5 yoga poses for couples to strengthen the relationship

Today’s fast-paced life, work stress, daily chores and responsibilities take a toll on relationships. Lack of intimacy, understanding and communication gaps are putting dents in our bonds. Here’s how yoga can help bring back that lost spark in your relationship and help it flourish again. Couple yoga can help you build a physical and physiological connection with your better half. Flow sequences and postures work to create communication, trust, and strength with a sense of laughter and light-heartedness. Couple yoga brings two souls together by using play, touch, movement, breath and intimacy. Here are some of the poses to help you spice up the relationship:

Back to back Pranayama

Breathing is powerful as it fills us with energy and life.

Sit in Sukhasana with your backs touching each other. Feel a connection with your partner. Try to feel the ribcage of your partner against you while she/he is inhaling and exhaling consciously. Sync your breath with your partner’s. Practice this process for 5 minutes before switching.

This method helps you open the heart and connect with your partner through the breath.

Seated Cat Cow

Sit in Sukhasana facing each other. Hold each other’s forearms and maintain a firm grip. Look into each other’s eyes while you are in this position. Take a deep breath, lift the chest, and allow your upper middle back to perform an arch. Exhale and touch your chin to your chest.

Seated cat cow gives a good stretch to your spine, hips and back muscles. It also helps in expanding the chest and lungs.

Standing heart opener

The heart helps you connect with people and develop a relationship with them.

Stand back to back. Clasp your hands together, arch your back and lift your head upwards. Keep the back of the feet touching as you lean forward, using your clasped hands to prevent you from falling. The pose will form a beautiful heart shape. Hold this pose for a few breaths

This pose increases the flexibility of your spine and opens the shoulders and chest. It also helps your heart feel light and free.

Boat pose

Sit facing each other with bent knees and toes touching. Reach out and hold your partner’s wrist. Lift the feet and get the knees close to the chest. Slowly and gently lift the legs with your partner and touch the soles together. Hold this pose keeping a long spine and lifted chest for a few breaths before gradually releasing.

The pose is challenging for the core, but some humor and positivity will help you perform the pose.

Tree pose

Trees are balanced, calm, stable, caring and giving. Don’t you think relationships also work in the same way?

Stand next to each other and face the same direction. Keep few feet’s distance from your partner. Extend both your arms, touching your partners fingertips with the inner hand to form a wide T shape. Put your whole weight on the inside foot and place the outside foot on the upper side of the inside thigh. Leave the other arm on your side or form a mudra with it. Hold the pose for a few breaths and then gradually release. Repeat on the other side as well.

The pose helps attain balance in a playful and fun way. It also helps you gently open the hips.

Author Bio:

Manmohan Singh is a passionate Yogi, Yoga Teacher and Traveler in India. He conducts Ayurveda Courses in Kerala. He loves writing and reading books related to yoga, health, nature, Himalayas and Trekking in India.