Thom Gabrukiewicz became a fan of couples yoga when his girlfriend took him to his first class.

"It's very relaxing," he said. "I mean, you're slowly stretching in tandem with someone you care about. You get to look into their eyes, do a lot of touching. What's not to like about that?"

He was hooked after his first trip, but his girlfriend wasn't sure.

"She kept asking if I was nervous," he said. "If I really wanted to go, or was I just doing it for her."

Couples spend a lot of time apart due to work and other responsibilities, fitness instructor Nicole Nichols wrote on SparkPeople.com, and focusing on fitness and one-on-one time is important to any relationship.

Deeper Intimacy, More Sex

Combining quality time with a loved one and a quality workout has many couples hitting the gym, running trails, yoga studios or slopes in tandem. And they are finding the benefits to physical exercise with a romantic partner.

One is that deeper bond that can form.

"Exercise produces chemicals in the brain that evoke feelings of happiness, reduce stress, and also increase arousal and libido," she wrote. "Several studies show that men and women who exercise regularly report better and more frequent sex with their partners."

Gabrukiewicz said it was surprising how others reacted to the intimate situation.

"Funny thing, a lot of couples haven't really looked at each other in the eye for years; there were giggles and snickering," he said. "Kind of sad. But it really brings you together as a couple, and then you go out to dinner and talk and relax."

Safety And Motivation

Nichols also wrote that another benefit is safety. Exercising with a partner means they can spot you when you need it, and they are more invested in your overall healthfulness.

It also can be a good source of motivation and support to maintain the consistency of regular workouts.

Andrea Kurys said working out with her boyfriend keeps her going at times when she doesn't feel like exercising.

"Ryan and I work out together whenever we get a chance because of the accountability," she said. "I absolutely hate working out, but I don't want to disappoint him, so I try to run a little faster, lift a little more weight and do a few more crunches than I would if I was alone."

Finding a balanced routine is another perk, Nichols wrote.

"In many couples, one partner tends to favor cardio, typically women, while the other tends to favor strength training, typically men," she said. "By working out together, you can balance your workout program to include more of both. Let your partner teach you about the areas of fitness you're unsure of and be open to new fitness experiences."

Make A Plan

EHow.com suggests several steps when planning to start exercising with a partner. The first thing it recommends is making a list of exercises that both sides enjoy and then comparing lists. There should be some common ground.

The next step is to coordinate schedules, so that nobody feels rushed. Compromise is always the key when it comes to both relationships and exercise regimens. Try to take into consideration both sets of preferences, but be willing to make sacrifices.

The site also warned against making exercising as a couple a competition. It should be about staying healthy and enjoying the time that is spent together.

EHow also suggested skipping the gym on occasion. Taking a romantic walk or bike ride can be just as beneficial both emotionally and physically.

"In the summer, we really like running long distances outside and will look for new spots to try out, like trails or school tracks," Kurys said. "We are also talking about training for a road race together so that we don't have an excuse to be lazy."

Those steps let exercising together become part of a routine. For example, one could exercise every other day and then trade off on who cooks dinner afterwards.

Whatever the outlet, most exercise enthusiasts agree that working out with a loved one is a beneficial combination.

"I don't see him much because he's so busy with med school, so working out together is great couples time," Kurys said. "Sometimes it's the only time I get to spend with him during the week."