The Rep Room is a gym in London, Ontario’s west end that’s taking a new spin on the old practice of pumping iron by encouraging their clients to lift weights with their partner. Not only do owners Jessie & Pete Mogan encourage women to weight lift, but more importantly, to lift weights with your partner.
Why You Should Lift Weights with Your Partner
“Nothing will change your body faster than lifting weights. Both Pete and I have found that fitness is a big part of our personal lives and when we get the chance to share it together it deepens one of the many connecting aspects of our relationship. We would love for others to be able to have a similar experience,” says Jessie.
The Rep Room offers Partner Bootcamps, a Couples 5-week Program, unisex group classes, and a ‘Train Together’ offer of buy one, get one 50% off.
The Benefits of Lifting Weights with Your Partner
If you follow The Rep Room’s Instagram feed (which I highly recommend you should!) you know that’s it’s packed with tips and how-to’s on fitness and nutrition. You have also probably why you should lift weights with your partner. Here’s just a few of the reasons Jessie & Pete stand by:
Increases Your Chance of Achieving You Fitness Goals
“A recent study found that men and women were more likely to change or improve unhealthy behaviours like smoking, physical inactivity and excessive alcohol consumption if their partner joined them. Peer pressure gets a bad rap, but it has its good points. It’s a lot tougher to bail on an early-morning training session if someone is next to you dragging themselves out of bed. Pairing up for workouts provides support and a healthy dose of accountability.
You Will Always Have a Workout Partner
With a partner, you can get your heart racing with some deadlifts, kettlebells, or even just a partner workout and now you have a spotter! You can also take turns leading new exercises and switching up the routine. Maybe you remember a conditioning drill you used to do in high school. Teach it to your partner one day, and the next, let then teach you something new. Your body adapts and becomes efficient at moves that you’ve done again and again. Changing it up keeps the body guessing and keeps the workout interesting.
Increases Your Emotional Bond
When you work out together, you create a context in which you can coordinate your actions.
For example, you might lift weights in rhythm with your partner or toss medicine balls back and forth. Such behaviour creates nonverbal matching, or mimicry, which benefits you both (Stel & Vonk, 2010).
Nonverbal mimicry helps people feel emotionally attuned with one another, and those who experience or engage in it tend to report greater feelings of having “bonded” with their partner. Exercising together provides an opportunity to create such connection, benefiting both your health and your relationship.
Food Is No Longer a Source of Contention
Making two entirely different meals, one with consideration for macros and nutrient density and the other only considering taste and palatability isn’t a recipe for harmony or health. A similar challenge can arise with eating out. When you workout together, it’s amazing how many other aspects of your life line up. Shopping for groceries, prepping food, and cooking meals creates another level of connection to your relationship.
There Are Fewer Arguments
When you lift weights together, you tend to release the days frustrations in a healthy way. You spend an hour or so encouraging, supporting, and pushing each other as you release the built-up frustrations of a hectic day. You head home calm, collected, happy even, and ready for recovery and possibly some ‘extra’ cardio.
Get More Done Together
When you both lift weights, the idea that one of you is weak and needs to remain in the kitchen making treats goes out the window. Women who lift are just as ‘functional’ as their male counterparts and just as capable of physical labour. For most guys, when you need to move a couch, desk or something heavy, you need to call a buddy. Life is so much better and fun when you and your significant other can take care of business together!
Couples Who Workout Together Stay Together
Experiential evidence shows that when couples have a shared purpose, their chances of sticking together go way up! After the honeymoon infatuation period, as the cold harsh light of reality sets it, it can be a struggle find something to connect on other than sex. Couples who lift weights together add one more layer of connection to their relationship. They have a mutual interest and a way to grow and develop together.
Reignites Your Relationships Playful Side
Competition is healthy! A little healthy competition can add some playfulness back into your relationship. It’s incredibly easy to get lost in a sea of bills, children, and work and quickly loose the playful, flirtatious behaviour that was once a significant part of your initial interactions. Lifting weights together can bring back some friendly competition and re-ignite your playful side. See who can do the most weighted squats, who can hold their plank the longest, or who can hit the highest RPM’s on the air assault bike! Not only does it keep your workout interesting, it keeps your relationship interesting too!”
Lifts Weights with Your Partner
To find out all the details about Pete & Jessie and The Rep Room London, click here.
If you’re looking for way to get started check out the drop-in class schedule on The Rep Room London website.
