Every week, Talking Points gives you a worksheet to practise your reading comprehension with exercises about the story we’ve written.
Yoga poses are traditionally done individually. However, turning them into partner poses by practising them with a friend can be a fun activity with many health benefits.
Yoga helps develop strength, flexibility, coordination and balance in our bodies. A bonus of doing yoga with a friend is that they can help you hold the poses longer, since you have the physical support of someone else.
Practising yoga poses with a friend can also help strengthen your friendship. This is because you need to be fully present with each other, taking time away from screens and other distractions. It can also help develop skills such as confidence, empathy and mindful listening.
All of these poses can be practised anywhere and at any time.
Remember, what feels good for one person may not feel good for another. It is important to use verbal communication and ask the other person how they feel. Use eye contact whenever possible when practising these poses.
Back-to-back breathing
This is a great way to start a yoga session with a friend because it is a calming and grounding exercise.
Begin by sitting cross-legged, back-to-back, with your friend. Rest your hands on your legs. Sit up tall and press your backs together. Close your eyes if you feel comfortable doing so.
Bring your attention to your breathing. Breathe in and out slowly. Try to notice your friend’s breath moving from their back. Focus on syncing your breath so you are both breathing in and out at the same time.
Try to do this without saying a word. Stay here for five breaths.
Boat pose
Sit face-to-face with your friend. Bend your knees and bring your feet towards you on the ground. Hold hands with your friend. One foot at a time, lift your feet off the ground and place the soles of your feet together.
Try to keep your ankles in line with your knees. Sit up tall as you do this. You can keep your knees bent or try to straighten your legs. Hold for five breaths.
Tree pose
Stand side by side with your friend. Link the arms that are closest to each other. Keep the foot closest to the linked arm on the ground. Lift your other leg and place the sole of your foot anywhere along the inside of your other leg.
You can join the palms of your outer hands together in front of your bodies, above your heads or even behind your backs. Hold for five breaths. Repeat on the other side.
Double low lunge
Face your friend, leaving some space between the two of you. Come on to your knees and lift your hips. Each person should put their right foot forward and align their ankle underneath their right knee. Press the palms of your hands together and stretch your arms up. Hold for five breaths. Repeat on the other side.
Afterwards, take a moment to chat with your friend about which poses you both enjoyed and why. Remember to thank your friend for practising yoga with you.
