WHAT IS THE BENEFIT TO WORKING OUT AS A COUPLE?
Flowers, chocolates, and dinner. They are all date night favourites, but if you’re tired of doing date night the same way every time, why not buck tradition and try an unconventional date night with partner workouts to boost your endorphins.
Having a gym buddy is a great resource that helps a lot of people stay accountable and dedicated to their fitness goals. So, it makes sense that more couples are looking to become each other’s fitness partner. Besides, who knows you better or spends more time with you than your significant other? Plus you can start some new relationship trends that are:
- Nutrition focused
- High in physical activity
- Cost effective
- More intimate, with minimal equipment
Get ready to be each other’s inter-personal trainer and let’s whip those relationships into shape. These exercises work for gym buddies, besties and bae’s alike.
ROUND 1: POUNDING HEARTS
20 CRUNCH TOSSES
Grab a weighted ball or any kind of ball and lie on your backs with the bottoms of your feet about a foot away from each other. One of you starts by holding the medicine ball and doing a sit-up, leading with your chest, then tossing the ball to your partner who is seated, catches the ball, drops down, crunches up, and tosses it back.
15 PARTNER JUMP SQUATS
From your starting position in a squat, jump as high as you can. Then hold a squat while your partner proceeds to jump as high as they can
10 TRICEP DIPS / WALL SITS
Target the back of your arms with a dip — and with the other partner doing a wall sit, they’ll still have to work, too. Switch positions after 10 reps.
Partner 1 should assume a wall sit against the wall.
Partner 2 should execute a dip off of partner 1’s thighs: Place your hands, fingertips facing your butt, on partner 1’s thighs. Then, either bend your knees with feet flat on the ground or extend your legs with your heels on the ground. Dip by bending the elbows, then extending back up.
ROUND 2: LOVE IS A BATTLEFIELD
This round focuses on your upper body. Heads up, this will wear your arms out but trust us, it’s a great exercise to add into your routine. Do the following circuit as quickly as you can, three times. Rest as needed but move like a shooting arrow.
10 WHEELBARROW PUSH-UP WITH SQUAT
Begin at the top of a push-up, and have your partner hold your feet in their hands. Do 10 push-ups while keeping your core tight. As you lower yourself down, your partner should also lower themselves into a squat, keeping their arms straight and tightening their butt muscles. After 10 reps, switch positions.
10 HAMSTRING CURL/PLYO PUSH UP
Use your partner for a hamstring curl, no machine required.
To do this, both partners should kneel, partner 2 in front of partner 1, both facing the same direction.
Partner 1 should place their hands on partner 2’s ankles and kneel forward a bit, providing counterbalance
Partner 2 should slowly fall forward from the knee up, focusing on the hamstrings on the way down. Place your hands down to catch yourself when you can’t hold anymore. Push back up to start and repeat. After 10 reps, switch places and partner 1 then does 10 reps.
Training as a couple has many advantages and little drawback. If you’re tired of the same old routine, put a little pep back into your training with some friendly competition. It’ll strengthen your accountability, develop more discipline, bolster creativity, create a new level of challenge, and bring you closer together as a couple.
Couples that train together, should mudder together. Get your Tough Mudder event locked in.