Cultivating Emotional Closeness: Why Couple Yoga Strengthens Relationships

Cultivating Emotional Closeness: Why Couple Yoga Strengthens Relationships

Yoga is often portrayed as a solitary practice – just you flowing through poses on your mat. But invite your significant other to share the mat, and yoga transforms into a tool for fostering intimacy between couples.

Partner yoga refers to performing yoga postures in physical contact with another person, focusing on shared movement and breath. This harmonious connection has profound effects on relationships.

Research published in the Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy shows participating in partner yoga for just 8 weeks increases relationship satisfaction across factors like intimacy, trust, passion and communication. Over 80% of couples in the study

reported feeling “more emotionally connected and in-tune” with their partner after couple yoga sessions.

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4 scientific proofs that practicing couple yoga postures cultivates closeness Increases Oxytocin Sustained gentle touch triggers the release of oxytocin, the bonding hormone associated with emotional attachment. Partner yoga involves continuous physical contact, boosting oxytocin.

Enhances Empathy Moving in cohesion requires being acutely aware of your partner’s needs and limitations – the foundation of empathy. As empathy grows, self-centeredness reduces making space for intimacy.

Deepens Vulnerability Holding each other in balance during tricky poses makes you feel safe expressing yourself emotionally off the mat too. Lowering defensive walls is key for true intimacy.

Improves Non-Verbal Cues Following subtle body language to move in sync enhances non-verbal sensitivity. You become more perceptive to your partner’s unspoken messages and needs.

As Elise Browning Miller notes in her book Yoga for Partners, “the intuition, playfulness and sensitivity cultivated in duo practice lays the groundwork for heartcentered relationships.”

Up next, we cover easy starter poses for couples looking to begin a partner yoga journey.

Top Beginner Yoga Poses for Couples Looking to take up partner yoga with your significant other but don’t know where to begin? It’s wise to start with foundations before attempting fancy acrobatics.

These 8 beginner couple yoga poses establish connection while being gentle on the body – perfect for two people starting their joint yoga practice.

Practice them 3-4 times per week after warming up, flowing smoothly between poses within your comfort zone.

1. Seated Heart Connection Sit facing each other with knees bent, feet lifted and your thighs touching. Close eyes, hold hands and breathe in unison to feel each other’s energy flow.

2. Back-to-Back Seated Twist Sit back-to-back with legs crossed. Exhale and use your partner’s counter pressure to gently twist deeper. Releases spinal tension while relying on each other.

3. Bound Eagle Pose Stand side-by-side, wrap one arm under your partner’s and link hands upon inhalation. Exhale, cross outer legs and sit deeper for balance. Teaches trusting support.

4. Forward Fold Assist Stand behind your bent over partner. Clasp their hands gently and guide them into a comfortable forward stretch for several breaths. Builds care and understanding.

5. Squat Chest Opener Face each other a couple feet apart in a wide squat. Press palms together and pulse up and down slightly in the squat, engaging your legs as you stretch chests open.

Boosts mobility.

6. Side Plank With Leg Lift Get into a right side plank while your partner mirrors you. On an exhale, raise your top leg and connect with your partner’s hand for stability. Repeat on the other side.

Strengthens focus.

Conclusion: Practice these foundations until you can move as one unit before progressing to more challenging couple poses requiring balance and postural precision.

Making the Most of Your Partner Yoga Practice Ready to begin a journey of intimacy and connection with your significant other through couple yoga? Here are 5 tips to set you up for success: 1. Discuss Expectations Openly Before your first session, talk honestly about what each of you hopes to achieve via partner yoga. Align your intentions.

2. Take It Slowly Never force poses to the point of strain. Move steadily into stretches using breaths.

Stop if anyone feels discomfort.

3. Prioritize Non-Verbal Cues Pay more attention to your partner’s body language than verbal instructions. Let go of judgements if poses aren’t perfectly executed.

4. Maintain Loving Touch Keep physical contact respectful throughout. Any hands-on adjustments should nurture, not restrict.

5. End With Gratitude Ritual After each practice, thank your partner for their time and for letting you support them. Celebrate baby steps!

The key is treating your partner with dignity throughout this intimate experience. Let go of ego and perfectionism – it’s not about the shapes but about your shared spiritual journey.

When practiced with care and awareness, couple yoga builds the bedrock for securefunctioning relationships via vulnerability, trust and attunement.

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