Why Couples Who Exercise Together Stay Together
From spin to high-intensity training, cycling across hilltops to a 5k park run, couples are exercising together more than ever before. And research shows that couples who sweat together, stay together.
A growing body of evidence suggests there’s more to exercising than getting fit. Not only does working out have plenty of benefits for your physical and mental health, but it can also help couples build connection and have fun.
Working out together can be a great way to bond with your partner, and spend quality time together, while also motivating each other to pursue your wellness goals.
Keep reading for four benefits of couples working out together.
1. Improve motivation
Exercising with a partner can boost your energy output and staying power. Encouraging comments and support provide the motivation and knowledge that you’re in this together.
Plus, you’re more likely to follow through on your plans to exercise when you do so together. Research has found that a couple's shared beliefs about exercise influence how much effort they put into sticking to a program — so your partner could be your biggest motivator! You don’t want to be the one who lets the side down, after all.
2. Boost arousal
Exercising together can increase relationship satisfaction, in and out of the bedroom. It may well be your body’s physical response to exercise rather than the sight of your partner gasping for breath and dripping with sweat that stirs romantic attraction.
But lab studies nevertheless suggest that a racing pulse can stir romantic feelings and boost arousal all the same — and partner attraction is certainly good news for your relationship.
3. More quality time together
Do you and your partner exercise together? It’s not all about wall-to-wall weights and feeling the burn — a stroll in the park or yoga practice counts just as much.
It’s the sharing of activities that is important here, so a good place to start might be a “get up and go” date.
4. Be present with each other
There’s also added value in exercise that connects with nature. In my research on long-term couple relationships, many couples highly valued getting outdoors both for the fresh air and exercise and also because it connected them with nature.
This connection provided an opportunity for mindfulness and grounding. Can you recall the last time you simply went for a walk, with no agenda other than to enjoy the moment and be with your partner?
