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Physically Fit Marriage
Couples That Play Together, Stay Together By Johnathon Allen
More Than Just SweatIn addition to having lower stress levels, an improved sense of well-being and better communication, couples who share an active lifestyle also have the benefit of experiencing enhanced pleasure between the sheets.
"Numerous studies have shown that active people tend to have a more vigorous sex life," Braveman says. "In addition, physically fit partners tend to have a higher level of attraction for each other, and therefore perceive themselves as being better lovers. They also have the strength and flexibility to safely try more adventurous positions."
Turk agrees. "Being athletic certainly enhances our sex life," he says. "Getting all sweaty and worked up on a run is like foreplay for us, and because we both feel fit and beautiful, we never mind leaving the lights on."
Finding the best physical activity to share can sometimes be a challenge, especially if one person is considerably more advanced in a given sport than their mate. "Individual sports like running, cycling and swimming are good activities for couples because they're generally non-competitive and each person can push themselves at their own level," says Doug Schurman, a sports conditioning trainer from Seattle, Wash. "Of course it depends on the couple. Some thrive on competition, constantly pushing each other to dig deeper. There's nothing wrong with good-natured competition, if both people emphasize the fun of it. Tennis and racquetball are good sports for couples who are naturally competitive."
You can overcome skill-level differences by having the more advanced partner coach the less experienced one, Schurman says. "Another approach is for the couple to stretch and trade massage before and after exercising, but conduct their actual workouts separately at a pace each finds comfortable yet challenging. Weight training is another way to improve fitness together; each partner can lift the weights appropriate for their body type while the other acts as a spotter, and provides encouragement."
