Partner Yoga

One of the best ways of cultivating a little bit more closeness in a relationship is by spending time together doing something you enjoy especially when it’s an activity that builds on trust. A study in the Journal of Marital and Family Therapy by Jim Carson, a clinical psychologist and meditation teacher, and his wife, Kimberly Carson, a yoga therapist suggests that couples who practice partner yoga have built on a more trusting relationship.

Familiar poses take on new life and promote a different level of awareness when practiced in tandem. In partner yoga, two people come together to create a single pose. It’s suggested that experienced yogis not coach their partners, and he cautions beginners not to try to do a pose the same way that the more experienced partner does. The most important thing to remember is that the posture is where you meet, not whether you have the same level of flexibility.

Just be prepared to bring all of your relationship to the mat, where partner yoga can challenge your willingness to depend physically on your partner. If you think of yourself as the strong one in the relationship, you might be comfortable lifting your partner but less comfortable when it comes time to let your partner lift you. When your skill or strength levels don’t match up, how you respond and how you work with your partner to bring the pose together is the most important focus.