Sure, you’ve always wondered if it’s actually possible to be that perfect couple – Dwyane and Gabrielle. Chris and Elsa. Kim Possible and Ron Stoppable. – but maybe she’s not a “cardio girl” or he “doesn’t do yoga.” Fear not, dear reader: We asked the pros for workout tips for couples and this fitness meetup had all the ingredients for a top workout trip. Read on to learn more about couple Kelly Smith and Jonathan Jones’ workout tips.
If you want to stick to your plan, working out with your partner is a golden ticket. A study published in Family Relations in August 2026 found that young married couples who exercise together report better communication, greater conflict resolution and lower marital stress than those who don’t. In a separate study, a decade-long Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study, 3,261 couples of spouses were examined at doctor’s visits over a six-year period. The result: health habits are very contagious. When one spouse is dedicated to fitness, over time the other is more likely to reach their exercise goals as well. The odds are promising for wives who have influence over their husbands – if she was very active, her husband was 70% more likely to achieve his fitness goals over time.
But it doesn’t always work smoothly. A 2024 study found that when your fitness depends on another person, the disparity in physical fitness ability can inadvertently throttle the faster partner’s training. That doesn’t mean it won’t work, but flexibility and accommodation can work wonders. So physical therapists Kelly Smith and Jonathan Jones made sure their couple’s workout routine stuck.
READ MORE: How to achieve your fitness goals, according to Caitlin Hood and Mapule Ndhlovu
It started in the gym
It was clear from their first date in 2020 (a leg workout at the gym post-lockdown) that physiotherapists Kelly Smith and Jonathan Jones share a serious love of fitness. “I lived in that world every day through coaching and bodybuilding, while Kelly had her own rhythm and approach to training,” Jonathan recalls. “There was mutual support, but not necessarily agreement.”
Naturally, the couple began to structure their time together at the gym while clarifying their personal goals. For Kelly, the plan was to enter a bodybuilding competition, while Jonathan wanted to build discipline and consistency. Eventually he decided to compete as a bodybuilder.
How Kelly Smith and Jonathan Jones developed a joint workout routine
The goal: Build a sustainable lifestyle
Secret sauce: routine
To share their fitness journey with others, the couple turned to tried-and-true methods and approached the journey the way they would present a plan to their clients. “We relied on structure and follow-up,” says Jonathan. “Having a clear plan takes the guesswork out of it.” They printed out their meal plans and taped them to the refrigerator; They used a printed calendar to track and plan training sessions.
And they behaved as if every training session were a work meeting: it couldn’t be missed. But since they are human beings, the couple also took care to define their roles as partners. By handling things professionally, they said, they were able to give each other constructive feedback without it feeling like personal judgment.
READ MORE: “I hear so many excuses from women who want to get fit – this is what I say”
A happy ending all around
By sticking to the plan, Kelly and Jonathan found success on the stage and in love. “Once we got into the habit of working out together,” Kelly explains, “making our meals together and meeting all of the daily requirements (e.g. steps and daily calorie intake), everything started to feel natural and like it was part of our lifestyle and less like a chore.”
The trophies became proof of their consistency: in 2023 they competed together, won a gold and a silver award each, and planned to approach the matter professionally. And the relationship? Dear reader, you are engaged.
Kelly Smith and Jonathan Jones celebrate Kelly’s win
“Align your goals – if you’re not moving in the same direction, it won’t last.”
–Kelly Smith
READ MORE: How a personal trainer lost 30kg – and kept it off
Steal their playbook
Kelly Smith and Jonathan Jones train together
Get firm
If you are undecided, a scientific approach helps. “Set clear expectations – create a clear plan and post it somewhere you can physically see it every day,” advises Kelly. “Align your goals – if you’re not moving in the same direction, it won’t last.”
Start small
“Start with small everyday habits, like walking the dog together every day,” suggests Kelly. Or cook healthy meals together, remind each other to drink water, or do simple stretching exercises.
Don’t be hard on yourself
“The most important thing is to enjoy the process,” says Jonathan. “If it feels like punishment, it doesn’t stick. Since Kelly is both my gym partner and my life partner, it’s fun to workout with my best friend.”
This article first appeared in the July and August 2026 issue of Women’s Health South Africa. Words by Michelle October.
