15 Couple Yoga Poses: The Ultimate Guide to Partner Yoga Pose

Finding moments of connection with your partner while staying healthy can be a challenge. That’s where partner yoga comes in! This fun and interactive practice lets you and your partner deepen your bond, improve flexibility, and stay fit together.

Whether you’re beginners or experienced yogis, couples yoga poses offer a way to connect on the mat while enjoying the physical and emotional benefits of yoga.

Before you jump into these partner yoga moves, it’s important to set the stage for a successful and enjoyable session. Here are a few tips to help you prepare for your practice:

Warm-Up: Just like any other yoga session, it’s a good idea to warm up your body. Spend a few minutes doing gentle stretches or movements to loosen up your muscles and joints. If you’re starting with beginner yoga poses, this is especially important.

Communicate: Partner yoga poses for friends or couples are all about connection and trust. Make sure to talk to your partner before starting, discussing any physical limitations or boundaries.

Set the Mood: Create a calm and relaxing space for your practice. This could be in your living room or outside in nature. You might even want to play soft music in the background to help you relax, especially if you are practicing easy pose or more relaxing stretches.

Use Props if Needed: If you’re new to poses for friends or couples, don’t hesitate to use props like yoga blocks, straps, or cushions to make certain poses more comfortable.

Stay Hydrated: It’s important to drink water before and after your practice to keep your body hydrated.

Practicing yoga together isn’t just about the physical benefits—it’s also a powerful way to strengthen your relationship. Here are five reasons why you should try partner yoga poses for friends or couples:

Builds Trust: Many of the poses in partner yoga moves require you to support each other physically, which translates into a greater sense of trust off the mat. Whether it’s advanced partner yoga or beginner yoga poses, trust is key.

Deepens Your Connection: Whether you’re performing intimate couples yoga poses or simple stretches like easy pose, the physical closeness and synchronized movements foster a deeper emotional connection.

Improves Communication: Clear communication is key to ensuring that both partners are comfortable during the poses. This practice can help improve how you communicate in your everyday life.

Enhances Flexibility and Strength: Like all forms of yoga, partner yoga improves your physical fitness by increasing your flexibility and strength. Whether you’re balancing on one leg or moving in opposite directions, it challenges your coordination. For more advanced couples, you can also explore advanced partner yoga poses with guidance from a yoga teacher.

Reduces Stress: Yoga is known for its calming effects, and practicing with your partner allows you both to relax and unwind from the stresses of daily life. This is true for both easy partner yoga poses and more challenging postures.

Here’s a breakdown of 15 fantastic yoga poses for two people that you and your partner can try together. Whether you’re looking for something easy and relaxing or want to challenge yourselves with more advanced poses, we’ve got something for every level!

1. Seated Cat-Cow (Easy)

Description: Seated Cat-Cow is a gentle warm-up pose that helps both partners align their breathing and movement. It improves spinal flexibility while creating a connection through synchronized breath.

How to Do It: Sit back-to-back on your yoga mat with your legs crossed and your spines aligned. Inhale as you arch your back and open your chest. Exhale as you round your spine and tuck your chin to your chest. Continue moving with your breath for 5-10 rounds, feeling the connection through your back.

2. Double Tree Pose (Intermediate)

Description: This balancing pose requires you to rely on your partner for stability. Double Tree Pose strengthens your legs and helps develop focus and coordination between partners.

How to Do It: Stand side by side with your arms around each other’s waist. Shift your weight to your inside leg and place your hands on your partner for support. Place the sole of your outer foot on your inner thigh (or calf). Raise your outside hand overhead while keeping the other arm wrapped around your partner. Hold for 5 breaths before switching sides.

3. Partner Forward Fold (Easy)

Description: This relaxing stretch deepens the hamstring and back stretch for both partners. It’s perfect for improving flexibility and trust as you gently pull each other deeper into the pose.

How to Do It: Sit facing each other with your legs extended, feet touching. Hold your partner’s hands and inhale to lengthen your spine. Exhale as one partner gently leans away from your partner, helping the other fold forward. Hold for 5-10 breaths, then switch roles.

4. Back-to-Back Chair Pose (Easy)

Description: This pose builds strength in your legs and glutes while requiring both partners to work together to stay balanced. It’s an excellent way to build trust as you lean into each other for support.

How to Do It: Stand back-to-back with your feet hip-width apart on your yoga mat. Press your backs together as you slowly bend your knees and lower into a seated position (as if sitting in an invisible chair). Hold for 5 breaths, then press into each other to rise back up.

5. Double Downward Dog (Intermediate)

Description: This pose involves one partner in a traditional Downward Dog while the other balances on top, adding a fun and challenging twist to the classic yoga pose. This can also be considered one of the more hard yoga poses for two.

How to Do It: One partner starts in Downward Dog. The second partner stands in front and carefully places their hands on the mat before stepping their feet onto their partner’s back, similar to acro yoga. Hold for 3-5 breaths, then carefully dismount and switch roles.

6. Partner Boat Pose (Advanced)

Description: Boat Pose is a great core exercise, and when done with a partner, it also enhances balance and coordination. This pose strengthens your abs and improves posture. It’s one of the yoga poses to strengthen your core while practicing together.

How to Do It: Sit facing each other, knees bent with your toes touching. Hold hands and slowly lift your feet off the ground, pressing the soles of your feet together as you straighten your legs. Balance on your sit bones and hold for 5-10 breaths. This is a perfect addition to any partner yoga practice, whether you’re looking for intermediate and advanced challenges.

