Some partner yoga poses are a little more challenging than others like this one — Shoulderstand on Bridge. It requires strength for the person on the bottom to hold the Half Wheel [1] and it also requires balance for the person on top to hold Shoulderstand [2]. Since this pose involves one person being upside down, it also requires trust and communication. I love that this video shows both the man and woman taking turns and switching positions. It's common to think the woman wouldn't be strong enough to be on the bottom, but she is!

For detailed instructions on how to give this pose a try .

• Partner #1 (guy) comes into Half Wheel [3] (Bridge), with his elbows bent and his hands underneath his lower back.
• Partner #2 (woman) stands at Partner #1's feet, holds onto his shins, and rests her shoulders on his thighs so her head hangs down. Partner #1 can gently squeeze Partner #2's head to add a little support.
• Then Partner #2 lifts or jumps her feet up so her hips are over her shoulders and her spine is straight. When she feels stable, she straightens her legs and comes into Shoulderstand [4] (or I think of it more as a supported Headstand [5]).
• Even though it seems like this pose is more challenging for the person on the top since she's working hard to stay balanced, the person on the bottom is also doing a lot of work to keep his thighs stable and hold his partner up. So it's important for both partners to talk to each other during this pose, and let the other person know if they need a break.
• To release this pose, Partner #2 folds at her hips and places her feet gently back on the ground and stands up. Then they switch positions and try it again.

Fit's Tips: If you're a little nervous about falling over, have a trusted friend stand next to you so they can catch you in case you start to lose your balance.