We leave early in the morning and come home late at night, passing out next to our partners. The problem: We are not always present in body and soul, and spend more time interacting with our BlackBerry or iPhone than with each other. These poses are aimed at slowing you down and bringing you closer together as you spend five to eight intense minutes together either in morning or at end of day.
1 Calming breath.
Sit back to back with your partner in a comfortable position, making sure your spine is straight. Sitting on a pillow may help lift the lower back. Start breathing in and out together and feel each other’s breath as you start breathing in unison. Count in for two breaths and out for four for a few rounds. Then in for three breaths and out for six, then in for four and out for eight, gradually building up to in for five and out for 10. This is your chance to slow down after a busy day and connect with your partner.
2 Downward dog.
This is a classic pose and done together it will get the two of you laughing and feeling connected. Position your mats in a straight line (not side by side), get on your hands and knees, with your toes tucked under, then lift your bum up in the air and press your thighs back to straighten the legs. Press in your hands as you straighten the arms and press your bum up as high as possible if you both look between your legs you should be able to see one another. From here, you can tread gently from heel to heel or take long breaths in and long deep sighs out. This is a great pose to stretch out the back and strengthen the arms and shoulders.
3 Spinal twist.
Lie on your backs next to one another and stretch your arms out to the side. Your left hand can hold your partner’s right wrist and vice versa. Place your feet flat on floor then lift your feet off the ground and bring your knees into your chest and lower your knees to the right. As you are both lowering your knees in same direction, take five breaths. Lift knees and then lower over to the left and take five breaths. Place your feet back on the ground.
4 Eye-to-eye kindness.
Making sure you have some quality face-to-face time with your other half is vital. Sit down on the floor facing each other. Make sure you are in a comfortable cross-leg position and that your spine is straight. Place a pillow under your buttocks. Breathe together in for two counts out for four. Sit facing each other again and look into your partner’s eyes and say three kind things you love about them. This is a great practice for letting the one you love know why.
