Grab your Valentine for a few yummy yoga poses for a Valentine’s day treat that is relaxing and helps you connect.
Back Breathing
One of my favorites is actually a children’s excersize detailed in the book “Yoga Calm for Children” that is called “Back Breathing”. Back Breathing is a wonderful activity to increase compassion, as well as a calming sense of stillness and connection.
One partner goes into Child’s Pose. She relaxes completely with a full, even breath. The other partner places his hands on her lower back where he can feel the wave-like rise and fall of her breathing. Closing his eyes, he tries to synchronize the waves of his own inhalation and exhalation to match hers.
Variations of this pose could include drawing pictures or writing messages on your partner’s back with your finger to relax even more beforehand, or giving your partner a gentle lower-back massage while she is curled up in Child’s Pose.
Don’t forget to swap places and repeat the process!
Let’s Twist Again
For a gentle and cooperative seated twist, sit indian-style facing one another knee-to-knee. Both partners wrap your right arms behind your backs, reaching palm-outward at the waist.
On an exhale, twist to the right, bringing your hand closer to your partner. Reach with your left hand and graps your partner's right. Then provide gentle resistance for one another as your inhales get your spine longer, and exhales pull you gently farther into the twist (being careful not to put too much pressure on the middle-back). Repeat on the left side.
