Working Together Can Make Exercise Fit
(NAPS) — Whether you’re a fitness buff or exercise novice, there’s one easy way to help you stick to an exercise routine and make it more effective: Work out with a buddy.
A recent survey conducted on behalf of 24 Hour Fitness found that 80 percent of the individuals surveyed agree that they are more likely to stick to an exercise plan if they have a partner to work out with.
While starting and sticking to a workout routine is the important first hurdle, working out with a partner can also make fitness efforts more effective. Not only can having a partner motivate you to workout (83 percent of respondents agreed), the majority of respondents believe that having a buddy join you can encourage a healthier lifestyle (82 percent), can make working out safer (82 percent) and, most importantly, can make fitness more fun (78 percent).
Also, working out with a partner may offer benefits far beyond just the physical ones. A majority of respondents (85 percent) wish they could get their friends and family more involved in staying fit and believe that working out together is a good way to build emotional bonds and spend time together.
While most people agree that working out with a partner will help keep both of you healthy and happy, finding someone to work out with does have its challenges — most prominently finding the time. Eight in 10 individuals surveyed claim that difficulty coordinating schedules is the primary obstacle to working out with a partner. Lack of time and convenience are also cited as challenges.
But for fitness enthusiasts of all levels, there is an abundance of ways to enjoy and benefit from workouts with a partner, on your terms.
Group exercise activities are increasingly becoming a popular way of getting fit while adding variety and fun to your workout routine. While traditional group exercises like yoga, Pilates and spin classes are as popular as ever, new breeds of classes such as the Latin dance craze Zumba, and Everlast Shadow Box are packing exercise rooms across the nation.
Another way to benefit from having a partner is to hire a personal trainer. A personal trainer can help you develop a personalized program that is custom-built to your goals. Whether you are looking to lose weight, build muscle or just look and feel better, a personal trainer can take the guesswork out of how to get there.
Although working out with a partner may be as easy as taking a walk around the neighborhood with a family member, fitness center memberships can be one of the easiest ways to take advantage of group exercise and personal training. Many fitness centers offer group exercise classes, usually included in the membership, that cater to all fitness levels. Fitness centers may also offer a variety of other amenities for getting fit, including free weights, basketball, swimming pools and steam rooms.
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