Putting the mat in matrimony through yoga
Benefits include flexibility and a better sex life
Date night?
Instead of rolling down to the local movie theatre, grab your love and unroll your mat at your local yoga studio.
Practising yoga with your partner can be marriage counselling, physiotherapy, massage therapy and the best date ever all rolled into a onehour class.
By now, I know what you’re thinking, “How can I convince my partner to come to a yoga class?”
As a yoga instructor, I hear so often, “I can’t do yoga. I can barely touch my toes.” The hardest thing to explain is that yoga is not about being flexible; rather yoga is about rediscovering your flexibility.
And if not now, then when? The longer you wait to begin, the further away those toes are gonna get.
Initially, it took me a long time to persuade Hart, my husband, to come to yoga class. I asked him to share his experience in his own words.
He explains. “I’ll admit I had a hard time coming to the mat. For years I dismissed yoga as an extended stretch before or after a ‘real workout.’ After some convincing, I finally did get to a class. Now, four years later, I’ve never felt stronger — both physically and mentally, never been more flexible and my knee problems are a thing of the past. I now can’t imagine a time in my life when I won’t practise yoga.”
Yoga offers friends and lovers alike a chance at a new dialogue and an opportunity to connect on a different level.
You may end up talking about how much that one pose released the tightness in your hip instead of how much your hip is hurting, or perhaps something in class you both found challenging or that encouraged a new
“I now can’t imagine a time in my life when I won’t practise yoga.”
JOHANNA STEINFELD’S HUSBAND, HART
point of view.
In addition, actually working with a partner can make many postures more effective. Something as simple as sitting back-to-back and breathing, a deceptively simple exercise, can be very healing. It’s a beautiful way of touching and connecting with each other, through breath, heartbeat and both verbal and non-verbal communication.
If convincing your partner is still a challenge, try emphasizing to your partner that yoga is great for de-stressing, relaxing tight muscles — and also known to have a very positive effect on sex lives!