Yoga Poses with a Partner: 8 Positions to Boost Intimacy

You may already know that yoga can help improve your mental, physical, and spiritual health. But did you know that yoga can also boost you and your partner’s sexual health?

A 2009 study found that yoga is especially beneficial for boosting intimacy in women. Women who practiced yoga regularly saw improvements in desire, arousal, orgasm, and overall satisfaction with their own and their partner’s performance. And 75% of the yogis studied reported more satisfaction from their sex life after practicing yoga for just 12 weeks. 

In today’s stressful world, intimacy with your partner is one of the best ways to escape. That’s why we’re presenting you with this guide to the top asanas for improving you and your partner’s sex life. 

Want to be as relaxed in the bedroom as you are on your mat? Then keep reading for the 8 yoga poses to try with a partner you need to know.  

Top 8 Yoga Poses To Do With A Partner to Improve Intimacy

Asanas help with intimacy by enhancing trust, support, strength, and communication. These poses may require you to literally lean on your partner. Or they may be as simple as the first asana on our list, which helps you and your partner unify through the breath.

As you move into each of these poses, check-in with yourself and your partner. See if the poses are helping to teach you:

  • Self-compassion
  • What each of you wants and needs
  • Empathy
  • A new perspective
  • Trust
  • To let go of the past

When you’re ready to begin your partner yoga poses, grab a mat and a water bottle. For some of these asanas, a yoga strap may be useful. Once you’ve gathered your supplies, get started with this first exercise.

1. Bring Attention to the Breath

Before beginning any yoga session, you must bring all your attention to your breath. Yoga for intimacy is no different. 

To begin, sit back-to-back with your partner. Fold your legs in and rest your palms gently on your knees. With your spines elongated and hearts lifted, close your eyes and tune into your breathing. Inhale deep, trying to fill your lungs to full capacity, before exhaling slowly and deliberately.

As you continue this breathing exercise, you’ll feel not only your own breath but also your partner’s. But don’t get lost in your partner’s breathing. Focus on your breaths while noting those of your partner, allowing yourselves to be connected by your breaths while existing in separate spaces.

This exercise is best when done for at least 3 to 5 minutes. And don’t limit this exercise to your yoga sessions! You can bring attention to the breath any time you and your partner are feeling distant.

2. Double Spinal Twist

An excellent pose for detoxifying your body and mind, the spinal twist is another exercise you don’t have to limit to the mat. 

With your backs still touching and legs folded, begin the double spinal twist by placing your right palm on your left knee. Exhale and gently twist, placing your left hand onto your partner’s left knee. Hold this position for 3 to 5 full breaths before switching sides. 

Breathe together, feeling the breath as it travels through both your and your partner’s bodies. With your partner’s support, you may feel you can twist a little bit deeper into this pose than you could alone. 

3. Seated Cat/Cow

Moving into the asanas, Cat/Cow is one of the best poses for relieving lower back and spinal tension. 

You and your partner should begin by facing each other on the mat. Extend your arms out before you, intertwining yours with your partner’s.

On the inhale, arch your back and lift your heart to the ceiling (or sky). On the exhale, cave-in your spine and pull your core and arms back. This should apply resistance to you and your partner’s joined arms as you focus your gaze on your heart. 

Repeat the pose 3 to 5 times or more. But most importantly, use this pose to communicate with each other about what feels good and how you may need to adjust. This will help build trust and vulnerability as you begin to move into more advanced asanas.

4. Partner Boat Pose

The Boat Pose is a bit more advanced than the beginner asanas we’ve discussed so far. If you struggle through this pose, that’s okay. Because as you and your partner struggle through it together, you will build empathy and support. 

Sit facing your partner, scoot back and widen the gap between you and your partner. Extend your legs and, one at a time, lift your legs straight ahead of you until the soles of you and your partner’s feet are touching. Join hands for support and to deepen the stretch if needed.

This is an excellent stretch to lift the heart, smile, and join gazes. Breathe together as you wobble in this pose and be sure to communicate whether the stretch needs to be deepened into something more challenging or relaxed to honor your body.

When you both advance enough to hold the partner boat pose for 3 to 5 breaths, you’ll celebrate the achievement together. 

5. Double Tree Pose

An empowering and invigorating asana, Tree Pose requires balance and is even better when done with a supportive partner. 

The beauty of this partner pose is that you each begin in tree pose alone, but standing side by side. With one leg pushing firmly into the Mother Earth, lift the other. Press the sole of your foot as high up on the thigh as you can, lifting your arms and swaying gently like tree branches.

As you breathe, coming into your own in the pose, begin to wrap your arm around your partner’s waist. Bring your opposite palms together in prayer and give your partner an embrace as you breathe through the posture. 

Hold this pose for 3 to 5 breaths. And be sure to notice that though each of you is your own tree, you rely on each other for support and comfort. This will help you feel unified with your partner while also honoring each other’s space.

6. Reverse Warrior

This pose not only exposes your hearts but it also creates a heart with you and your partner’s unified bodies. 

Each of you should begin in Warrior Two while facing away from each other. With one foot facing front, connect your back foot with your partner’s. Support your back with your arm before deepening this asana.

On the exhale, reach back and joining hands with your partner’s. Press into your partner’s foot, building a solid foundation for the love you’ve created. Breathe deeply while relying on each other for support and strength.

This asana can be held for 3 to 5 deep breaths. You can switch sides to keep both sides of the body working and repeat this asana as many times as it feels comfortable. 

7. Double Downward Dog

The most advanced asana on this list, Double Downward Dog is an enlightening challenge for you and your partner to do together. 

The stronger partner should come into a Downward Dog of their own first. With a deep exhale, you should come into forward fold at the front of the mat. Lift one foot off the mat at a time with an inhale and brace the balls of your feet against the base of your partner’s spine.

To adjust into this pose, walk your hands back or readjust the position of your feet. Hold the pose for as long as you can or for 3 to 5 breaths. When you come out of the pose, discuss how it felt to you and your partner and how you can make the pose better next time.

Communication is vital for this pose and for a healthy, happy sex life. Make sure to talk to one another about when the pose grows too challenging and you need to come out of it. But also trust that your partner is strong enough to hold you up until you say otherwise.

8. Standing Supported Backbend

The final stretch on our list, a standing supported backbend, is an excellent place to end your practice with your partner. 

Face each other and start off with a gentle gaze into your partner’s eyes, breathing deeply to recover your breath from the practice. As with seated Cat/Cow, join your forearms together while still gazing into each other’s eyes. Inhale deeply. 

On the exhale, both you and your partner should lean back, using your conjoined arms as support. Your heart should be facing the sky with you and your partner’s hearts fully exposed to each other. 

After 3 to 5 deep breaths, come out of the pose. Still facing your partner, give your partner an embrace and thank each other for creating a space of peace and unity. Now, pat yourself on the back and go grab a post-yoga workout snack.

Online Education for the Busy Yogi

You’re busy and it can be difficult to attend your favorite yoga class regularly. That’s why we created a place where busy Yogis can come to learn new poses, get educated about the benefits of yoga, and so much more. 

Searching for more couples yoga and other tips like these? Check out our blog archives for more yoga education, information, tips, and tricks.