How to Plan a Partner Workout (Plus the Workout)

Even if the sweat session is a tough one, a partner can help you celebrate your hard work. It’s not hard to get friends to workout once or twice, but if you want a gym buddy who will see you through the highs and plateaus, you’ll want to take a strategic approach to finding a partner.

Here are four things you’ll want to make sure you share in common:

  1. Approach. If you’re both ready to make a slow and steady attack on a goal, or blast through a 30-day challenge, congratulations, you’re a great match. If you have different approaches in mind, you’re more likely to part ways.
  2. Dedication. Workout partners show up for one another, and hold each other accountable, as well. You’ll want to make sure you both can resist the snooze button.
  3. Schedule. A morning person and a night owl may be able to find a time that works well to work out. If your other commitments put your schedules at odds, you might need to find another partner.
  4. Appreciation. Make sure you’re both capable of being one another’s biggest cheerleaders when the going gets tough, as well as respecting those times when injury or illness deserve a time-out or a change in plans.

Just like partners, some workout moves lend themselves to a great buddy workout. Here are a few of our favorites!

Instructions: Perform each move for 60 seconds, resting 30 seconds between each exercise. Repeat the entire circuit through, and repeat twice for a longer workout.

Warm-Up

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfiC-J0QMkI

Fast Feet Face-Off

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iwdzx7AKuU

Side Lunge to Hip-Opener Stretch

Workout

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zw-ybN1vLLc

Push-Up With Low-Five

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7InBVSNEB3E

Lateral Ball Toss

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPbJ3ENcFHs

Side Lunge With Medicine-Ball Reach

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKhiasE6Kl8

Kettlebell Deadlift to Lateral Shuffle

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmB8Nd4cueQ

Sit-Up With Medicine-Ball Toss

Cool-Down

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgNbDQpSbuo

Hamstring and Hip-Pull Stretch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSIDBTJyr0U

Side Lunge to Shoulder Stretch

Photo credit: poba, Getty Images
Video credit: Tom Casey, box24studio.com
Models: Rachelle (Cihonski) Mahoney; Nick Routson, fitness manager for 24 Hour Fitness
Hair and make-up: Katie Nash, katienashbeauty.com