits of each of them. I love your blog!
Trace x | http://www.thefashioncollector.com
Julie
February 13, 2019 9:28 amThanks Trace! I’m glad you like my blog. I hope you and your husband will be able to try a few of the partner poses!
Julie 🙂
Bill @ OthFit
February 12, 2019 10:18 pmI really liked this post. My wife, Summer, and I have been doing Yoga for a while but most of the couple poses we have found have been too difficult for us. We will be giving these a try. Thanks!
Julie
February 13, 2019 9:33 amHi Bill,
That’s great! I hope you have some fun trying these partner poses. I am more about simplicity than the advanced poses!! Thanks for visiting!
Julie 🙂
Arianne P
February 12, 2019 9:56 pmThese must really connect you to your partner. My husband and I are trying to be more physically active and touch happens to be both our love languages. These would be perfect for exercising and bonding!
Julie
February 13, 2019 9:34 amHi Adrianne,
It sounds like Partner Yoga will be a great match for you!! Enjoy 🙂 Thank you for visiting!