By Olivia Lin , Cheapism
Months of holiday
celebrations and winter hibernation can pack on pounds, but with
Valentine's Day approaching, it's time to feel your sensual best. It
seems to be true that couples who work out together have more satisfying
relationships, as Psychology Today found in a 2014 roundup of studies
related to exercise and romance. Couples who work out every day no doubt
also have more interesting nights to look forward to once the lights
are off, so it might be worth trying these free couples exercises.
[post_ads]Sarah Dussault, known as
Sarah Fit, is a healthy-living author who offers budget-friendly
recipes, free workouts, and fitness advice on her YouTube channel and
other social media. Her gym-free couples routine works in three-minute
intervals to bring the heart rate up and tone muscles. Moves include
squats, jump lunges, planks, push-ups, and donkey kicks, designed to
work a variety of muscles -- ideally toning a physique just in time for
Valentine's.
Yoga is known to improve
flexibility, strengthen muscles, and focus the mind. Couples looking to
channel their inner calm and stretch creaky muscles can grab a mat and
partner up for "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fj9oD-lWHGg" this
workout video. A series of roughly 10-minute stretches aims to relieve
lower-back tension, lengthen the spine, and open the chest and hip
joints. The routine also stretches abdominals and glutes -- helpful for
any Valentine's Day extracurricular activities.
Many couples are active in bed
for the sake of a strong, happy relationship. But sex can also be a
cardiovascular workout, in which muscles work to sustain positions and
movements.
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For men who want to spice things up in bed, consider
exercises from WebMD that focus on the arms, back, quads, and abs. For women, Livestrong advises concentrating on the glutes, inner thighs, pelvic floor muscles, abs, and hamstrings.
If a high-intensity,
fast-paced cardio workout sounds good, try Fitappy's Explosive Cardio
Workout with Plyo on
"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTcaXyD5kP0"YouTube. "Plyo" refers to
plyometrics, or jump training that is like a more intense version of the
hopping, skipping, and jumping children do on the playground.) This
swift 25-minute workout might be done at home two to three times a week
before dinner. Get ready for burpees and a jump-rope warm-up, as well as
intense frog jumps, sumo squats, and high kicks.
Exercising at home can be
boring, especially if workout videos feature unimaginative moves. A
Jane's Total Fitness "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuEq_Tv5qNo"video
gives a variety of moves to choose from. Partners intertwine arms or
legs, hold hands, and support each other's weight -- hard to get bored
doing that. Pick five favorite moves and complete one minute of each in
succession. Do three rounds (or as many as possible) with 30-second
water breaks in between for an exhilarating partner workout.
[post_ads]Feeling sexy and want to
keep the lingerie on? Skinny Mommy Fitness has compiled exercises that
anyone (men included) can do in bed. Try a few rounds of hip raises,
push-ups with shoulder taps, scissor leg lifts, dolphin planks, and jack
splits before touching the cold, demotivational floor. The article
includes links to instructional videos for each move that beginners can
use to get started.
For fit athletes who yawn at
the previous exercises, here's something more challenging. A couples
beach workout "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1K8O69BCF-g"video set in
idyllic Barbados includes traditional moves such as warm-up sprints,
jump squats, and switch lunges, then takes it up a notch with more
complex moves. Standing press-ups put one partner's feet high up on the
other's shoulders, and squats and walking lunges must be done with one
partner on the other's back.