Four Heart-Pumping Functional Exercises to Do With Your Partner

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, you and your significant other might be planning a little quality time. A short trip, romantic meal, cuddles on the sofa. But if you’re one for getting physical – and we don’t just mean in the bedroom – working out with your loved one could bring massive benefits to your relationship.

You’ll get healthy competition with a strong confidence boost, enjoy bonding over shared goals, and you’ll love the rush of endorphins (leading to a happier relationship and better sex life). Chocolate and roses have nothing on those perks.

Put simply, functional training is the way we’re meant to move: purposeful, skilful, playful movements. With that in mind, we’ve pulled together the best functional exercises to move that way together. Get your heart pumping, blood moving and endorphins soaring – you’ll feel closer than ever after it all.

Lunges of love

Channel your inner peacock and strengthen your glutes with this simple strengthening functional exercise for Valentine’s. Here’s how to do it:

1. Stand tall with your feet hip-width apart, chest lifted and chin up.
2. Step forward with your right leg, then lower your hips so that your right knee is bent at a 90-degree angle, in line with your toes. Keep your left shin parallel to the ground.
3. Push upwards with your right foot and bring your body back to its starting position.
4. Repeat on the left side.

Sweet switch kicks

Valentine’s is all about enjoying watching your other half. And you will enjoy watching them performing this particular exercise. It puts the fun in functional, but don’t be fooled – this body-torching move tones up your triceps, thighs and core. Roll out your mat…

1. Sit on the floor with your feet flat, knees bent, palms down behind you and fingers pointed towards your feet.
2. Keep your hands and feet firmly on the floor as you raise your hips from the ground.
3. Kick your left leg as high and fast as you can, immediately followed with your right leg to complete a rep.
4. Continue alternating your legs for 40 seconds.

(Tuck)jump for joy

Sure to get your endorphins pumping, this move allows you to be each other’s cheerleader. Stand opposite each other and try doing tuck jumps alternatively to your favourite high-energy song. Ready?

1. Stand with your feet hip-width apart and slightly bend your knees. Rest your elbows at your waist and reach your forearms forwards, parallel to the ground.
2. Bend your knees and lower your hips into a half squat.
3. Immediately jump up explosively, tucking your knees up so that your thighs hit your forearms.
4. Land softly on your toes and repeat for 30 seconds.

Let your heart skip to the beat

You’ll need a pair of jump ropes each for this nostalgia-inducing exercise. This move torches tonnes of calories and gives you a full body workout. Stand a good distance apart so you don’t whip each other – but not so far; after all, it’s Valentine’s and you will want to see the playful glee on your faces.

1. Hold the jump rope handles, with the rope behind you and your elbows tight to your body. Place your feet close together and place your weight onto the balls of your feet.
2. Softly jump with your heels raised, using your wrists to control the rope and bring it over your head. Jump over the rope when it comes full swing and you’ve completed one rep.
3. Continue nonstop for one solid minute. Repeat five times.

Want to move more freely together? Step inside EVO to discover our fitness playground, designed to reconnect the mind and body to its organic, playful and functional state.

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