With the holidays approaching, it can be difficult for some people to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Incorporating a partner into a workout routine could help improve both health and the relationship.
Moe Gelbart, a psychologist and licensed marital and family therapist, told the Los Angeles Daily News that exercising with a spouse can improve intimacy and sometimes prevent problems.
“There is a lot of research that says couples who spend time together do better,” Gelbart said. “When one person is physically very active and the other person isn’t and is not in very good shape, it can cause conflict.”
Working out with a spouse could also be a positive bonding experience.
Diane Dahm, M.D. and Jay Smith, M.D., a married couple who work as staff physicians for the Mayo Clinic, recommend getting the entire family together for exercise.
“We think exercising together as a family is a great way both to get and keep fit and to teach children the value of regular exercise,” the couple wrote in an editorial for the Mayo Clinic. “People often say they don’t have time to exercise because they need to spend time with their families. The solution is to get the whole family involved in at least some aspects of your fitness program.”
While intimate partners reap benefits such as increased bonding and interpersonal stress reduction, exercising with a platonic partner can also bring positive rewards.
Group health programs such as Weight Watchers harness the power of a positive support group in their weekly meeting strategy. But formal groups may not be attractive to all patients and clients.
Encouraging patients to find a group of coworkers to walk with at lunchtime or to connect with a neighbor for regular exercise sessions can help the client stick to health goals and integrate the goals more fully into an everyday ordinary routine.
Exercise partners don’t have to happen in the form of a trainer and a client. Maintaining healthy habits over the holidays can be done through activities that allow for a social connection as well as a good dose of physical activity.
