Do you ever think about the advantages and disadvantages of training with a partner vs training by yourself? Like most things in life, there are pros and cons to both sides of the coin. Let us look at the advantages of both.

The Lone Wolf

Therapy! For some, if not all, training is stress relief. All you need sometimes is to put your headphones in and spend some time clangin’ and bangin’ weights in the gym with no one in your way.

No need to fiddle around with weights! When there is a discrepancy in strength levels, sometimes it's easier to just leave the bar loaded with the plates that you need! Yo-yoing weights to suit both users is time consuming and irritating.

Supersets/Giant sets! (Yep! The holy grail) Having the freedom to finish your set on the flat bench, and move on to tricep extensions, then over to cable flies, before finishing with pushup till fail…. without the need to stop and spot a partner is a big plus.

You rule your session! Wanna get into the gym and do 50 sets on the chest for the third session this week, and skip legs day for the 35th week in a row, judgement free… well here’s your chance. (DISCLAIMER, we don’t condone that type of behaviour.)

I don’t need no man/woman! Relying on a partner to show up week in week out, every session, only for them to not show up can be frustrating and sap your motivation! If you are self motivated, sometimes it is easier to just rely on yourself.

"Having freedom...without the need to stop and spot a partner is a big plus!"
- MA1 Motivationals

It Takes Two To Tango!

"Pooling knowledge is a fantastic way to expand your arsenal of exercises, bounce ideas off, and ultimately improve your workouts. "
- MA1 Motivationals

Broaden your knowledge! Even the biggest newbies sometimes spot things that veterans don’t. Pooling knowledge is a fantastic way to expand your arsenal of exercises, bounce ideas off, and ultimately improve your workouts. 

I got you, bro! Ever tried to push up 150kg on the bench for the first time, only to fail and be pinned under the bar?.... Yeah… Um.... Me neither….. Anywho, that's not an issue anymore when you have a spotter present, you can safely push your limits.

Hold me accountable! If you are the one of the two partners that struggles more with motivation to get the gym, sometime all you need to know is that you are letting a friend down by not showing up! There is nothing quite like the motivation of “not being a dick” to get you going. Also, sometimes you need someone to say to you….. “Are you training chest again?”

Do it for the gram! There is lots of merit in filming yourself training to check back on your form to make sure you are performing your exercise safely and correctly! Then of course, you’ll need to post it on social media!

Bottom Line is...

In conclusion, I am a believer in having a partner in your sessions as often as possible, the benefits do outweigh the cons! The possibility of having someone yelling at you “ONE MORE, ONE MORE!” or encourage you to add an extra 5kg to the bar and spot it up if need be, or let you know your knees are coming too far past your toes. It is hard to pass up.

HOWEVER, I do also believe that you shouldn’t become reliant on a partner. The bottom line is, things happen, sometimes people cancel. In this case you’d still need to be able to get your session in without the assistance of someone else!

"Bottom line is, things happen... you'd still need to be able to get your session in without the assistance of someone else!"
- MA1 Motivationals

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