By motivating each other to get up and go, you'll not only shake up your usual weeknight couch-wine-reality TV routine, you'll be learning moves together and sharing a new experience. The following partner exercises take two people to do, using each other as resistance and also support. Talk about a relationship builder!
Stand back to back with your partner and get into proper squat position with knees over ankles.
Squat down together and slowly walk clockwise while still squatting in a circle.
Once circle has been completed, count to 20 and walk in a circle counterclockwise.
Do 3 sets.
Face each other and place a 6- to 10-inch box between you.
Take turns jumping on and off the box in a squat position, making sure to land lightly with each jump. After landing back on the ground, your partner completes the same move.
If needed, lightly join hands with outstretched arms for balance.
Each partner jumps 15 to 20 times for 2 to 3 sets.
Make it harder: Add 3- to 5-pound dumbbells to each hand during jumps.
Stand facing your partner, approximately a foot apart.
Keeping knees slightly bent, grasp towel in the middle with palms facing upright while your partner holds the ends of the towel.
Complete a biceps curl as your partner creates resistance, being sure to keep his core tight and shoulders relaxed, not hunched toward ears.
Your partner completes a triceps extension while you create resistance on your way down from your biceps curl.
Do 15 to 20 reps for 2 to 3 sets.
Start by lying with your stomach on the floor, elbows bent at 90 degrees and palms on the floor in a lowered push-up position.
Have your partner stand over you and place hands on your upper back.
As you rise up into your push-up, your partner creates slight resistance, being sure to keep his core tight at the same time.
Complete reps until you feel fatigued, then switch.
Make it harder with bicycle crunches: Lie next to your partner, face up with right arm extended out to side, palm on ground, and left hand behind head. Lift left leg 6 inches off ground and bend right knee 90 degrees so shin is parallel to ground. Bring left shoulder toward right knee. Keeping left leg elevated and right knee bent, lower torso. Do 10 crunches. Lower legs. Switch sides; repeat.