Fitness
For a deeper stretch thats way more fun.
Doing yoga by yourself is great and all, but youcouldshare the experience with someone else.
Youll have to communicate and quite literally lean on each other as you maneuver into tricky postures.
Plus, itll be super cute if you end up toppling over.
It teaches you to physically and mentally let go, saysPatrick Franco, yoga director atYogaRenew Teacher Training.
It’s a completely different experience than rolling out your own mat and practicing on your own in silence.
Seated Spinal Twist
Franco calls this pose a great icebreaker due to its simplicity.
Sit cross-legged back-to-back with a partner.
Both of you will extend your arms out to the sides in a T shape.
You will twist to the right and place your right hand on your partners left knee.
Rest your left hand on your right knee.
Your partner will twist the opposite way and place their left hand on your right knee.
Hold for a few breaths.
Repeat on the other side.
Sit down and face your partner.
Both of you will bend your knees so that they are pointing up at the sky.
Keep the soles of your feet on the ground.
Reach towards each other and clasp hands.
Both of you will lift a leg on the same side and touch the soles of your feet.
Both of you will start to straighten your legs upwards with the toes pointing up.
Do the same on the other leg.
Both partners will engage the core and lengthen through the crown of the head.
Hold for 3 to 5 breaths before releasing.
Think of it as a regular forward fold with an extra reach.
Start in a standing position facing away from your partner.
Keep your heels about six inches away from your partners heels.
Inhale to find length in your spine.
As you exhale, you both hinge at the hips to fold forward.
Reach your hands behind your legs.
Clasp the front of your partners shins as your partner does the same to you.
Hold for 3 to 5 breaths and then release.
Stand to the left of your partner.
Both of you will plant your feet shoulder-width apart.
Find a stable base on your left foot.
Bring your right foot up to lightly touch your left ankle, calf, or thigh.
Your partner will be lifting their left foot.
Feel your individual balance.
Extend your arms out to the sides like tree limbs.
Rest your right hand on your partners left shoulder.
Have them rest their left hand on your right shoulder.
Take a few breaths as you balance together.
Person one starts in childs pose.
Person two sits back to back with person one.
Person two will lean back to extend backward over the person in childs pose.
Person two can extend their arms overhead as person one clasps their wrists for a deep stretch.
Person two can extend their legs as well for a full-body stretch if it feels comfortable.
Take a few breaths then switch positions.
This is a great partner pose for beginner, intermediate, and advanced yogis, she tells Bustle.
This pose focuses on lengthening andstretching the hamstrings, the mid/low back, as well as the lats.
Sit down facing your partner.
Both of you will extend your legs out as wide as possible.
Touch the soles of your feet to your partners feet.
Once your feet are lined up, grab each others forearms.
One person will slowly start to hinge forward from the hips as the other pulls gently.
The partner who is hinging forward should keep extending until they feel a deep stretch in their hamstrings.
Hold for 3 to 6 breaths.
Slowly start to rise up.
Once both partners are back in their starting positions, the second partner will begin to hinge forward.
Downward Dog & L-Shaped Handstand
Ready for a challenge?
This is a classic partner pose that’s fun and playful and goes upside down, Franco says.
Person one starts indownward dog yoga pose.
Person two stands by person ones hands and places their own hands on the floor.
Person two ends up in an L-shaped position.