If you’re looking for something to do with your significant other this Valentine’s Day and you both happen to be trying to get into fitness and wellness, why not do yoga together?

“It is not just a physical practice,” says yoga teacher Carina Silerio, who specializes in mindfulness, stress management and reduction, pain management, mental health, chronic pain and diseases, women’s health, healing and recovery, and trauma-informed yoga.

“It’s a journey of the mind, body, and spirit that couples can embark on together, enriching their lives and their relationship.”

She tells Lifestyle, “One of the most significant benefits is improved communication. Yoga requires partners to communicate clearly and effectively, not just with words, but through body language and touch. This practice enhances understanding and fosters better communication in daily life.”

Silerio, founder of Flow and Recovery yoga and wellness company, points out that practicing yoga with your partner can also help strengthen trust. This is possible with yoga poses that involve relying on each other for balance, strength, and support, thus fostering resilience and confidence in each other.

“There’s also the deeper connection that comes from sharing this journey,” she adds. “Practicing yoga together creates a shared experience that deepens the emotional and spiritual connection between partners. It provides a beautiful opportunity to bond and grow closer.”

She elaborates, “Supporting each other in practice is a fundamental aspect of yoga. This mutual support fosters a sense of teamwork and encouragement, which is essential in any relationship.”

As for yoga’s stress-relieving benefits, the teacher with 11 years of professional experience notes that couples who practice together can share in these calming effects. This then leads to a more peaceful and harmonious relationship, as the stress and tension can be managed.

Practicing yoga with your partner can help strengthen trust.

Spending quality time together

“Additionally, committing to a regular yoga practice together requires finding time for each other,” she says. “This commitment to spend quality time together reinforces the importance of their relationship and helps couples connect on a deeper level, creating lasting memories and prioritizing their bond.”

Silerio has designed a couples yoga program that she describes as “highly specialized and tailored to meet the unique needs and requests of each couple.” It’s beginner-friendly and available either in-person or online. In-person sessions can be held at the couple’s residence or at Flow and Recovery’s studio in Biñan, Laguna. 

The program is priced starting at P4,500 per 60-minute class. There’s a 14 percent-discount in February. To sign up, email carina@flowandrecovery.com or message @flowandrecovery on Facebook and Instagram.

If you and your partner would like to practice yoga with a group, yoga studios have regular classes on Valentine’s Day. Community Fitness in Pasig City offers possibly the most affordable rate at P200 per class. Friday classes are scheduled at 8:30 a.m. (“Sweet, Sweaty Flow”), 10 a.m. (“Soothing and Gentle Yoga”), and 7 p.m. (“Power and Grace”). Find ComFit Studio PH on social media for additional info.

You can join the “Sunset for Two at the Park” this Saturday, 4 p.m., at Bridgetowne Park, also in Pasig City. This is not exclusive to romantic partners, says Jezreel Gibaga from the organizing team of Breathe Learn Thrive. You can partner with a friend or another solo participant.

Bibaga shares to us this class description from the yoga teacher Maruja Gondaya: “It starts from an individual practice to limber the body, followed by some preparation poses. The goal of the partners/couples is to create a connection and trust for both of them. It’s not a typical kind of yoga because yoga is a personal practice, but since it love month, this is a different approach that we can try.”

The rates are P555 per person and P999 for a pair. Bring your yoga mat and water bottle. For more details, send an Instagram message to @breathelearnthrive.