Partner stretches (for the older student) - what types are best?

[Jim Pickles]

(All references to exercise numbers are to Stretching and Flexibility)

Generally, I have been reluctant to include much partner stretching with my (older student; mostly 60s-late 70s) stretch class. Recently, it was because of Covid distancing restrictions, but previously, it was because many students have vulnerabilities and are at greater risk of damage (and poorer recovery) than younger students. However we have always done the partner shoulder depress, and partner arms up behind back (ex 11), both of which they have enjoyed. Recently, because all the students have been with me for a long time and know themselves and each other well (as well as being highly responsible) I have been introducing a few more partner stretches, ones that I myself have particularly enjoyed.

These are Partner all fours rotation (ex 49) and Partner lying rotation (ex 8).

In my earlier ST experience I found that there were some partner stretches which I did not like, and which I did not find valuable. These included e.g. partner hamstring stretches and partner piriformis stretches. In both of these case the partner forces are directly applied to a simple muscle group. I am wondering if the ones I like (and therefore I introduce my students to) involve a complex muscle anatomy and have a big fascial involvement.

Another partner stretch which fulfils these requirement is the partner hip flexor stretch (in its many variants). However I think this is too powerful for my students, but maybe will give it a go and see how they like it. One that I like is knees being pressed to the floor in either tailor pose with the torso upright, or inverted frog (lying flat on back, knees apart and soles of feet together). I am more flexible than my students so may not respond as they do but if I am anything to go by they should like these (although they seem to have expressed a bit of reluctance when I've mentioned it, though we haven't tried it so far).

So my query here is for two things -

1. What partner stretches have people found best with older and sometimes more vulnerable students?

2. What do people think of my idea that the partner stretches that feel most valuable, involve stretching complex muscle arrangements and have a high fascial involvement?

Jim.