Working out is like being in a relationship – neither are easy to do. According to USA Today, the CDC found that only 23 percent of Americans are meeting federal standards for time spent working out.
For relations, some researchers believe that over 40 percent of marriages end in divorce. Studies are also finding that millennials are also getting married less than previous generations.
So what can we do about improving our workouts and our relationships? The answer may be to combine them!
Research shows that working out with a buddy can improve the amount of time spent working out. And if you’re married to that buddy, you can actually see marital benefits.
Alright, so you need to start working out with your significant other. How do you start?
Read on, and discover how these ten couple workouts can turn your soul-mate into your swole-mate.
1. Partner Yoga
Every couples workout routine should include stretching, and there are plenty of yoga poses out there for you and your swole-mate to try out!
For those who want to take it easy, try a pose like the seated forward bend. Sit face to face with your partner with legs outstretched and feet touching. Then take each other’s hands and take turns carefully pulling each other forward.
For an intermediate pose, try the lifted plank. One partner gets into plank position while the other lays underneath and holds their partner’s legs up.
And for those who want to take lifting their partner to the extreme, try acro yoga. To do it, one partner with lie on the ground with legs and arms outstretched. The other will place their hips on their partner’s feet and hold their hands.
When ready, the partner on the ground will lift up the other with their hands and feet, holding them above their body.
2. Leg Throwdowns
If you’re looking to do a simple couples workout at home, try leg throw downs.
To start, have one partner lie on their back while the other stands over their head. The one on the ground will keep their legs straight and lift them up to their swole-mate. The standing swole-mate will push the legs forward, “throwing” them down back to the starting position.
This is a great ab workout, and taking turns in each position will keep you both from resting too long between sets.
3. Biking
For those looking to get outdoors with their couples workout, there are few exercises better than biking. And biking with your partner means an opportunity for an even better experience.
Traveling is a great way to keep a relationship alive, and a bike adventure is a great option for those on a budget. There are plenty of trails and bike-friendly communities all across the country, so an intimate experience outdoors could be close to home.
The best part is that while out exploring with your love, you’ll be burning calories and building muscle at the same time!
4. Medicine Ball Crunch Toss
What’s more fun than a game of catch? How about a game of catch with a ten-pound ball while doing crunches!
Okay, so there may be a few more fun things out there, but this is another couples exercise that is perfect for building those washboard abs.
To start, one partner will be in crunching position while the other will stand a few feet in front of them. The one on the floor will crunch up while holding a medicine ball near their chest. Instead of going back down though, they will toss the ball up to their partner.
This is where it gets tricky. The standing partner will gently throw the ball back to their partner, who will catch it and crunch back down into the starting position.
For safety, it’s very important to make sure that the medicine ball you’re using isn’t too heavy. Because of the potential for accidents, this is a perfect exercise to do with someone you trust.
Like your swole-mate!
5. Weightlifting
While many people can lift weights without a buddy, lifting with your partner can actually be better for you.
First, your partner can push you to do more. Having someone there to motivate you can help you push your limits. You won’t make progress if you quit just after working up a sweat.
With your partner around, you both can hold each other accountable and push each other to keep up with a couples workout routine.
Second, lifting together can be safer.
While weightlifting can be one of the safer forms of exercising, it has to be done right. Using weights that are too heavy or pushing yourself too hard and too long can potentially lead to serious injury.
That’s where your partner comes in. Not only does it feel good to have them there to help you out of any sticky situations, it’s an opportunity to build trust with the one you love.
6. Pucker Up Push-Ups
This is a simple exercise for those looking for couple workouts at home.
Start by getting in push-up position with each partner in front of the other. Then start doing normal push-ups, but with one catch. After each one, lift your head up, lean forward, and give your partner a smooch.
This is a great way to spice up a relatively boring workout, while keeping things intimate with your swole-mate.
7. Back to Back Wall Sits
This is another couples workout that requires trust and coordination. To do it, start by standing back to back with your partner, and slowly lower yourselves into a squatting position.
When you’re in position, it will be like you’re both doing wall sits, but with each other as your wall!
For those looking to kick it up a notch, you can add an ab workout by passing a medicine ball to each other.
For those looking to kick it down a notch, you can do the Russian twists while sitting back to back on the floor. While workouts shouldn’t be too easy, you still want to stay safe and have fun with your couple workouts.
8. Running
Running is similar to biking. It’s something you can do yourself, but there’s more potential for fun and adventure when you include your partner.
Running is also one of those exercises that may require extra motivation. Although it is a great pick-me-up once you get started, it can be easy to hit the runner’s wall and feel like you can’t keep going. Having your swole-mate by your side can keep you going and help you become a better runner.
You and your significant other can also take your teamwork to the next level with races.
There are races happening everywhere, whether it’s a local charity run or a big marathon. These are a great opportunity to have fun by accomplishing something together.
9. Planks With Ski Jumps
For this couples exercise, one partner will be planking while the other will be jumping.
The one doing the jumping will be hopping back and forth over the planker’s waist, keeping their legs together as the jumps. The jumper should be facing the same way as the planker, so the jumps will be side to side.
If the jumping portion of this exercise seems too ambitious, modifications can be made.
Instead of ski jumping over the planker’s waist, the jumper can start by standing between their partner’s feet. From there, jump so that your legs spread out and your feet land to the outside of the planker’s feet. Then jump back in.
10. Sexercise
If there is one workout that you should only do with a swole-mate, it’s this. And as you’ve probably noticed, we’re very supportive.
However, sexercise should be different from your normal sex. These outings with your partner should have a quicker pace. You want to make sure that you both are getting your hearts pumping.
This should also be a chance to try some new positions. Positions like the swing and the pretzel use more muscles and energy than more basic positions, meaning your sexercise will be a real workout.
Grab Your Swole-Mate For Couple Workouts
So are you ready to get started? Whether you’re looking for some basic couple workouts or something more adventurous, there are great options available for you and your partner.
Not only will you get healthy, but these workouts will bring you and your swole-mate closer together.
Still not sure that couple workouts are best for your relationship? We know some reasons why it definitely is.
