The greatest yoga poses for two people.
If you’re looking to spice up your yoga practice, yoga poses for two people might be something to try.
Partner yoga poses offer a powerful way to move deeper into postures. Plus, you’ll build trust, strengthen your emotional connection with your partner, and have fun, too! Now, I know some of you are thinking: “Partner yoga sounds great, but I’m not in a relationship. And I’m not so sure this is second-date material.”
Don’t worry — partner yoga isn’t just for couples. You can practice these yoga poses for two people with friends, family, roommates, and even book a yoga spa vacation for you and your favorite yoga partner.
Anyone is invited, so long as you have safe relationships with mutually agreed-upon boundaries.
Partner yoga poses are exciting to try, but they come with so many other benefits. Let’s take a closer look at the advantages of trying yoga poses with a partner, then introduce some of my favorite two-person yoga poses
What is Partner Yoga?
Partner yoga is just as the name suggests — a style of yoga in which two people support one another in each pose. Some two person yoga poses include hands-on assists, while others focus on synchronizing the breath.
The Benefits of Yoga Poses With a Partner
Inviting someone else into your yoga practice to try out yoga poses for two people can be deeply impactful. The same way yoga fosters a connection with the self, it does between two people.
1. Two-Person Yoga Poses Are Fun!
If your Downward Dog has you feeling uninspired, hitting the mat with a buddy might be what you need to find your yoga groove. Plus, studies show that engaging in play releases endorphins, improves brain functionality, and stimulates creativity.
2. Partner Yoga Poses Enhance Posture
Sometimes, we all need a little support. This goes for learning yoga, too! Partner yoga poses are a great way to learn how to accept support. Maybe your partner is gently guiding you deeper into a posture. Or, perhaps they’re providing some much-needed balance as you root down on one leg.
When you practice yoga poses with two people, you uniquely experience the asanas — and that’s a very good thing.
3. Partner Yoga Builds Relationships
Partner yoga requires trust and communication. There is a degree of intimacy in couple yoga poses; you’ll want to pay attention to your partner and openly express any boundaries or limitations. If you’ve ever wondered how couples do yoga poses, this is it!
Learning to lean on your partner (quite literally) has far-reaching benefits both on and off the mat.
4. Partner Yoga Builds Trust
Practicing yoga poses designed for two people means you must rely on someone else to hold you, support you, and provide you with balance. Many poses can be a bit challenging and daunting. This encourages trust in your partner that they literally and figuratively have your back.
Performing yoga with another means you often have to give up control which can be a good trait to learn in real life. The trust you build with your friend or partner in yoga will often carry over to your life off the mat.
5. Partner Yoga Allows You to Open Up
Yoga asana often brings you into vulnerable positions. Practicing yoga poses for two people means allowing the energy of another person into this space of vulnerability.
Those with insecurities such as body image issues can learn to accept and love their bodies by opening them up for others to see in detail. Yoga with a friend or partner also offers you both to be present in a relaxed setting where you can learn to laugh and not take life so seriously.
6. Partner Yoga Creates Intimacy Through Touch
Practicing yoga with two people can be intimidating for some in the beginning, as it involves a great deal of close contact and touching. Touch is a strong component of developing close connections with people. Yoga for two can help you increase your awareness of each other by way of touch. Performing yoga with another person brings awareness to each other in a way that transcends just physical presence.
For couples, the physical touch of yoga can lead to a greater sense of intimacy. This may expand into other areas of your relationship and help you deepen your connection.
7. Partner Yoga Creates Shared Memories & Strengthens Bonds
Just as quality time can bring you closer to loved ones, so can practicing yoga together. Yoga is a light-hearted activity that will allow you both to smile while boosting physical and mental health. Yoga provides an open atmosphere that makes the time you share with your friend or partner memorable.
Many of the yoga poses you will perform together help you build a solid foundation with your bodies. In turn, this will help to further strengthen your relationship’s foundation.
8. Partner Yoga Provides Physical and Emotional Support
Although we may be well aware of the many physical and mental benefits of yoga, it can be daunting to dive into it alone. Breaking into the practice of yoga with yoga poses for two people can help give you the extra motivation and support you need to make yoga a part of your routine.
We tend to accomplish far more when we learn to support one another. Recognizing how being able to rely on someone else provides positive results, you will be more willing to engage closely with others in many aspects of your life. This is just one of many partner yoga benefits.
Tips for Practicing Partner Yoga Poses
To be successful in practicing yoga poses with a partner, consider the following tips:
- Openly communicate. Express any physical limitations or boundaries before getting started. Maintain open communication throughout the practice.
- Actively listen. Not just to your partner’s words, but to their movements and body queues, too. You never want to push or pull your yoga buddy into a pose that doesn’t feel right.
- Let go of the ego. Yoga is an ongoing practice of dissolving the Ego. This applies to yoga poses for two people. You’re not trying to impress your partner or prove your flexibility. Instead, focus on the process and find joy in each pose — whatever that looks like for you today.