7. Supported Child’s Pose (Easy)

Description: This calming and restorative pose is perfect for winding down after your partner yoga practice. One partner provides a gentle back stretch while the other enjoys the relaxation of Child’s Pose. It’s an ideal pose for couples yoga poses for beginners who want to relax and get closer to your partner emotionally and physically.

How to Do It: One partner kneels in Child’s Pose, resting on their heels with their arms extended forward. The other partner gently lies on top of their back, allowing their body to stretch over their partner’s spine. Both partners breathe deeply and hold for 5-10 breaths.

8. Standing Forward Fold with Support (Intermediate)

Description: This pose deepens the forward fold stretch and creates a moment of shared balance. It’s great for improving flexibility and testing trust between partners, making it one of the best yoga poses together to connect physically and emotionally.

How to Do It: Stand back-to-back with your feet hip-width apart. Inhale to lengthen your spine, then exhale as you both fold forward. Reach between your legs to grasp your partner’s hands and gently pull to deepen the stretch. Hold for 5-8 breaths, then return to standing. You can integrate this into your practice partner yoga for more challenging movements.

9. Partner Camel Pose (Advanced)

Description: This deep backbend stretches the entire front body, and with your partner’s support, you can safely go deeper into the pose, enhancing flexibility and connection. It can even be adapted into an acroyoga pose for more experienced couples.

How to Do It: One partner kneels and performs Camel Pose by leaning back and reaching for their heels. The second partner stands behind and supports the backbend by holding the first partner’s shoulders or arms. Hold for 3-5 breaths, then gently release the pose together. This pose is a great part of any yoga teacher training focusing on yoga poses to strengthen relationships and flexibility.

10. Reclined Bound Angle Pose (Easy)

Description: One of the most intimate couples yoga poses, this reclining stretch promotes deep relaxation and emotional connection as one partner rests on the other’s chest.

How to Do It: One partner lies on their back with their feet together and knees open in Bound Angle Pose. The second partner sits between their legs and reclines back to rest on their partner’s chest. Both partners relax and hold the pose for 3-5 minutes, breathing deeply.

11. Plank on Plank (Advanced)

Description: This fun but challenging pose requires strength and balance from both partners. It’s an excellent full-body workout and great for building trust.

How to Do It: One partner holds a high plank position. The second partner places their hands on the first partner’s ankles and steps up, balancing their feet on the first partner’s back to hold a plank. Hold for 5-8 breaths, then carefully lower down.

12. Flying Bow Pose (Advanced)

Description: A playful and acrobatic partner pose, Flying Bow Pose challenges your strength and balance while giving both partners a deep backbend stretch. It’s one of the more challenging yoga poses for 2 people and a great addition to your advanced yoga routine.

How to Do It: One partner lies on their back and lifts their legs toward the ceiling. The second partner stands at their feet and slowly leans forward, bringing your partner into position by placing their hips on their partner’s feet. The partner on the ground supports them by extending their legs and lifting their partner into a bow position. Hold for 3-5 breaths, then gently lower back down. This pose adds an element of fun to any yoga challenge.

13. Seated Spinal Twist (Easy)

Description: This pose helps increase spinal mobility while allowing both partners to connect through synchronized movement. It’s great for stretching the back and sides of the body, perfect for two person yoga poses in your routine.

How to Do It: Sit back-to-back with legs crossed. Inhale and lengthen your spine, then exhale as both partners twist to the right, placing your left hands with your partner on their right knee. Hold for 5 breaths, then switch sides. This is a gentle way to incorporate yoga asanas into your practice with a partner.

14. L-Shape Handstand (Advanced)

Description: This is a more advanced yoga pose that strengthens the arms, shoulders, and core. One partner acts as the foundation, while the other balances in a handstand, creating a unique L-shape. It’s an excellent pose for those looking to take their yoga poses for 2 people to the next level.

How to Do It: One partner assumes a Downward Dog position. The second partner places their hands on the ground and kicks up into a handstand, resting their legs on their partner’s back. Hold for 3-5 breaths, then gently lower down. This is a great yoga challenge to improve balance and core strength.

15. Partner Warrior I (Intermediate)

Description: This pose is an excellent way to bring balance, strength, and connection to your practice. By working together to support each other, you can deepen the stretch and stay grounded, making it an ideal two person yoga pose.

How to Do It: Stand facing each other in Warrior I, with your front knee bent and back leg straight. Instead of raising your arms, reach out and grasp each other’s forearms, positions with your partner that help you balance. Hold for 5 breaths, maintaining eye contact for a deeper connection, then switch legs. This is a great way to integrate traditional yoga principles into a partner yoga practice.

Yoga class is a beautiful way to enhance both your relationship and your fitness. By practicing couples yoga poses, you and your partner can connect on a deeper level, improve trust, communication, and balance, all while reaping the physical benefits of yoga.

From easy couple yoga poses like Seated Cat-Cow, where you are facing your partner, to more challenging ones like Plank on Plank, there’s something for every fitness level, including beginner yoga enthusiasts.

Whether you’re looking to strengthen your relationship or just have fun while staying active, these poses will bring a sense of closeness and teamwork into your yoga practice. So grab your partner, find a peaceful space, and enjoy the shared experience of couple yoga!