Studies show that 60% of women over 60 would exercise more if they had someone to go with. Finding a friend to workout with, whether that’s in the gym, running outside, or any activity in between, can help boost motivation and happiness before your workout has even begun! If you’re beginning to exercise after a period of inactivity, a workout partner can also be a source or reassurance while you build up your stamina again. Read on to find out why you really should find a workout partner!
For a start, it’s far easier to try new workouts. Many of the most effective workouts can be done in pairs, and you can both work through them together. If you’re planning on going to the gym, which in itself can be quite intimidating, it will be made far easier by tackling the first step with a friend. It may even be beneficial to go with someone slightly more experienced so they can show you the ropes. Form is important when exercising too, and if your buddy has even a small amount of gym experience, they can go along way in helping you workout more effectively. When you have better form, you reduce the risk of strains or more serious injuries when exercising. Many of the over 60s from a University of Dundee study also specified fear of injury as another reason that they didn’t exercise, but having a partner to look out for you could change this. Most of us have a competitive streak, which is shown to be a good thing because it makes you perform better. One study found that participants perform better when they are paired up with a workout partner who is fitter than they are. Furthermore, the study found that to maximize motivation your workout buddy should be about 40% better than you are – a challenging, yet achievable goal for you to meet. Variety is vital in keeping your workouts fun and ensuring that you exercise consistently. Most likely, your workout buddy will have different strengths, skills and preferred routines than you do. This is great for both of you, as you’ll always be able to exchange skills and motivate each other. Finally, most agree that the primary benefit of having a workout partner is that it’s much harder to ditch a workout when you know you’re going to be letting your workout buddy down. If you’re planning to exercise on your own, it’s very easy to talk yourself out of going to the gym – not so much when you’ve already planned an exercise session with someone else.. In addition to this, having a workout partner means you have to plan your workouts in advance to meet each other’s schedules, and once it’s planned, it’s much more likely that you’re going to follow through with it.
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