By Kristin Canning

<p>If you want to jump higher and sprint faster, cleans will deliver, says Judine St. Gerard, a trainer at Tone House in NYC (pictured here). Plus, just perfecting the fluid motion required for a clean offers one serious confidence boost. Once you have the basics down, you can add plates and build strength pretty quickly, says St. Gerard. Its empowering. Sound like fun? (Thought so.)</p>

<h1> Power cleans come with a ton of badass benefits. </h1>

<p><strong> The move uses tons of muscles to give you a true </strong> <strong>  full-body workout.  </strong> Power cleans work it all, majorly firing up yo ur abs, hip flexors, glutes, and legs while simultaneously involving your shoulders and upper back, says St. Gerard. Plus, cleans are a dynamic lift, which means theyre surprisingly good at getting your heart rate up and burning fat as you build muscle.</p>

<p><strong> Power cleans are also good for next-level coordination.  </strong> Cleans require several separate muscle groups-like your lower body and upper body, and your posterior and anterior chainsto work together in order to lift, flip, and catch the barbell in one continuous movement. (No biggie.) Its an exercise that demands control and balance, so mastering it helps you improve both.</p>

<p><strong> They can help you score stronger, healthier bones, stat.  </strong>  This advanced move loads the hips with weight, causing tiny fractures. Seems scary, but its actually a good thing. Seriously. When the body repairs those mini breaks after youre done slinging weights, your bones become denser. On top of that, strength training can encourage new bone cell growth. Boom! </p>

<p><strong> Once you master the power clean, you'll notice your athletic skills improve, too.  </strong> Your ability to move quickly, pivot with ease, jump, and swing kettlebells all comes down to the power of your hips, abs, and glutes, which are the main muscles in your core. Cleans target these areas and mimic the explosive motions (like hip hinging and thrusting) that you often perform in weight-lifting or Crossfit workout classes or sporting events.</p>

<h1>  Start With A Basic Power Clean  </h1>

<p>Want more of your upper body in on the action? After you clean the bar to your shoulders, lower elbows, tuck chin, and hinge slightly at the hips before thrusting them forward to push the bar straight overhead, biceps slightly behind ears.</p>

This Move Burns Fat And Builds Muscle All At Once

Something special happens when you successfully pull off your first power clean: Your muscles fire on all cylinders, and you get that bam-pow-dynamite feeling that comes from lifting a heavy barbell and thinking, Whoa, Im strong. The explosive, full-body movement, common in HIIT classes and CrossFit workouts, brings a host of other cool payoffs too.

How To Master The Power Clean

<p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BfzckKpn8qw/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" id="e0c07167-4ca4-38bc-ad42-da7d198bca10">  View this post on Instagram </a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BfzckKpn8qw/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" id="db219a7d-2e92-3d0d-adb9-05633f0a6f3d">  If you can find a workout that makes you smile, DO IT!!! Watching the sun come up or dancing mid-day, I couldn't do better on this #nationalworkoutbuddyday than you, @bodybysimone. Thank you for being a bright spot in the last four years, for your inclusive, loving energy, and for making me smile my way through #PEPPERMINTmovie. You are something else. #dancewithyourbuddy </a> A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jennifer.garner/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" id="34b0660a-048b-34b2-a6d3-99265013e4ac">  Jennifer Garner </a> (@jennifer.garner) on Mar 1, 2018 at 6:30pm PST</p>

<p>Thats the power of a partner. And the benefits extend beyond the momentary accountability check: People who undertook a yearlong workout program in a pair had only a 6 percent dropout rate, compared with 43 percent for solo sweaters, a study found. (Whoa.) Sweating with a fit friend IRL is awesome, but there are other ways to embrace fitness-ships. No matter who, what, when, or where you team up, youll both score major results and strengthen your bond. Win-win, win-win. </p>

<p>Here's how to make the most of any situation. </p>

<h1> 1. Turn your long-distance bestie into your workout bud. </h1>

<p>Have a friend you would work out with all the time, if only you lived in the same zip code? Well, now its easier than ever to maintain a workout relationship when youre miles apart. And that long-distance partnership (where you stay accountable through texting, via FaceTime during workouts, or by logging on to the same streaming class) can be just as effective as an in-person meet-up. If youre in different time zones and cant exercise at the same time, having one person who knows your goals and checks in with a quick Did you get your workout in? can up your chances of sticking to a routine, says Deborah Feltz, PhD, a distinguished professor of kinesiology at Michigan State University. How you construct that-a daily text with a friend who lives states away, a post to a Facebook accountability group, or even sharing your <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/a23308903/apple-watch-series-4-features-review/" id="e64a9e0f-f392-3766-abb9-bbd434cbbe92">  Apple Watch </a> activity with your sister-is your choice.</p>

<p>March 1 is #NationalWorkoutBuddyDay, and we are pumped! Join us on Instagram for a day of celebrating.</p>

<h1> 2. Find an app that feels like a faux bestie.  </h1>

<p>Dont have a designated distance buddy? Dont sweat it. People who work out with a video-game-like virtual friend-one who performs a bit stronger than they do-go longer and harder than they would alone, says Feltz. Download Zwift to turn your solo sessions into an interactive game that lets you participate in real-time group runs and rides with people around the world by way of an avatar. Or join Strava, a social app on which you can share and check out others running and cycling data, to get a little hit of connection and healthy competition whenever you want (or need) it.</p>

