Yoga is generally a solitary practice—a chance to turn the mind inward and focus only on your own breath, movement and focal point. But around the United States, yoga is becoming a bit more social as yoga studios invite singles to add mixing and mingling to their practice. It’s yoga speed dating and it’s picking up speed—literally.
From yoga studios to the popular Crunch gyms, yoga speed dating may be an alternative option for yoga lovers who are tired of trying to meet in bars or online. It makes perfect sense — you love yoga. You want a partner who loves yoga. So why not meet each other while doing yoga?
Founder of the Colorado-based YogaDates Amy Baglan says yoga speed dating is a way to bring a social side to an activity that is usually a solitary, introspective practice. She says she started the practice as a way to help single men and women come together in a more conscious environment.
How Yoga Speed Dating Works
Single men and women roll out their mats and practice partner yoga with one yogi of the opposite sex before switching to meet and practice with the next one. They stretch, they hold, and they (hopefully) connect on a deeper level—all while focusing on one pose per partner. Some classes encourage conversation while other teachers prefer the chit-chat be reserved for after class.
The sequences are specially planned to be non-invasive and are geared towards yogis of any level. The experience with a yoga partner mirrors much of what we’re all looking for in a life partner—support, balance, and living in the moment.
Following class, the yogis have the opportunity to mix and mingle at the studio or a nearby restaurant to get to know each other in a less stretchy, bendy, sweaty, and possibly awkward situation.
Yoga speed dating may make the traditional yogis tighten their bandhas, but for some singles in search of a partner off the mat, finding love in Downward Dog could be the answer.
