Sweat with your sweetie

In today's time-starved society it's not uncommon for fitness to fall to the bottom of couples' priority lists. With both of your busy schedules, you barely see your spouse as it is. Who could expect you to choose working out over quality time with your mate? The good news is you don't have to. Exercise and quality time with your spouse mix well, particularly when you get creative and find activities you both enjoy.

Here are five fun and fit activities for couples:

Climbing: A vertical dance
Climbing is the perfect activity for adventurous couples. Sacha Aklask, owner of Toronto Climbing Academy and a climber of 34 years, says climbing is a full body workout that couples can do together because it requires working with a partner.

Climbing not only provides good exercise, it can also help couples to improve their communication skills and trust, says Aklask. While climbing, you and your mate are tied to each other, and you must work together to get each other moving up and down the wall safely. The person on the ground (the belayer) must support the climber and advise him/her on what moves to make in order to advance safely in his/her climb. Aklask likens climbing to a "vertical dance" or "vertical game of chess" because it's an activity that uses both body and mind.

Partner yoga: Connect on a new level
According to Penny McGuire, a registered yoga teacher for Yoga Works on Vancouver Island, partner yoga is excellent for couples on many different levels. There are the obvious physical benefits of yoga -- strength, flexibility and balance. But McGuire also stresses that communication improves because, when couples work together to hold poses, they learn how to
"…be very clear about what they need. 'Hon, can you press a little more on my left knee, please? Oh -- little less...perfect! Thank you'."

Yoga can also help you to read your partner's body language better, and that can be helpful in your daily life and even in the bedroom. "We learn to be more receptive to our bodies and discover new 'treats' and favourite spots, and we can communicate in a way that our partner is happy to please and respond." According to McGuire, yoga also stimulates intimacy for couples because they're breathing and stretching against each other in new ways.

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Dancing: It's all about body language
Add a little spice to your exercise routine (and relationship) by hitting the dance floor together. Sharon Galor, dance instructor and salsa director at Toronto Dance Classes, says that a one-hour salsa or ballroom dance lesson is similar to an aerobic workout of the same length. "It is cardiovascular exercise, so you will be sweating," she says.

Dancing is also good exercise for toning because, according to Galor, various moves require you to use different muscle combinations. It also helps couples to learn to read each other's body language and signals. When dancing, the man is the leader and he must direct the woman using his body, so couples must be very connected as partners, she says. "I think it is the most intimate form of exercise to do."

If you're worried about your two left feet, don't be. That's what beginners classes are for and, as Galor points out, all you need is an open mind and a good sense of humour to start. Dancing is also great because once you and your partner learn the moves, you can hit the dance floor on your own, adding to the romance and increasing your physical fitness.

Recreational sports: Let the games begin
Put on your game face and challenge your sweetie to a match! Choose a favourite one-on-one sport or a new one you'd like to try, then enjoy a little friendly competition (the keyword being "friendly"). Try sports like tennis, squash, basketball, golf, etc. Playing one-on-one is a great way to get your adrenaline up, and when the game is over, the loser can take the winner out for a smoothie or you can come up with other more creative rewards on your own.

If you and your partner can't keep the competition friendly, join a co-ed sports team and play on the same side. There are many recreational leagues and teams (soccer, basketball, ultimate Frisbee, floor hockey, baseball, etc.) to choose from and many offer a variety of levels (beginner, recreational, competitive, etc.). Just check your local fitness centers for more information or search online.

Outdoor activities: Four seasons of fun
If you're looking for activities you and your partner can start to do right now and at a minimal cost, consider getting some fresh air together.
- Go for a walk after dinner.
- Research trails in your area and plan to go for a weekend hike.
- Dust off your bikes and go for a ride around your neighbourhood.
- Check out public swim times at your local pool and go for a dip.
- Try snowshoeing or cross-country skiing in the winter.
- Go ice-skating or rollerblading, depending on the season.
You will find there are many affordable and fun activities to do in your own backyard. All you have to do is look.

Getting active together is easy, it just requires a little research to find activities that you both enjoy and can commit to on a regular basis. Your workout should be fun and it'll be time that you look forward to spending together.