Yoga for Couples

Two weeks ago Bob and I went to a Partner Yoga class called Roses and Poses taught by Ellis Gold and Lila Skye. The experience for me was like Yoga Couples Therapy. The class sequence involved doing poses while interlaced with your partner, or leaning up against him/her for support, but always touching in some way throughout the entire class. Even in Savasana we were interlaced and touching, and I must say that was my favorite Savasana ever! At one point during the class, we were instructed to face each other while sitting cross-legged on the floor (knees touching) and then we talked to each other about a subject that the teacher suggested. The question we got to talk about was something like, in what ways do we feel like equal partners. After Savasana, the students and teachers sat in a circle and shared three words or phrases to describe how we felt. I think I said "connected, love, and happy/joy". I remember feeling super-connected to Bob, balanced in myself and connected to The Universe. At the end of the class the teachers gave each couple a rose (and reminded us of the name Roses and Poses).

Although the positive Savasana experience glossed over all the poses in my memory, I should add that there were many times during the class that were challenging for me, for one reason or another. Sometimes it was like learning a dance routine, like when we learned a flowing sequence of poses while connected to our partner. And it is a lot different doing Triangle pose with your back and hands touching the back and hands of your partner, as compared to holding Triangle pose alone. There were more considerations to make while balancing and moving. It exercised my mind in a new way. I'm curious to try it again and see what it will be like with more practice.

After leaving the class, Bob and I brought our rose with us to dinner. We had an amazingly yummy meal at Alive! Restaurant, which serves raw, vegan cuisine. I had some tasty sweet sake with my meal as well. The entire evening was lovely.

The following week, Bob and I practiced yoga together at home (I guided him into restorative poses and then I held Yin poses) and when it was time for Savasana, we repeated the interlaced style which again felt sweet and energetically balancing. We slept soundly that night.

We have plans to go to the partner yoga class again tonight. It is offered every other Friday at The Mindful Body on California Street in San Francisco. If you have a sweetheart who wants to go with you, I highly recommend it. I'm grateful for our friend Jennifer who has been inviting us to go.