There are people who won’t step foot into the gym without an entourage of people and there are those who walk in with their earbuds on and a look on their face like they’ll kill you if you speak to them. I happen to be the latter and it’s for several reasons. Firstly, I find working out to be a personal thing; I don’t want or need to put on a show for anybody. I get into a zone and I like my space. I like to feel like there’s nobody else around. Secondly, I don’t need the distraction of having to speak to people, spot people, etc. While these things may help some people, I never look at distractions as a good thing. In my opinion, time for working out should be spent working out and anything that keep your from that is a waste. I know for a fact that if you circuit train, working out alone is the only option. Thirdly, when I work out with other people I feel as if I’m being slowed down by them. I can’t just do what I want without having to check with them. Also, it’s hard for two people to keep up the same exact level of dedication to working out. Somebody is always going to pull ahead and the other person is left in the dust. I think a lot of people who work out alone feel the way I do. However, this isn’t to say that working out with a partner or partners is in any way wrong. In fact, for some people, it seems to work out great. There are some who physically can’t work out without a partner due to the amount of weight they lift. If you lift heavy, not having a partner isn’t really an option as you likely need a spot for every exercise you do. No stranger in the gym is going to put up with somebody asking them for a spot every two minutes. Some people prefer working out with others because they need to be motivated and enjoy motivating others. Many want to share their fitness or weight loss journey with others as a part of the process. A lot of people also find the gym intimidating and need a workout partner to make them feel at ease. The partner is somebody familiar so it kind of removes some of the tension and makes it more fun for them. In the end, I think whether you should work out with a partner or not depends on several factors. What are you looking to accomplish by working out? Is this something you’re taking seriously or is it just a way to stay in semi-shape and get out of the house every night? How heavy do you plan on lifting? Are you experienced or a beginner? I believe all of these questions need to be answered in order to determine whether or not you need to work out with a partner. What do you guys prefer, partner or solo?
Article By: Jon DaBove
