New: Partner Exercises Are Now Live On Fitbod

February 27, 2023

This month, we’re adding 20+ new exercises to Fitbod that you can do with a partner. It doesn’t matter who that partner is… as long as they can carry their own weight.

So grab a friend, your gym buddy, your roommate, your cousin Pat or whomever and get training. Partner workouts are great! You’ll have more fun, you’re held accountable, and you’re able to do more with someone else around.

Just remember to talk to your training partner. No one wants to drop the medicine ball… especially on their friend’s head. Say something if you’re tired. Tap out if something’s off. This is about getting better together, not getting hurt.

Along that line, do you and your partner a favor as you’re training: Watch out for each other. You two might be best friends for life, but you’re not the same person. Respect each other’s physical abilities and modify moves to fit you both.

Now, how about we do a partner workout on Fitbod?

Partner Workouts: How To Do Them With Fitbod

The easiest way to get started is to save one of these on-demand partner workouts, built by our in-house personal trainers, and share the link with your friend. (If they’re not yet a Fitbod user, send them your invitation link in Settings to give them some free workouts!)

Want to build your own partner workout, or add some partner moves to an existing workout? Search for “Partner” when browsing exercises to see all partner moves.

Partner exercises won’t get recommended by the algorithm since we know that working out with a partner is only an occasional event for most of you (and the idea of adding another person as a piece of equipment got real awkward real fast).

And remember, since these exercises are new to Fitbod, they aren’t perfectly calibrated to your fitness levels yet. If the weights and reps don’t match your ability, adjust them! You’ll get better recommendations moving forward, and you’ll help Fitbod “train” these new exercises to level-set themselves for all of our users. (Note: We’re always improving our workout recommendation algorithm. Over time, we intend to get these starting values to match your ability from lift one.)

Sample New Exercises for February ‘23

1. Partner Band Jump

This exercise is great for improving your jumping ability. It’ll also teach you how to generate more power from your hips by properly driving them forward.

Pro tip: If you’re performing the exercise, tell your partner how much resistance you want on the band. And, if you’re the assisting, try to provide consistent tension between reps, unless you’ve already planned on practicing progressive overload.

2. Partner Lying Leg Throw Down

This exercise focuses on using your core to stabilize your lower body. You’ll also perform a standard leg raise as part of this exercise, but your focus should be on the eccentric contraction as your legs fall.

Pro tip: As the assisting partner, pay attention to your partner’s tempo and form. If you notice your partner slowing down or their form starts deteriorating, reduce the amount of force you’re applying to their legs for the remainder of the set.

3. Partner Curl Handoff

This is a great way to get a burnout for your biceps. Yes, the movement is almost identical to an EZ-Bar curl. But, as you perform this exercise with a partner, you’ll affect each other. One person’s fatigue is the other’s short rest time and vice versa.

Pro tip: If you’re struggling with the handoff, try using a different grip than your partner. Most EZ-Bars will have two spots to grasp for curls (an inner and outer grip). If you’re still struggling, your EZ-Bar doesn’t have those grip positions, or if you’d like to use the same grip as your partner, set the bar on the floor rather than handing it directly to your partner. If you do this, make sure you use good form when you pick the bar up off the floor.

4. Partner Squat and Throw

This is a great exercise for developing power and stability. Throwing the ball requires power from both the lower and upper body in order to propel the ball, while catching the ball as you descend into a squat helps develop control and stability.

Pro tip: Try not to think of this exercise as two separate movements. The throw and catch should both be part of your squat. Use your lower body to begin the throwing motion from the bottom of your squat, and use the descent into your squat to help slow the medicine ball when you catch it.

5. Partner Wheelbarrow Push Up

This is a great exercise for developing upper body strength. Human beings are far less consistent than equipment—adapting to those inconsistencies is a great way to improve your overall strength and stability.

Pro tip: Communicate with your partner about how high you want them to hold your legs. The higher your legs, the more this exercise will target your shoulders over your chest.

Ready to Give ‘Em a Try?

Our Fitbod trainers built these three 1-hour workouts for you to see how these new exercises could fit into your routine. Open these on your phone and save them for easy access.

FAQs

Q: How can I add these exercises to my workout?

A: Tap the “+” above your workout (next to the number of exercises in your workout), hit the “Categories” tab, and scroll to “Recently Added to Fitbod”. Or, if you’re on your phone, just tap here.

Q: Will the weights and reps for these new exercises match my ability?

A: They might not on your first go. Since these exercises are new to Fitbod, they aren’t perfectly calibrated to your fitness level yet. If the weights and reps don’t match your ability, adjust them! You’ll get better recommendations moving forward, and you’ll help Fitbod “train” these new exercises to level-set themselves for all of our users. (Note: We’re always improving our workout recommendation algorithm. Over time, we intend to get these starting values to match your ability from lift one.)

Q: Why am I not seeing these exercises in the app when I search for them?

Double-check to make sure that you’re on the latest version of the app: Go to the App Store or Google Play and install the most recent update. Then be sure to follow the instructions above!