Top 10 Couples Yoga Poses For All Levels
Whether you've got a new boo or a long-time lover this Valentines day, couples' yoga makes for the perfect activity to celebrate your relationship for many reasons. There are many proven benefits of yoga that is sure to get sparks flying between the two of you! Still unsure? Here are five reasons that couples yoga is definitely for (the both of) you!
1. Yoga has been shown to help increase sex drive, sexual satisfaction and is an effective natural solution to sexual dysfunction.
2. Couples yoga produces a heightened sexual attraction between the two of you.
3. Strengthens your communication, understanding and trust, verbally and physically.
4. Brings stability and calm to your relationship.
5. Share a memorable and fun experience together (you might even want to take up yoga!)
Never done yoga? No problem! These yoga poses are suitable for all levels, and hey, even if you do fall over it's all part of the fun!
Beginner Friendly:
1. Temple
An amazing pose that opens the shoulders and chest and feels glorious! Look into each other's eyes to turn up the romance.
How to do it:
1. Face each other whilst standing up, feet hip-width apart.
2. Whilst inhaling extend arms overhead and hinge forward at the hips so that you and your partner's hand's touch.
3. Deepen your stretch and fold forward, resting your elbows, forearms and hands so they rest against each other.
4. Hold for at least five breaths but you can stay in this pose for as long as is comfortable, slowly bending further at the hips for a more intense stretch.
2. Partner Forward Fold
Tight hamstrings? This is the pose for you! Forward fold is incredibly calming if you relax into the fold.
How to do it:
1. Face your partner in a seated position, with legs extended into a 'V' shape with your feet touching. Ensure your knees are facing up and don't collapse to the side during the pose.
2. Extend your arms towards each other, your partner will hold your forearms.
3. Inhale and lengthen your spine, then as you exhale, fold from the hips forwards towards the floor, keeping your spine straight.
4. Hold for at least 5 breathes and relax to deepen the pose.
3. Standing Forward Fold
Deepen your forward fold with the support of your partner for balance. Bonus points if you make faces at each other through your legs.
How to do it:
1. Stand facing away from your partner, with heels about 5-7 inches apart.
2. Fold forward at the hips, bend your legs if you need to and reach behind your legs and hold the front of your partners shins.
3. Hold for at least five breathes.
4. Backbend + Forward Fold
Equal benefits here! For one person, forward fold stimulates the liver and kidneys, calms the mind, reduces stress and reduces blood pressure. For the other, backbends relieve tension, tightness, and improve mobility, which helps promote good posture. Then you switch, so both of you get to feel amazing!
How to do it:
1. Sit with your backs facing each other, choose a leg variation that feels good for you.
2. As one partner begins to bend forward, the other partner continues to consciously lean on them and lift their hips as the bend gets deeper. The partner holding the forward fold can now grab hold of their feet/toes and the partner who is leaning on their back can continue to stretch their hands backward for a good stretch.
3. Hold for at least five breathes, come out of the pose very slowly (and in the same way) and then switch positions
5. Seated Twist
This restorative pose is simultaneously relaxing and invigorating. Seated twists help tone the belly, massage internal organs and can help relieve lower back pain, and promote spinal mobility.
How to do it:
1. Sit back to back with your partner, cross-legged.
2. As both of you inhale, lift your arms up together. On exhale, both of you twist to your right and rest your right hand on your partner’s left thigh or knee. And allow your left hand to rest on your right knee or thigh.
3. Hold the twist for at least five breathes. Lengthen up with every inhale and try to get more space for yourself. With every exhale, try to gently twist a bit deeper.
4. Release the twist with an inhale and stretch your arms up. Relax. With an exhalation, repeat the twist on the other side.
Intermediate:
6. Twin Tree
Struggling to nail that tree pose by yourself? By using your partner you have extra support and balance to really nail it.
How to do it:
1. Stand a few feet apart next to each other, facing the same way.
2. Bring both your palms together and extend your outer arms upwards.
3. Lift your outer legs upwards, bending at the knee and bringing your foot to your thigh.
4. Balance for at least five breaths (see how long you can hold!)
7. Boat Pose
Fancy a great stretch with the fun addition of a balance? If you get really confident, try slowly moving your legs side to side.
How to do it:
1. Sit opposite your partner, keep your feet touching. Hold hands on the outside of your legs.
2. WIth a straight spine, slowly raise your legs as high as is comfortable, finding balance as you do so.
3. You can keep your legs bend at the knees if you need to and if balance is an issue, straighten one leg at a time until you find it (or stay with only one leg up if you need to - you still get a great stretch).
4. Stay for at least 5 breaths.
8. Back-To-Back Chair
Show your partner they can always lean on you, quite literally. Chair pose strengthens your trust (and your quads!), feel the fire together.
How to do it:
1. Stand back to back, feet hip width apart then bring your legs a few feet apart from each other. You can lock arms, or for even more of a challenge, keep them in prayer or resting gently on your legs.
2. Squat down into a chair pose, ensuring your knees stay stacked over your ankles.
3. Push into each others backs and keep your chest open and your shoulders back and down.
4. Hold this pose for 5 breaths. Want to push yourself? Try holding for longer.
Advanced:
9. Double Downwards Dog
Take your relationship to the next level, this pose requires some serious communication and trust. This pose feels seriously good for both people, the person on the bottom gets a fantastic lower back release and hamstring stretch while the one on top gets a great arm workout.
How to do it:
1.Both start in a tabletop position then transition to a downward facing dog.
2. The person on the bottom remains here, while the one on top walks their feet and hands back until they are able to walk their feet to the lower back/hips of their partner.
3. Make sure you continue communicating with each other as your work into this pose, don't push yourself if you feel uncomfortable.
5. Hold for at least 5 breaths, if you can, then have the person on the bottom bend their knees until they are in a table top position again. Fancy swapping over?
10. Double Plank
This pose requires some serious physical strength and great communication between you and your partner. Build your muscles and your relationship at the same time.
How to do:
1. Start with the taller/stronger person in a high plank position. Ensure your shoulders are directly over your wrists. Engage your core muscles and keep your legs strong an straight.
2. Have the second person face the opposite direction, looking at the other persons feet. Bend forward at the hips and hold your partners ankles. With straight, but not locked arms, and an engaged core lift one foot onto your partner's shoulder. If this is comfortable try lifting the second foot, maintain a good grip, strong core and straight arms.
3. Hold for at least 3 breaths then step down one foot after the other.
*Don't forget to share a couple's Savasana at the end of your practice!
After all of these poses, you and your partner definitely deserve a savasana to rest and enjoy the benefits of your workout. Dim the lights, put some relaxing music on and lay on your back next to each other. You can hold hands if you like. Stay here for around five minutes (or longer if you like), enjoy taking some deep, mindful breaths.
So there we have it! The top 10 couples yoga poses for all levels. What one was your favourite?
Leave a comment