Partner Yoga

Partner Yoga involves two people practicing yoga together, using each other's presence, weight, and energy to deepen stretches, improve balance, and build connection. Unlike AcroYoga, partner yoga generally stays closer to the ground and does not require acrobatic flying and basing skills.

What Partner Yoga Offers

Deepened stretches: A partner's gentle resistance or assistance often allows poses to go deeper than solo practice. Partners leaning back-to-back creates spinal extension; a partner holding your ankles allows for secure supported inversions.

Communication practice: Partner yoga requires constant verbal and non-verbal communication — articulating needs, listening to a partner's body, negotiating adjustments. Many practitioners find this communication practice valuable beyond the yoga studio.

Trust and connection: Physical contact and interdependence build trust in ways solo practice cannot. Partner yoga is popular for couples, friends, and as a team-building activity.

Playfulness: The inherently social nature of partner yoga tends to bring laughter and a lighter energy to practice.

Common Partner Yoga Poses

• Back-to-back seated twist: Partners sit spine-to-spine, twisting opposite directions
• Supported forward fold: One partner sits in forward fold while the other gently presses on their back
• Double tree pose: Partners balance side-by-side in tree pose, touching at the hip
• Partner boat pose: Partners face each other, feet together, hands clasped, lifting legs

Mat Considerations

Partner yoga may require more mat space than solo practice, as some poses extend wider. Two standard mats placed side by side work well for most partner yoga contexts.