<h1> 3. Make your pooch your fitness partner. </h1>

<p>Who says your workout buddy has to be human? Four-legged friends make excellent companions. People who regularly walk their dogs are more likely to be in better shape than those who stroll with other people, according to research. Plus, the guilt from puppy-dog eyes may be greater than the guilt of turning down a friend. In a study at Purdue University, those who received an email about the importance of walking their dog boosted their active time with pooches from 10 minutes to 80. When asked why, the subjects said they were concerned about their dog's health and didn't consider the benefits they themselves were getting. Puppy love is a very powerful motivator, people! </p>

<p>Half of all dog walkers fit in an average of 30 minutes of exercise at least five times a week.</p>

<p>Besides everyday walks, sign up for a dog-friendly race and consider investing in a hands-free running leash to keep you and Fido on track. </p>

<h1> 4. Find another four-legged friend.  </h1>

<p>No pooch? Swapping TV time for playtime with your cat or other pet and their toys can bump up your activity levels too. And if youre lacking a furry friend, hit up a horseback riding class, do <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/a19939792/goat-yoga/" id="ff78fa03-8018-307c-ac25-7bdf1b208272">  goat yoga </a> (yep, thats a thing), or volunteer to walk dogs at your local shelter.</p>

<h1>  5. Sweat with colleagues instead of scheduling a coffee catchup.  </h1>

<p> Meeting a colleague for a cycling class instead of a beverage catch-up is becoming more popular (secrets out!), and with good reason. Sure, its an excellent way to multitask and fit exercise into busy days, but it can also be a boon for your work relationships. A rush of hormones is likely to make you and your colleagues feel happy and more comfortable around each other-obviously good vibes to bring back to the office, says Jack Raglin, PhD, a professor of kinesiology at Indiana University Bloomington. If you can work together in the gym and support one another, that can transfer to your daily job life too. Added bonus: Exercise has been linked to improved productivity, memory, and focus-all the more reason to take your work wife to the gym instead of the bar. </p>

<p> Try turning a brainstorming session with a coworker into a 15-minute walk. People are more creative when theyre on the move (and right after activity), a Stanford University study found, so this is especially clutch if you sit at desks all day. Level up by reserving a fitness class. Go for ones that promote communication-like a teamwork-focused boot camp or a boxing class where you practice combinations together-for the biggest bonding benefit.</p>

<h1> 6. Get busy (in the gym) with your significant other.  </h1>

<p>Tackling a physical challenge with your S.O. has been shown to help couples feel more satisfied in their relationships and more in love. In fact, couples who work out together report more frequent sex in surveys. Bedroom benefits aside, working out in front of your partner-and leaning on them for motivation when you need it-is a smart way to practice vulnerability. It can also intensify your own accountability: Men in a cardiac study whose spouses placed a high value on sticking to healthy habits had much greater success than men whose partners werent nudging them. </p>

<p> One way to make sure you and your partner are a fitness dream team? Learn each others preferred motivation styles, suggests Raglin. Figuring out whats most helpful for you individually is the best way to avoid conflict and elevate your connection. No one wants to be shamed if theyre struggling, but some people do want tough love. Set up boundaries for motivation-like, Sometimes Ill have to miss a class for work, and I need you to understand that. But if Im trying to skip for any other reason, I want you to push me to go. That way, there are expectations in place for how youll motivate each other, and no one gets annoyed, says Raglin.</p>

<h1> 7. Recruit all your buds for one big workout fest. </h1>

<p>Group workouts lower stress by 26 percent and improve quality of life, according to a study. Researchers believe the social experience you get in a team setting is a factor in the mental health benefits. Youll get the most when you share a specific, common goal (like training for the same race) and when the group is on the smaller side, says Feltz. </p>

<p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BtPMc-tHNuB/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" id="f16a78bf-1b60-3100-a396-f0ef74aa4247">  View this post on Instagram </a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BtPMc-tHNuB/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" id="c4dbee16-bdbf-3d00-afb0-63337dd377fe">  STRONGER TOGETHER. You mess with one of us, you gotta problem with all of us. 8am reminder of our collective strength and badassery in this dancery called life. I walked in in a funk and walked out floating on the wings of sisterhood. Let us remember to extend that compassion, love and encouragement to all mankind. Love &amp; Light good people. Thank you @therealmaryjblige &amp; @traceeellisross @heartandhustlegym </a> A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/gabunion/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" id="364ae581-e5f7-3c04-a4b9-5f8ae32f4242">  Gabrielle Union-Wade </a> (@gabunion) on Jan 29, 2019 at 3:46pm PST</p>

<p>When the squad is small, it will still be noticed if youre not there. Otherwise, you can fall victim to social loafing, which happens when you rely on the size of the group to avoid working hard or to feel less guilty about missing a meet-up. CrossFit, November Project, and organized <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/a19975104/your-step-by-step-guide-to-finally-becoming-a-runner/" id="fc27e817-f0fb-329e-af50-620844fd3556">  running groups </a> plan the workout for you, making it even easier to just show up. Joining a rec league (where your team truly needs you to play) or a club (thats small enough for everyone to know each others names) also makes it harder to bail when youre not in the mood.</p>

<p>This article originally appeared in the March 2019 issue of Women's Health. For more intel on how to live a happier, healthier life, pick up an issue on newsstands now. </p>

Picture this: Youre lying in bed, sleeping peacefully, when your alarm blasts and rips you out of dreamland. You roll over groggily and hit snooze. Its 6 a.m. Youd planned to go to the gym before work todaybut youre so tired. Who cares if I skip? you think. You vow to go tomorrow, then snuggle under the covers. Now imagine the same scenario, but youve made a plan to meet someone. Not flaking now, huh? In fact, you might even realize youre looking forward to catching up with her-and, of course...

7 Ways to Find A Workout Buddy You'll Actually Like

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By Kristin Canning

Articles written by the author

How To Master The Power Clean

7 Ways to Find A Workout Buddy You'll Actually Like