Yoga does so many great things for the mind and body, but when you share these easy partner yoga poses with a friend or partner, you can experience even more benefits. Thought yoga was an independent activity? It doesn’t have to be! And doing these poses together has some added benefits over going alone, too.

Benefits of Yoga Poses

Doing physical activities with a partner is not only fun but there are a number of benefits too, especially when it comes to yoga.

1. Improve your connection—practicing yoga poses together helps you and your partner connect on a physical and emotional level. As you breathe together and move together, you create a special bond with the other person.
2. Get more out of your poses—it may be tough to get into certain poses or to get a full stretch unless you decide to partner up. Doing easy partner yoga poses can help you balance better and stretch further than you would be able to on your own.
3. Build trust and intimacy in a fun way—doing easy partner yoga poses is a great way to develop closeness and openness while enjoying a fun and beneficial activity together.

Try These Easy Partner Yoga Poses

Next time you’re ready for some yoga, grab your partner and try these easy partner yoga poses together:

1. Partner Breathing (Supported Sukhasana)

This is a fantastic place to start. Since proper breathing is such a large part of successfully practicing yoga, learning to breathe in unison with your partner is a great way to foster connection and get started with your easy partner yoga poses.

Start by sitting on the ground with your legs crossed and your hands held loosely in your laps or palms together in front of your heart centers. You should be back-to-back as you sit up straight against each other. Inhale and exhale at the same time, in unison with your partner, for one minute.

Alternatively, you can face each other and, instead of placing your hands on your own knees, place them on each other’s knees.

2. Partner Seated Twists (Parivritta Sukhasana)

This is a great way to stretch a little further than you might normally be able to do on your own. Sit back-to-back with your legs crossed in front of you with your hands on your thighs. Next, take your right hand and twist all the way to your right until you can put your right hand on your partner’s left knee. Allow your left hand to rest gently on your right leg as you look toward your right. Feel a good stretch through your spine as you inhale and exhale together while holding the pose. Repeat on the opposite side.

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3. Wide Leg Standing Forward Fold

Begin by standing back-to-back with your feet a little wider than hip-width apart. You may want to step forward so there is about a foot of space between you. Adjust as necessary. Fold forward at the hips and allow your upper body to hang down. Next, reach between your legs and behind you to grab your partner’s hands. Pull gently on each other as you feel a good stretch through your back, hamstrings, and shoulders. Return to the standing position and repeat.

4. Chair Pose (Utkatasana)

This pose will help strengthen your legs and glutes but it’s relatively easy to do because you have a partner to help you balance. Start by standing about a foot apart from each other with your feet hip-width apart. Grasp each other’s hands and bend your knees to move into a squat position. Continue holding hands as you maintain the squat for 15 seconds. Return to the start and repeat.

5. Double Seated Cat-Cow (Marjaryasana/Bidalasana)

This is a twist on your traditional cat-cow yoga pose. Instead of being done on hands and knees, this pose begins with you seated with legs crossed and facing each other. Grasp each other’s forearms. Inhale at the same time and arch your backs, letting your head fall gently back as you look toward the ceiling. Then, on the exhale, bring your heads forward and down while curving your backs outward and bringing your shoulder blades as far apart as you can. Feel a good stretch in each direction and repeat.

6. Twin Tree Pose (Vrikshasana)

This pose is much easier to do when done with a partner. Start by standing side-by-side, facing the same direction. Take the arms that are next to each other and raise them up above your heads until they are fully straightened. Your inner arms and palms should be touching. Next, take your outer leg, place your foot on the opposite calf and, if you have the flexibility, slide your foot up your leg until it is above knee level. Bring your free hands together to press your palms together in front of your bodies. Hold this pose for ten seconds and release, slowly moving limbs back to the starting position.

7. Double Supported Seated Backbend (Adho Mukha & Urdhva Mukha Sukhasana)

Start by sitting on the floor with your backs touching each other. Intertwine your arms so your elbows are locked together. The first person should keep their legs straight out on the ground and bend forward at the waist while the second person will bend their knees, keeping their feet flat on the floor and arch their back as their partner bends forward. The first person will get a good stretch through the lower back and hips while the partner will feel a good stretch through their chest, shoulders, and abdomen. Come back up to center and reverse the sequence so each person gets a stretch through both the front and the back of their bodies.

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