Say 'OM' Together

Doing yoga as a couple is a great way to get intimate—physically and emotionally: You touch and are touched, you are able to stretch farther with your partner’s help, you are able to achieve a better balance while taking your partner’s support, and when you breathe deeply together and gaze into each other’s eyes, you dive into tranquility. Get creative and enjoy practising yoga postures. It allows you to connect both physically and emotionally with your partner, building communication and intimacy. Besides, indulging in shared activities helps to keep your relationship happy and ticking. Partners will always have differences, but finding things that both enjoy help you relate deeply. Here are 5 simple couple yoga asanas to start off with.

Double Standing Forward Bend

When you do forward bends on your own, they are not as deep and satisfying as doing them with a partner. You can pull on each other to stretch your hamstrings and lower back even further and get the right feel.

Stand back to back with about 6 to 12 inches between your heels. Both the partners should bend at the hips and come into a Standing Forward Bend. Reach your hands behind you and hold onto your partner’s hands. Depending on your flexibility, you can pull your hands closer, so that you are holding one another’s forearms, elbows, or shoulders. Try to keep your legs straight and lengthen the spine and your head pointing to the floor. Hold the pose for 5 deep breaths and then let go of your partner and slowly come to a standing position.

Boat Pose

When you do the boat pose on your own, you can feel the stretch on your abs, but when you do it with a partner, it stretches your hamstrings as well.

Sit facing your partner 3 feet apart. Hold hands on the outside of your legs and raising both legs place the soles of your feet together. Work on finding your balance and when you are ready, try straightening your legs. As you hold the pose, draw your lower back in and engage your core. You can either look at each other or drop your head back and look behind you. Hold for 5 breaths and then slowly lower your legs down to the floor and release your partner’s hands.

Partner Twist

Twists help cleanse the body and assist in the detoxifying process. This is also a fun way to initiate playfulness with your partner.

Start in a seated position with legs crossed at the ankles or shins and your backs resting against each other. Rest hands on thighs or knees and allow yourself to feel and connect with your partner. Inhale and raise your arms overhead, lengthening the spine as you reach up. Exhale and twist to the right, bringing your right hand to the inside of your partner’s left knee and your left hand to theoutside of your right knee/thigh. Your partner should mirror the movement. Hold for 3 to 5 breaths and thenrepeat on the opposite side.

Partner Bound Angle

This posture stimulates the abdominal organs and eases constipation.

Sit back to back and bring the soles of your feet together. Take a few breaths with your spine upright, leaning into each other. Lean back as your partner is gently pushed forward into a forward bend. Breathe. Slowly return to start position and repeat with your partner leaning back while you get into a forward bend. Breathe. Slowly return to start position.

Partner Dancer

This posture balances the nervous system and improves memory and concentration.

Stand facing each other and hold each other’s right hand. Bend left knee back and hold the ankle with left hand. Raise your left leg as high and back as possible. Raise right arm up to balance in dancer pose. Look at each other. Repeat on the opposite side.

Kirit Thacker is Head of Yoga, Ananda in the Himalayas.

Taken from Prevention, February 2015.