ESSA highlights the benefits of a virtual workout buddy

Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA) highlights that being single and without a workout buddy shouldn’t be a reason to not meet your physical activity goals. With growing tech apps and platforms, ESSA is encouraging a connection between exercise workouts and digital life.

ESSA Spokesperson and Accredited Exercise Physiologist, Carly Ryan notes “as we continue to discover the ongoing benefits exercise and keeping active has on our physical and mental health, one of many ways to motivate yourself to keep up your physical activity levels is through working out with someone else.

“This can come down to the added social elements exercising with someone else provides such as cooperation, coordination, and you can push each other if that motivates you. Plus, scheduling times to meet for a workout will help keep you accountable and you can both encourage each other to keep going.”

While this is great news for couples, it doesn’t need to be a disadvantage for those who might be single with technology offering the ability to exercise with a partner or a group of others (friends or strangers) somewhere else in the world.

Research published in 2020 in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research shows that simulated partners can boost workout effort and improve motivation and performance, especially when the online buddy is a more advanced exerciser. While research that appeared back in 2017 in The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association also found that working out in a group, whether online or in-person, lowers stress by 26% and significantly improves quality of life.

ESSA suggest that if connecting with strangers or a software-generated exercise buddy isn’t for you, you can still team up with a friend or family member on FaceTime or Zoom while you are on a stationary bike or treadmill and stay connected while keeping active this way.

Ryan adds “although this technology isn’t new, COVID-19 forced all of us to become more innovative with our workouts with gyms closing and the stay-at-home restrictions last year. This led to more technology-based exercise gear becoming more accessible and cost-effective.

“Whether it’s exercise video games, wearable technology, mobile apps, or digital platforms used to work out on, there was plenty of ways to maintain our exercise regimes as well as stay socially connected.”

ESSA accredited exercise professionals can be contacted for advice on safely starting new exercise programs.