Spin class at the local gym is cool, but group workouts don’t end there. For hardcore exercise and harder-core group bonding, check out these 24 workouts. From tai chi to white water rafting, we’ve got everything covered.
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Become a Workout Power Couple
Not every dynamic duo hits the gym together — and understandably so. Whether it’s different goals, different schedules, or different theories on audible grunting, there’s no shortage of excuses for choosing to exercise solo. But before drawing a line down the weight room floor, consider these kick-butt reasons for attacking workouts Bonnie and Clyde style.
Two-For-One — The Takeaway
Still not 100 percent sold? Tandem workouts can also increase trust between partners (spotter, please!), as well as encourage communication, mutual goal sharing, commitment to well-being, and the chance to celebrate each other’s successes.Combining QT and a quality workout is more than just a quick fix for couples on the go. Research shows that a solid sweat session produces chemicals in the brain that boost happiness and reduce stress [1]. When shared as a couple, this post-workout “high” is said to strengthen feelings of closeness between exercise partners, and even rev up the libido — at least in women, studies show [2].
Just remember that not every couple is meant to go full-throttle, so those with a fierce competitive streak may want to avoid uber-intense workouts (unless full-on Fight Club is the goal). Try a yoga class or couples' stretches for a tamer test-run instead.
Not in a relationship? Pair up with a friend or a family member so there’s built-in motivation for getting to the gym and sticking with a workout plan.
What are some of your favorite partner workouts? Tell us in the comments below!
Photo by Collin Orcutt
Works Cited
- Physical activity and mental health: current concepts. Paluska, SA., Schwenk, TL. Rex Sports Medicine Institute, Cary, North Carolina. Sports Medicine 2000 March; 29(3): 167-80.⤴
- The roles of testosterone and alpha-amylase in exercise-induced sexual arousal in women. Hamilton, LD., Fogle, EA., Meston, CM. University of Texas at Austin-Psychology, Austin, Texas. The Journal of Sexual Medicine 2008 April; 5(4): 845-53.⤴
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Comments Leave a comment
I'm partial to the side benefit of extra hotness that comes along with this.
I'm partial to the side benefit of extra hotness that comes along with this.
I'm partial to the side benefit of extra hotness that comes along with this.
I've loved working out as a couple in the past. But my current boyfriend is way too competitive to work out with. I prefer going to the gym with a group of friends!
Core training is our go-to "couple workout," since we can do the same exercises without too much modification. It's harder to pair up for exercises like squats and bench, so we like doing our own separate thing for those.
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