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One of the most important components of an active and healthy lifestyle is regular exercise. However you like to get a 30-minute workout in, it can be challenging to get into a consistent routine. If you’ve found yourself skipping your regular yoga session lately, getting someone to join you might be the motivation you’ve needed all along. Whether they’re a close friend, partner, or even a next-door neighbor, having a workout buddy can breathe life into your usual routine. Let’s find out why!
Benefits of a Workout Buddy
1. Improve consistency
If you don’t feel like exercising one day, a workout buddy is there to keep you on track. You’re much more likely to stick to your routine when you have somebody waiting for you, cheering you on, and helping you meet your fitness goals. If someone else is counting on you to show up, you won’t want to let them down. This also goes the other way – if your partner gets unmotivated, you can be there to re-motivate them, providing support and encouragement in the process.
To make your odds of success greater, look for a workout buddy that is a positive presence and a source of inspiration in your fitness routine. A similar schedule, goals, and level of commitment are all ideal traits in one.
2. Have more fun
Contrary to what you might think, exercise can be loads of fun. Having someone there to share laughs, conversations, and endorphins with is a perfect recipe for having a great time. A workout buddy will also encourage you to be more adventurous and try new activities now that you have a partner to join you. You may have heard of Jazzercise, the group dance workout made popular in the 70s. Shanna Nelson, Jazzercise president, believes that, “joy and fun are the main components to maintaining your fitness routine.” If you’re being fueled by intrinsic motivation, like dancing it out with others just to have a blast, you’ll be more motivated than any other external factor. So, who’s up for some Jazzercise?
3. Feel more motivated
Losing motivation is a major factor as to why people don’t stick with their exercise routines. Research has shown time and time again that working out with others will push you to show up more than you would on their own. When you have a buddy encouraging you to do the hard work, you’ll feel much more motivated to actually do it. Friendly competition can go a long way, too!
4. Make new relationships
A workout partner means you can explore new activities while making friends in the process. They can give you the courage to increase your social circle by joining that spin or swim class together, or even by getting to know their friends more. According to a study published by Nature Communications that analyzed data from a million runners over a five year period, exercise is socially contagious. This means that the more runners you know, the more likely you are to go on a run. Doesn’t making more friends sound like a great way to achieve your fitness goals?
Having a workout buddy also means having someone to celebrate with. If you share similar fitness goals, like running that 5k or losing a few pounds, working towards a common goal means that celebration is on the horizon. Enjoying your successes together will strengthen your relationship, keep spirits and motivation high, and continue making exercise fun.
5. Push yourself harder
Going back to the idea of friendly competition, having someone around while you exercise has actually been proven to increase how hard you workout. If you’re worried that your workout buddy might be in better shape than you, that might actually be one of the best reasons to continue working out with them. Enjoy the benefits of pushing yourself harder and longer with someone you trust and are inspired by!
Workouts to Try Together
Now that you have someone to exercise with, here are some of our favorite partner workouts that are excellent for improving your physical health.
1. Yoga
Yoga has a variety of health benefits for all to enjoy. Along with being a low-impact workout that reduces the likelihood of strains, it’s known for reducing stress, improving sleep, and increasing flexibility, mobility, and strength. Enjoy the perks of your community’s health and wellness room while you’re at it. If you and your workout buddy aren’t sure where to get started, you can also try out your Arden community’s yoga classes.
2. Indoor cycling classes
Indoor cycling, also known as spinning, involves using stationary exercise bicycles for cardio workouts. Perfect for all shapes, sizes, and balance capabilities, spin classes are particularly fun and a great way to elevate your heart rate. You can reap the benefits of improved cardiovascular health, muscle endurance, and reduced stress in a motivating environment. They’re also excellent opportunities to meet new people and expand your fitness social circle. Grab your workout buddy and find one near you!
3. Swimming
Deemed one of the best low-impact exercises, swimming is easy on the joints and lots of fun. You can improve your heart health all while increasing flexibility and muscle strength. Have fun trying it out at local swimming pools, which often offer a variety of classes to choose from. Basic swimming, water resistance, and water relaxation lessons are all great options to get started. Water aerobics classes, involving cardio and strength-training exercises underwater like water walking, bicep curls, leg lifts, and more, is also a fantastic choice. A study on the benefits of it suggests that just “12 weeks of water aerobics performed twice a week … benefits the explosive strength, body composition, and blood pressure of adults and older adults.” Talk about an amazing workout!
4. Walking
An often overlooked exercise, walking packs a lot of benefits. It helps reduce blood pressure, strengthen muscles, increase stamina, improve your mood, and much more. What’s even better is that walking and talking is a fun way to build your relationship with your workout buddy. In Praise of Walking, a novel by neuroscientist Shane O’Mara, is a great read that explores the evolutionary history of walking and its impact on the human mind, body and spirit. If you want to learn more about how walking can benefit your life and serve as a social glue when you do it with others, this book is for you.
A workout buddy is one of the best ways to mix up your fitness routine, keep you on track toward your goals, and have fun during the process. Whether they’re a close friend or simply an acquaintance that shares a similar fitness mindset, we hope you’ll be reaping the benefits of having a workout buddy soon. If you want to explore other health-related tips to improve your workout routine, check out more articles on our blog here.