Couples who train together, stay together. Isn’t that how the old saying goes? Working out with your partner can translate not only to muscle and performance gains, but to relationship gains as well.
Start working out with your partner today to reap one of the many benefits training in tandem can provide!
1. Strengthen Communication Skills In Stressful Situations
Communication is important when you're discussing finances or future parenting approaches. Exercising with your partner allows you to practice communication in a stressful environment regularly.
Preventing a loaded barbell from crashing down on your partner's head, or making sure they don't fall forward with a loaded barbell on their back, provides an excellent opportunity to work on your communication skills as a couple. Training together will help you learn to better vocalize emotions and provide feedback and encouragement under stress.
You'll also learn to interpret your partner's body language. (Can he really push out one more repetition?)
2. Strengthen Your Emotional Connection
Emotional bonding can be defined as the need to associate with another person in order to achieve a level of closeness and security in that person's presence. Consistently working out together naturally strengthens this emotional connection by developing a phenomena known as mimicry (also known as nonverbal matching).
According to a study published in the British Journal of Psychology, "Nonverbal mimicry helps people feel emotionally attuned with one another, and those who experience or engage in it tend to report greater feelings of having 'bonded' with their partner."[1]
Whether it be from running at the same pace, trading dumbbells between sets, or tossing a medicine ball back and forth, exercising together provides an opportunity to develop this connection. And you'd better believe this connection will shine outside of the gym, too.
3. Develop Your Dependability
It can be tempting to skip a workout when you're tired, but knowing that someone you care about is relying on you should be more than enough to get you off the couch and to the gym.
Your partner will learn that they can rely on you, which is far more attractive than your deltoids when you and your partner are planning a future together.
4. Spend More Time Together
These days, Netflix and chill is an evening luxury that comes once in a blue moon. Instead, you're often juggling a job, potential school work in the evenings, and numerous extracurricular activities. You probably also have friends and family you need to spend time with.
Fortunately, you've made the gym a habit. By working out with your partner, you will both not only be working toward building a better mind and body, but you'll also be spending time together.
References
- Stel, M., & Vonk, R. (2010). Mimicry in social interaction: Benefits for mimickers, mimickees, and their interaction. British Journal of Psychology, 101(2), 311-323.