Want more for less? Try a partner workout

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Here at Ellie’s Gym we love all kinds of love, whether it’s friendship, family or the romantic kind. And did you know that one of the most effective things you can do to bond with another person is exercise together?

So, if you’re struggling for date ideas this Valentine’s Day, why not swap dough balls for dumbbells and try a pair workout together? You can still have dough balls afterwards if you want, of course – we’d never deny you that.

The benefits of a pair workout

There’s a whole bunch of reasons to consider a tandem workout. It could be with a partner, sure, but also a friend, sibling, parent, son, daughter, colleague, [insert important human here].

Whoever you choose as your simultaneous sweating ally, the benefits to both of you are undeniable.

Boost your performance – and your bond

“training with another person helps strengthen your relationship with each other”

A study by the University of Oxford* found that not only does training with another person help strengthen your relationship with each other, but it can also have a positive effect on your performance. That’s a double win in our eyes.

It all comes down to the chemicals our bodies release during exercise – you’ll probably know them as endorphins. These magical substances bring with them feelings of happiness and reduce stress, and unsurprisingly, this flurry of positive feelings are thought to help strengthen your bond with another person.

And if that’s not enough, studies have also suggested that exercising with others allows people to push harder for longer, with decreased perceptions of fatigue.

So if you’re keen to see more results from your gym sessions, or even improve your relationship, now you know the key to both: book a joint session at Ellie’s Gym and reap the rewards of a shared workout.

Retain the individual touch

Every person is unique and everybody seeks different things from their training. So, how does that work in a partner workout, we hear you ask.

Don’t worry. A joint session at Ellie’s Gym doesn’t mean working out as a mirror image of each other (although that can be fun too!).

Instead, your personal trainer will take each of your individual fitness levels, aims and preferences into account, and tailor each exercise accordingly. It means you’ll both get maximum benefits, as well as maximum fun.

Make the most of the time you already have

We’re all short of time, and as far as we know, no one has invented a way of adding more hours to the day – yet.

“a bit of light-hearted rivalry might be just what you need to lift your performance”

So, if you feel as though you and your significant other live like ships in the night, syncing up your gym session is the perfect way to enjoy each other’s company for an extra hour a day. You’re basically creating time.

Or if you’re struggling for chances to meet up with a friend, why not join forces for a sweaty sesh together, followed by a catch up in the sauna?

Find new levels of confidence

A pair workout can really boost your confidence, especially if you’re new to fitness or personal training.

Remember your first day at work, when you secretly wished you could bring your mum along?

Well, a training session at Ellie’s Gym is unlikely to be anything like your first day at work – but you can bring your mum, or whoever you want. Sharing the experience with someone you trust can help suppress any jitters you might have.

Spice up your routine

Consistency is key to reaching fitness goals, but if you’re keen to spice up your training, a pair workout is a super-fun way to bring a new dynamic to your routine.

Plus, most of us are a little more competitive than we realise, and a bit of light-hearted rivalry might be just what you need to lift your performance to new levels. Squat-off, anyone?

Save the pennies

Training at a luxury private gym like Ellie’s Gym is already great value, but if money’s a touch tight right now, sharing your workout with another lucky person also means splitting the cost in half.

So you get all the benefits of a pair workout, but you pay less for them, rather than more. You’re welcome.

*Davis A, Taylor J, Cohen E (2015) Social Bonds and Exercise: Evidence for a Reciprocal Relationship.