Training
Marisa HeinzeFebruary 18, 2020
Let love EVOlve: Valentine’s workout for partners
Let love EVOlve: a Valentine's workout
Endorphins, happiness, heart bursts. Being in love and working out affect us in similar ways. Both are part of our wild and instinctive human nature, and both help us thrive. Without them, we suffer.
Sweating it out helps release feel-good chemicals that raise our mood and send our confidence soaring - just the ticket for a fit and funky Valentine's Day.
Things can get even better when you do a workout with your partner. Talk about getting in the right mood for this day, right? Well, the truth is that this Valentine's workout can make you feel lighter, happier and more flexible the natural way.
The ultimate Valentine's workout to get you both pumping
No matter your plans for the day of love, this Valentine's workout is the perfect start for this day. Like in every physical activity, you can't rush things to make the best out of them, so make sure your warm-up was highly effective.
THE VALENTINE'S WORKOUT
1 - Side lunge with a medicine ball
Start by drawing or deciding which one of you will start holding the medicine ball. Face your partner — this is your starting position. The ball holder should then perform a side lunge, and the partner should follow. Transfer the ball to your partner and repeat.
2 - Holding hands squats
This exercise will give sweaty hands — just like in your first date. Facing each other, hold hands (so romantic) while you perform a squat. Don't forget to stand with your feet apart and to tighten your stomach muscles before sitting on that fantastic invisible chair.
3 - Wheelbarrow push-ups
For you, it will feel like a regular push-up — for your partner, not so really, since it's responsible for holding you by the legs. The idea is for you both to keep switching positions rapidly, to bring a cardio bit to this exercise. Make it playful: the person performing the push-ups is only being held up by their hands, so the one responsible for holding the legs can quite literally shake things a little.
4 - Wall sit with a tricep dip
It's a combined exercise that, like you can spot from the name, involves wall sitting and tricep dip. It's not an easy exercise to perform, so make sure you have the strength to do it. Start by press your back against the wall in a seated position: knees bent and feet slightly apart. Your partner should turn your back to you and place their hands in your thighs: they will be seating, but with a different goal, since the idea is to perform a tricep dip. Hold for a couple of seconds and repeat as many times as you can.
5 - High-five push-ups
Push your love up with this exercise. It's pretty straightforward: get into a push-up stance facing your partner. Every time you guys perform a full-push-up, high-five each other.
6 - Low plank hop-over
An exercise than involves trusting each other and challenging each other — basically like a relationship. One of you should be on the ground, performing a low plank. Make sure your core is tight and your body straight. The other is hopping over from one side to another, over the body of the partner performing the plank. Exciting!
7 - Glute bridges
Finish this workout building new bridges in your relationship — glute bridges. You should both lie on your backs with your feet facing each other. Both soles of your feet should be able to press entirely against your partner's soles, while your knees in a 90-degree angle. Arms on your sites, press feet and engage bottom and hamstring to lift the hips of the ground. Repeat and enjoy.
Get your blood pumping and your heart racing - there are plenty more workout guides and tutorials to try in the EVO magazine.