photos by Lei Liew
Valentine’s Day often includes an extravagant meal, champagne and dessert. It’s a time to celebrate love and connection, but what does eating an entire box of heart shaped chocolates really have to do with it?! Although it may be tempting you do not have to let this holiday derail your commitment to being healthy and fit. This year spend time with the one you love but also get your sweat on together with these workout ideas for couples. Exercising with your partner has so many benefits, it can create a deeper bond, strengthen your support for one another, it’s quality time spent together, you can cheer each other on and make working out more enjoyable overall. Start with one set of these moves then work your way up to three. Always consult with your physician prior to starting any new exercise routines.
Warm up by marching in place with high knees and arms for five minutes, try mirroring one another. Turn up your favorite music to energize you both.
Back to Back Squats:
Start standing back to back. Have your feet shoulder width apart and stand two feet from one another. Communicate with your partner on timing and lower into a squat simultaneously. Keep connection along your back the entire time leaning into one another. Lower to the seated position, like you are sitting in a chair at a 90 degree angle, then return to standing. Repeat 10-15 times.
Mirroring Lunges:
Stand facing one another an arms length apart, put your palms together and interlace fingers. You will lunge simultaneously in opposite directions with opposite legs. So if you are lunging forward with your right leg, your partner is lunging backwards with their left, then switch. Do 10 of these on each side.
Jump High Fives:
Stand two feet from one another facing each other. Bend at the knees into a squat position while keeping your back straight. Jump into the air at the same time and high five with both hands at the top in mid air. Repeat this 10 to 15 times. If you are new to working out or have any health concerns you can simply take out the jumping aspect of this workout.
High Five Push Ups:
Start side by side in push up position facing the same direction, with knees on or off the ground. Lower down performing a push up at the same time. Return to the starting position with arms straight, balance your self and roll onto your outside arm only while raising your inside arm to give one another a high five. Return to the starting position and repeat this 5 to 10 times on each side.
Band Curls:
Sit up tall with feet together and legs straight facing one another. Each of you take hold of one side of an exercise band. Keep your shoulders rolled back and your elbows in against your rib cage. Simultaneously curl the exercise band back working your biceps, slowly return your hands back towards the middle together resisting the band. Repeat this 10 to 15 times. If you do not have a band you can use dumbbells or even water bottles.
Leg Throws:
One of you will lie on the floor with your feet and legs straight up in the air in a 90 degree position. The other will stand behind the head of the one on the floor facing their legs. The partner on the floor will hold onto the standing partners ankles. The one standing will ‘throw’ the legs of the on on the floor, while they resist letting their legs touch the floor. Have fun with this, you can throw the legs to the side to work the obliques (side abdominal muscles) as well. Repeat 10-15 throws then switch.
Ab Twists:
Sit upright on the floor with your backs together and knees bent. One of you will hold a medicine ball, dumbbell or a bottle of water and twist around to to your right side handing the weight to your partner’s left side. Keep passing in one direction ten times, then reverse the direction for another ten twists.
Make sure to encourage one another and always remember to hydrate. Take some time to stretch together after your workout as well. Check out these other workout ideas that are as fun as they are challenging:
Exercise for Two.Happy Valentine’s Day!!
Yours in Health,
Kardio Kate
Posted in Fitness, Main at February 15th, 2012 by Kardio Kate
Tags: couples workout, exercise for two, partner workout
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February 15th, 2012 at 12:46 pm
So awesome! Love this and love that you’re at Peet’s for it!