Yoga is the solution to numerous health issues and is considered as one of the best forms of exercise to keep healthy. It complements the heart, the soul, the mind and does a world of good to the flexibility of the body. It’s a practice that can cure many things with a daily implementation in life.
While most people know about the benefits of yoga to the body and mind, only a few know the fact that it is just as effective for relationships. Sounds unfamiliar, right? According to researchers, for many partners, yoga poses with their significant other help to develop a stronger connection. You only need to know how to do it the right way to make it work for both of you.
Couples yoga strengthens the bond of relationship between two partners in more than one way. If you are in a relationship, you should start making way for yoga in your life to make it last longer. Here is a set of reasons that will tell you why it is important to practice yoga with your partner.
Yoga brings the body and mind together
What is your body? Is it just a vessel which keeps your soul confined in it? Or, is there some kind of relationship between both of them? In normal or practical situations, you would hardly realize your soul. In such situations, you do not essentially bother about the body either.
However, they do share a close relationship. Your soul is you and the same holds true for your body. It is the lack of realization which prevents you from acknowledging this fact. Yoga links your body with your mind which paves the way to moksha.
Yoga promotes sensitivity
Partner yoga is a great way of stimulating sensitivity between a couple. It teaches both the members to listen to their body and mind. As a result, they begin to engage with their own thoughts and feelings in an honest way. At the same time, they also start to understand the state of mind of one another.
Most problems in couples arise out of a lack of communication or the sensitivity towards one another. Yoga plays a key role in plugging such gaps, thereby correcting the existing anomalies between both the members in a relationship.
Yoga keeps you focused on the current situation
Forgetting the past, living at the present time and thinking about the future is the little secret to success not only in life but in any relationship. Unfortunately, most people tend to think on the contrary and end up doing just the opposite.
Yoga disciplines the mind and trains the body to follow conscience. As such, the mind gets a break from the storms of bewilderment and concentrates on the task in hand. This prevents the lapse of concentration and enables one to do everything with their heart and mind together.
It goes without saying that when someone does something with one’s heart and mind in tandem, one’s success rate increases exponentially. This helps one excel at doing the task in hand as well as do everything possible to maintain an existing relationship.
Couples yoga helps release tension
The accumulation of excess energy starts building up tension in the body. Releasing it is necessary for happy living, especially for couples. Each yoga couple knows how to manage it and strengthen their connection with each other. Yoga helps both partners to get rid of raised defenses, which prolong the union and hence their relationship. This promotes reconnection.
Partner yoga poses inject love in the heart
Yoga is all about opening oneself up and releasing strain and stored energy in the body. It connects the body with emotions and enables one to love others more generously. Speaking of two partners, it fosters a positive outlook in each partner towards the other. When this happens, both partners tend to become compassionate and love each other even more.
Let’s take a look at some of the best partner yoga poses you could try with your significant other.
Siddhasana/Sukhasana/Padmasana (yogi’s choice)
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These are the pose variations for seated meditation, which is a great way of starting your practice. It will enable you to reconnect with the environment and your partner at a deeper level. This practice cultivates intimacy and respect between partners, and it is very beneficial for the relationship.
How to do it:
Sit cross-legged, back-to-back with your partner so that you support each other’s spine. Practice yin-yang breathing (one partner inhales whereas the other one exhales) or synchronize your breathing by inhaling and exhaling together. Take 10 deep breaths and try to connect with each other without words.
Marjaryasana/Bidalasana
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This is the seated variation of cat-cow poses, which are usually paired together. These poses are very beneficial for stretching several muscle groups at once – core, hip, and back. They are also great for chest and lung expansion, so you should not forget about your breath while doing them.
How to do it:
Sit cross-legged facing each other and firmly grab each other’s forearms. Slowly release your shoulders back and down. Breathe synchronously and as you inhale, lift your chest up (shaping an arch in your upper-mid back). On the exhale, draw your chin to your chest shaping the reverse arch in the back. Repeat for 10 to 12 cycles.
Utkatasana
Source: www.tummee.com
This is a back-to-back chair pose and a great couples yoga for beginners option because it allows you to lean on each other for support. In this pose, partners increase ankle mobility, strengthen their thigh muscles, and learn to rely on each other at the same time.
How to do it:
Hold your arms relaxed by your sides and stand back-to-back with your partner firmly pressing towards each other. Walk your legs hip-width apart and forward (not too much). Start bending your knees synchronously as if you are sitting on an imaginary chair. The goal is to achieve a 90-degree angle in the knees. Hold the pose for 5 to 6 deep breaths and slowly return back to standing.
Paschimottanasana/Matsyasana
Source: heidiyoga.com
This is the seated forward- and backbend, which is a great intense stretch exercise for the back and leg muscles. Not everybody has the same level of flexibility. That is why this is one of the best couple yoga poses as it teaches partners to communicate with each other – express your feelings to your partner and listen to their needs.
How to do it:
Sit back-to-back with each other. One person should extend their legs and slowly start bending forward, whereas the other person should place both feet flat on the floor (with the knees bent) and lean backward on their partner. Hold this pose for 5 to 6 deep breaths, come back up and repeat the same vice versa.
Parivrtta Utkatasana
Source: news.yahoo.com
This is the revolved chair pose, which is great for opening the chest muscles. When practicing this pose with a partner, each of you can push the stretch much further compared to doing it alone. It’s one of those couple yoga positions that require a deeper sense of security and trust with your partner because you need to stay connected while twisting away from each other.
How to do it:
Stand face to face with your partner in an arm’s distance, legs hip-width apart. Grab your partner’s right arm with your arm. Slowly bend your knees and lower down as in the seated chair pose. As you keep holding each other, open the chest by strengthening the opposite arm away from the center. Support each other to keep the balance. Stay there for 3 to 5 breaths cycles and come back up.
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Final thoughts
Even though our relationships are constantly changing, yoga can provide a sense of consistency and familiarity. Couple yoga poses help us to remember why we fell in love with our partners in the first place and bring back some of that initial magic. If you’re looking for a way to reconnect with your partner, consider giving couple yoga a try – we promise it won’t disappoint! Have you ever tried couple yoga? What were your thoughts?
Our Editorial Team at DoULike understands the challenges of today’s dating scene. That’s why we offer guidance on everything from online profiles to in-person chemistry. With our tips, you’ll feel ready to take the next step in finding love.
