Better Together: Getting Strong with Partner Workouts


Sit-up and leg pedals with a partner

For many of us, staying healthy during quarantine has required creativity and ingenuity. Cans of soup turned into weights, fitness apps abounded, and some people even made treadmills out of soap and water.  Those of us who live with a partner or roommate have yet another fitness opportunity: partner workouts—but not the kind you normally see. We spoke to Carolyn Brenith about the benefits of working out together, in preparation for her class Stronger Together: A Partners Workout.

What is a partner workout?

A partner workout is a series of exercises done as a team of two. It's an opportunity to improve your fitness together. In this class we use the body weight of your partner to replace barbells and cable machines. In a regular workout class, you stand side-by-side on separate mats; in this class you share a space and literally lean on each other to do the moves. A lot of us don't have access to a full gym or professional equipment right now and using our partner's body weight for resistance is a great way to simulate some of that equipment.

Dip with partnerDip with partner 2

What are some exercises you can do with a partner?

Many of the traditional gym machine exercises can be modified to use another person's body as the equipment instead. Leg press, bar dips, captain chair leg raises, and squats are all great examples.

Leg Press 1Leg Press 2 

What are the benefits of working out with a partner in this way?

Partners can encourage us and help us through. It's often easier to complete that final round of exercises when you know you're not in it alone. This class is a unique teamwork experience because not only do you get to cheer your partner on, you're also often serving as the weight for the exercises.  You're constantly checking in with each another: "Do you want heavier or lighter weight? Okay, on the count of three we're going to shift to the next move.” That kind of communication is different from traditional fitness classes. You'll have to work together and adjust to each other’s needs throughout class.

Since this class relies on using bodies as levers to create mechanical advantages, the pair doesn't have to match in strength or height. Everything is adjustable. You'll start an exercise with one partner working and one supporting, then switch positions. The supporting partner focuses on adjusting their body position to the preference of the working partner to get an optimal amount of challenge tailored just for them.

How do fitness classes work over Zoom? Are you finding specific upsides? Challenges? How are you approaching those?

Some students prefer to not see themselves on screen during the workout. Zoom lets you turn off your camera, so you're only seen by the instructor and fellow classmates when you choose to share. Typically, students turn on the camera during the warmup to say “hi” to their fellow students, then turn off the camera during the workout. There's actually a setting in Zoom that allows students to enlarge the video of the instructor so that you can view the moves in more detail, which is pretty handy for folks who like to use the camera as a mirror to check their form against the instructor example. Whether or not you turn on your camera is up to you; whatever helps you work out best! I find that while some aspects of a fitness class, such as socializing before and after class with fellow students, are decreased via online training, other aspects are improved, such as being able to zoom in on a particular joint angle while explaining form.

What do you hope students will take away from your class?

I want students to leave class with smiles on their faces and sweat on their foreheads. I want the pairs to leave with increased teamwork and closeness. Relying on each other as you work toward a shared, physical goal is something not everyone gets to do every day. It can bring a unique sense of shared accomplishment.

Single SquatStandard Squat

Join Carolyn Brenith this quarter for a unique, challenging fitness experience. You and your partner will be stronger for it! Visit Stronger Together: A Partners Workout for more information.