Couple yoga poses can really be effective for back pain. Why? Keep reading and discover how partner stretches could be the solution to regain your mobility!
IF YOU ARE BORED OF SOLO STRETCHING, TRY COUPLE YOGA POSES!
You probably have already heard how stretching is an essential component to maintaining optimum health. Stretching not only improve our posture by releasing muscular tension, but it also boosts our emotional health by reducing stress levels in the body.
So…… Why people usually never stretch enough? The most common answer I get from my clients is always the same one: I get bored!!!
If you also fall into this category, keep reading as we will provide you with a very simple solution that could transform your stretching routine into the best part of your workout!
Well, grab your fit bud and try some easy couple yoga poses!! Partner stretches not only will help you to improve flexibility but they will also just feel darn good, providing a guaranteed stress and pain relief!
WHAT ARE COUPLE YOGA POSES (a.k.a. Assisted Stretching)?
Couple yoga poses are simple exercises in which one person helps another person to stretch. There are different types of partner stretches, ranging from very safe and easy couple yoga poses that can be performed by anyone, to more specific techniques which require advanced training in anatomy and physiology, thus these are generally performed only by physical therapists and athletic trainers.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF INTRODUCING COUPLE YOGA POSES INTO YOUR STRETCHING ROUTINE?
Increase your range of motion & flexibility, promoting a better posture.
Prevent injuries and reduce muscle soreness by lengthening muscle groups in a more effective way.
Help your body to go into deeper stretches, as your partner guide you to stretch a little further than you’d do on your own.
Relax and feel good! Partner stretches take the load off you, as all the work is done from your buddy. To get the best out of it, you will only need to breathe and relax into the stretch. This will also calm your mind and give the body a chance to recharge.
Motivation. It’s much more fun to work out and stretch with someone else! Your partner can encourage you to do a little better every day and push past your limits.
Accountability. By depending on each other to keep trying, you both help each other to stay on track, and make sure you don't stretch minimally or not at all as you used to do with solo stretching!
HOW TO DO EASY COUPLE YOGA POSES IN A SAFE WAY
Remember to communicate clearly with each other and inform him/her whether you have any injuries or areas where he/she needs to be extra careful prior to starting any two people yoga poses.
Always make sure to tell your partner whether they’re stretching you far enough or they can push you a little farther. Let them know if you have any funny feelings, such as sensing you are about to pull something! Couple yoga poses shall always be performed gradually and shall feel good!
Try to not talk too much and instead focus your attention on breathing and relaxing.
TIPS TO MASTER YOUR COUPLE YOGA POSES ROUTINE
Discuss and agree upon a routine with your partner, making sure you both know what you’re doing. Watch this video for some easy partner yoga poses ideas for back pain!
Try to Stretch each body part.
Stretch until there is a light tension on the muscle and hold, avoiding to bounce back and forth.
Hold each stretch for 10 breaths, release and have your partner to stretch you a little further (if you can) and hold it again for 10 breaths. (You can repeat this few times if you need extra help to release tension in a specific area, even tough be careful to not overstretch and pull a muscle!)
PARTNER STRETCHES PERFORMED BY A TRAINED THERAPIST
With the assistance of a trained physical therapist, who has knowledge of anatomy, physiology and stretching techniques, you can be reassured that you will be guided through a stretching routine tailored to your needs in a safe and effective way, avoiding the risk of injury.
A massage therapist who incorporates stretching into their treatments will know what’s best for you and could effectively help you to recover faster from an injury with this particular method. He/she will use some specific partner stretches techniques where you may be asked to either engage and work the muscles or to completely relax your limbs, depending on your current situation.
These type of partner stretches treatments are fully customisable and can help you to learn more effective ways of stretching while improving your posture, reduce pain and stress and boost your feeling of well-being.
Assisted stretching is often combined with different types of remedial massage,
such as Deep tissue/Sports and Thai massage. Deep tissue/Sports usually focus on releasing tension in specific muscles groups and realign the body with a combination of deep compression massage techniques, trigger points and stretching.
Thai massage has been practised for centuries and its popularity is certainly due to the vast array of assisted stretching involved in this kind of treatment.
Thai massage is often referred to as a “lazy yoga session” because the therapist will use her hands, knees, legs and feet to apply pressure and move you into a series of couple yoga poses. Thai massage aims to restore the energy flow in the body and it does so by using movement and stretching to adjust the body’s physical structure, as well as stimulating specific acupressure points and energy channels. The masseuse may even walk on you, to stretch, push, press, rock, and vibrate your entire body.
If you would like to learn more about these therapies, you can read our full article about the benefits of Thai Massage Vs Swedish / Deep Tissue Massage here.
At A to Zen therapies, we believe that incorporating stretching techniques into a massage session is really effective and that’s why we usually combine partner stretches in most of our treatments.
So.. what are you waiting for? Try these easy, safe and really fun couple yoga poses and let us know whether partner stretches have really improved your stretching routine!
