We all remember The Buddy System from grade school: partnering up to ensure each other’s well-being, build a relationship, and promote inclusivity. The concept can be applied everywhere from the workplace to the workout room. Having a “workout buddy” can help you show up to exercise, work harder and smarter, and even rescue you from a fitness rut.
This summer, we’ve witnessed so many workout buddies in action! From married couples and significant others to siblings, mother-daughter trios, and best friends—you’re all stronger together at The Corner. With a partner or team counting on you, you’re less likely to bail on your workout and—with extra eyes on you than just the instructor’s—more likely to resist giving up during your workout. As one Corner fan, Christina Calcaterra, puts it, “Working out with family members serves as an instant support system, motivation booster, and form corrector.”
We checked in with a few family and friend teams to see how working out together at The Corner has positively influenced their fitness and relationship dynamics.
The Richards Family
“[The pandemic] has inspired us to do more,” says Kevin Richards, athletic director at The Grosse Pointe Academy and girls varsity basketball coach at Grosse Pointe South High School. He and his wife, Kara, have always strived to set an example for their five children, who are very active in travel basketball and high school sports. “The best thing you can teach your children is a work ethic,” Kevin says. “They need to know that to be great you only have one choice and it is to work.”
While Kevin and Kara frequent outdoor HIIT and YoStrong, their teen children enjoy Tyler’s Total Body and Joe’s Teen Strength and Conditioning. “The Corner Studio has given us a space where we can work out together,” says Kevin.
The Warren Family
“We have always been a ‘workout family,’” says Christy Warren, mother of four. But that usually meant each family member working out on their own time. The pandemic changed that by bringing everyone back home and made it possible to exercise together more often. Christy explains, “We have a super busy house and if we can spend one hour together a few days a week doing something we all love, it’s a gift.”
Christy and her daughters, Allie and Abigail, love the 7:30 a.m. Corner classes to squeeze in fitness before work hours and start their day off on a positive note. “Working out with my girls is the best,” says Christy. “They are crazy-fun and we all have our moments, but during our workouts all the drama temporarily disappears.”
For Allie, the built-in motivation is key: “There have been many early mornings when I would have cancelled if my mom or sister didn’t encourage me to join them,” she says.
The Calcaterra Family
Like many of us when the pandemic hit, Carrie Calcaterra worried about how her fitness routine would suffer without in-person classes. “Thankfully, The Corner Studio quickly had a plan, and I was able to do the Instagram Live classes right from my family room,” Carrie says. Despite being virtual, she admits, “It did give me a feeling of togetherness that I really needed at this crazy time.” What’s more, it gave her the opportunity to work out with her daughters, Christina and Courtney.
The three women now attend outdoor classes together weekly, typically HIIT and YoStrong, and also Carmie’s Yoga “for de-stressing and stretching.” “It’s so nice to be able to share a passion for a healthy habit like fitness,” says Courtney. All are eager to try more classes at The Corner Studio together soon.
Cydney Webb & Jeffrey Herron
Girlfriend-boyfriend pair Cydney and Jeffrey typically had their own interests when it came to fitness. Cydney attended group fitness or practiced at-home yoga and Pilates, while Jeffrey focused on more solo workouts like lifting weights and running on the treadmill. This summer, both gravitated outdoors and have embraced working out side by side at Corner classes. They say, “The best thing about working out together is being able to hold each other accountable. It has pushed us to stay fit together as a couple and has allowed us to spend more time together, as well.”
Erika Bergman & Emily Griffin
Best friends Erika and Emily have committed to early morning workouts together before starting their busy workdays. “Having plans to go with a friend helps me not hit the snooze button,” says Erika, who recently introduced HIIT into her fitness routine. “Toning and weight training is something that I have a hard time doing on my own.”
Emily agrees, “Training with a friend just makes it way more fun.” She appreciates being able to spend quality time together doing something that benefits their health in so many ways. She adds, “It’s a good alternative to dinner or drinks, although I’m still a huge fan of both!”
Grab a buddy and sign up for outdoor fitness classes at Kerby Field, now Monday–Saturday mornings. Register on The Corner Studio app!
See You at The Corner!