Judy and Ron Nelson wanted a new way to celebrate Valentine's Day when they signed up for Date Night Yoga.

"We were inspired because we love the yoga practice, it was reasonably priced and it was close by," recalled Judy Nelson of Westlake Village, who took the evening class with her husband for Valentine's Day last year.

"We enjoyed another fun way of connecting to one another on a physical and spiritual level," she said. "We definitely felt closer because the date night yoga was an intimate experience."

The Nelsons are among other couples who created a new level of intimacy on Valentine's Day thanks to Date Night Yoga, taught by Jeff and Chandra Gero of Agoura Hills.

The couple, who have led yoga and meditation retreats for the past 20 years, are offering the workshop again this Valentine's Day at True Yoga in Thousand Oaks and Yogaworks of Westlake.

"Date Night provides local couples with the opportunity to explore deeper intimacy through the practice of partner yoga, meditation and affirmations," said Jeff Gero, 65, who has a Ph.D. in psychology with an emphasis on meditation.

Together for 32 years, the Geros say they bring unique skills and talents to this endeavor.

Both students of Baba Hari Das, Chandra is a certified yoga instructor who teaches classes locally, and Jeff is a specialist in stress management.

"Date Night Yoga started as an idea for an alternative to the usual Valentine's dinner," said Chandra Gero, 56. "Being both practitioners of yoga, we thought that an evening of partner yoga, heart opening meditation, and affirmation would bring people closer together and rekindle a relationship."

The evening begins with a mind-clearing group meditation.

The partners then introduce each other with positive statements about what each admires and appreciates about the other.

"This creates an atmosphere of love and acceptance," Chandra said.

The couples then work together practicing partner yoga poses, simple stretches and twists.

"These postures allow them to experience trust, surrender and a deeper practice of each asana (yoga position)," said Chandra, noting that "there are lots of hugs" during this part of the evening.

Date Night Yoga can help couples bond in a number of ways — the deep relaxation alone is enough to remove anxiety and open the door to positive feelings, said Jeff Gero, who wrote his doctoral dissertation on meditation.

"This opens the door to love and vulnerability, which are usually lost to the many responsibilities and stresses of everyday life," he said.

The evening includes a couples' meditation where partners place their hand on the other's heart and breathe together, which often creates a joyful connection, Jeff Gero said.

"This gives couples the opportunity to revitalize their relationship by entering and maintaining a peaceful space together," he said. "They become closer to their partners and share quality time that is truly intimate."

Rhonda and Mark Zucker of Agoura have attended Date Night Yoga a few times over the years.

"It showed us another way to be intimate," Rhonda Zucker said. "It's a different and fun way to spend a Saturday night."

Date Night Yoga gives couples the opportunity to revitalize their relationship by entering and maintaining a peaceful space together, Jeff Gero said.

"They become closer to their partners and share quality time that is truly intimate," he said. "We hope that they take this home with them and continue to practice and make it a priority."

The ultimate goal is to help couples grow deeper in their love and appreciation, and have this feeling sustain itself even after date night is long gone, Chandra Gero said.

"And hopefully they come away with a renewed sense of love," she said. "I recommend it to every couple, if they do yoga or not."