Most of us can benefit from some added motivation from time to time. Working out with a training partner brings many of these benefits. This blog is all about how how exercising with a workout partner can increase your motivation, performance and commitment to keep going, and how to get started.
Let’s explore the ways that a workout partner may be able to boost your progress towards achieving your health and fitness goals.
Have you ever done a workout with someone who’s just that little bit fitter or more experienced than you? If you’re even slightly competitive, having a partner who pushes themselves will subconsciously push you to work harder too.
The National Library of Medicine in an influential study showed that working out with someone who is just that bit fitter than you will give you more motivation to exercise, and increase your exercise performance too. This may be due to social factors like not wanting to be the “weakest link”. But it probably influences you to pick up the habits and efforts of the person you’re with too.
This can be highly motivational driving force, particularly if you respect or admire the person you’re training with.
Interestingly, this motivation and performance boost doesn’t necessarily come from when your partner is in the room. In one of the linked studies, results came from a virtual training partner, working out in an online space.
There are a few factors to consider when you’re choosing a training buddy. If you really want to take your fitness to the next level, then think about approaching someone who has a slightly “better” level of fitness than you. Work out them over a few sessions, and see what happens to your own fitness!
When you work out with a training partner you’re likely to be exposed to different exercises and types of training. Your training partner might design their workouts a little differently to what you’re used to and may introduce you to new exercises and activities.
This helps to add variety to your exercise routine. As a result, your body gets challenged in different ways, which can help you take your fitness to the next level. You might also find that the new variety in your exercise routine is a good way to combat boredom.
You’ll also learn what you like and what you don’t as a result of being exposed to this variety, helping shape a routine that works for you in the long run.
As well as getting a taste of the way your partner trains, there are many exercises you can do with a training partner that you can’t do by yourself.
Some of these exercises are especially useful if you work out at home or in a park where you have a more limited range of exercises available to you.
Your training partner should be someone who inspires you. They should be encouraging and supportive, and of course, it’s a two-way street. They’ll probably be grateful to receive the same treatment from you, and you’ll feel good about helping motivate them!
When you’re having a rough day and don’t feel like exercising, a training partner can be the motivation you need to keep showing up. Contrary to popular belief, consistency in a workout programme is far more important than intensity in driving progress towards your health and fitness goals. Your workout buddy can help you avoid missing sessions and keep you on track.
For the times you do start to get off-track, their encouragement and support can help steer you back in the direction you want to go.
Overall, if you choose the right training partner your workouts may even feel more fun and enjoyable. You can have a laugh, off-load your day and spend time with someone who you like to be around.
When you choose to work out with a training partner, you also get someone who can offer guidance and feedback on exercises.
If your training partner has a reasonable level of experience with working out, they might also be able to give you some useful tips on exercise technique. This could be cueing you on alignment when performing an exercise, and could help prevent unnecessary injuries down the line.
Equally, having someone share different ways of approaching a workout, like a motivational cue or a deeper understanding of the benefit, can profoundly influence your motivation to exercise and future benefit.
You certainly can! There are 3 ways we can help you get the extra benefits of a partner workout:
1. In-person training with a friend – all you need is a local friend or partner who wants to get fit and an agreed location (your house, their house or an outdoor spot in between). You can book personal training that you do together, and even get your own personalised plan for in between sessions. Get in touch and learn more about in-person training sessions here.
2. Online training with a friend – find any friend or partner who wants to get fit, and you can do personalised joint workouts together via online sessions. You’ll get your own individual plan, plus loads of support and feedback over the calls. Learn more about online personal training here.
3. 1-to-1 ‘buddy’ personal training – personal trainers themselves make great workout buddies! Many of our trainers work out with their clients, as a way of encouraging and supporting them, and modelling the workouts too. Get in touch about 1-to-1 personal training here.
Having a personal trainer gives you the ultimate accountability buddy – someone invested in your progress, bringing personalised workouts and there to support you every week.
Do any of the above with a training partner to help bring extra motivation and for a fun way to achieve your fitness goals!
Do you work out with a training buddy? Let us know how a training buddy has helped you in the comments below!
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