Two to Tango

The benefits of working out with a gym partner

- PRAKASH AMRITRAJ

I once heard you’re the average of the five people you hang out with the most… So choose wisely. I’ve found this to be true not only in my life, but in the lives of others, too. We absorb both the good and bad traits of the people we’re surrounded by. The best change I’ve made to my circle is to remove all negativity, and fill it with positivity and belief.

Anyone who physically trains – whether it’s doing a Pilates class, going to the park, or throwing around some iron in the gym – can benefit from this lesson. When you decide to train or work out, you’ve made a conscious decision to improve yourself. It’s a time when you’re trying to present challenges to yourself, forming new habits, including the setting of goals (to lift a certain weight or drop a certain number of kilos).

Making the decision to have a training partner and who you choose, may be much more important than you think.

THE MENTAL ASPECT

A training partner can help hold you accountable for all of the above. Find someone who wants to push themselves, and who in turn will push you, too.