Training Partner in the Gym

A partner

Today, my brief encounter with someone made me think of the importance of good workout partner, interdependence and independence. These terms are related as they refer to when more than one individual interacts with one another. On the evening class break, Tu and I had casually walked to Fresh and Easy to rehydrate (Yay Monsters and Yellow Gatorade!). As I was ready to check out, I heard, "Hey Girl, what's up?!" In my slight confusion and I look over, to see a face that was distant, yet somehow registered in my memory. A former coworker and Assistant Personal Training Manager @ 24, Mark Oz, was also shopping in the store. It had been probably a good year or so since I had last seen him at 24.

Nancy, who still works, there had said that he had passed up the opportunity to be the PT Manager and left to go back to school along with his girlfriend, who was also another personal trainer. The two of them returned to academic life to do the pre-reqs for Physical Therapy graduate school. At the same time, I discovered today, that he had left to privately train his own personal clients.

After my brief encounter, and back in the classroom, the flood of memories came back. I remembered how now during lunch breaks Nanci and I would do a workout and he would also being doing a workout with his pod. At the time, our workouts were assigned according to day and repeated accordingly. MWF, or Tu/Thu/Saturday would be set accordingly. At times, I think there were 5 days on, since there was so much downtime between their clients: 12-2, enough for 18-24 sets and cardio to cool down. These allowed for the appropriate splits

Examples:

Day 1:Upper Weights/ Lower plyos
Day 2:Upper Plyos/ Lower Weights
Day 3 Rest
Repeat Day 1 and 2

Day 1: Legs/Shoulders/Core
Day 2: Chest/Tris
Day 3: Back/Bis
Day 4: Cardio/Spin class
Repeat Cycle

Day 1: Legs/Shoulders
Day 2: Chest/Back
Day 3: Bis/Tris/Core
Day 4: Cardio/Spin class
Repeat Cycle


These cycles are grueling, but that is where a GREAT workout partner comes in. Someone to literally push you to the limits. I'm not just talking a spotter, but someone who knows what you are capable of and expects the best form each set and each rep. Interdependence is visible as you see your personal standards raised for yourself and for your partner. You expect the best and know when it is truly in the best interest of your health and muscles to throw in the towel. This workout partner also becomes a factor to your own physical, mental, and emotional health as you progress in the gym and on the charts. At the same time, you realize that a partner is the key to your growth as an individual. The personal progress carries over into other aspects of life in the form of confidence.

Indeed,having a training partner is more than camaraderie, security, and a way to get the most out of your workout... it is also the golden opportunity to unleash your most competitive attitude within.