Tips From The Trainer: Partner Workout

Solo workouts can get tedious. But burning calories and toning muscles with a partner can add an appreciated boost to nearly any workout.

Frank Pastorelli, owner of Genesis Health and Fitness in Spring Hill, is an advocate of partners or groups pushing each other to better fitness. He says his Spring Hill Adventure Boot Camp maximizes the energy and group accountability to tackle the nation's obesity problem. He says he's troubled that fewer than 30 percent of American adults exercise regularly.

"It becomes extremely obvious that you've got to move it to lose it," he says.

This exercise, demonstrated by Nicole DeFreece and Dottie Joe Pastorelli, focuses on contracting the upper abdominals and obliques, targeting core strength and stability.

EXERCISE: PLANK WITH ONE ARM BAND ROW

1. Partners stand facing each other five to 10 feet away, depending on fitness level. Each partner grabs a handle on a resistance band and gets into plank position.

2. Plank position starts by lying face down on the floor. Elbows and forearms are placed underneath chest. Prop up to form a bridge using toes and forearms. Maintain a flat back and don't let hips sag to the ground.

3. Both partners are in the plank position; and grab the band handle in right hand while holding the plank with other forearm and both feet. Arm holding band should be extended and in the air.

4. With partner, pull the band back, pulling arm from an extended position toward chest until fist stops just before the outside of the chest. Tighten up back and bicep muscles.

Repeat for 15 reps. Switch hands for 15 more. Rest, then repeat for three sets on each arm. Color-coded resistance bands will make this exercise more or less difficult, based on the levels.

Need help learning the steps to this exercise? Follow along with a video of personal fitness trainer Frank Pastorelli explaining this move at TBO.com, Keyword: Trainer