Group fitness isn't new—women have been making pre-brunch yoga and running dates forever. What is new? Now they're linking up to lift.

Naturally, Gen Z is leading the pivot: Girl Gains, founded at San Diego State University in 2020, has expanded to over 100 university chapters, creating a network of women who support each other through challenging lifts and technique refinement.

But this movement—and its benefits—transcend age (Oprah and Maria Shriver were spotted hitting the gym together.) Also nice: More fitness clubs have gotten the memo and are offering partnership training packages. 

THE LIFTING BUDDY ADVANTAGE 

There are a few ways a squad can amp the strength benefits:

• Eyes on your form: Even if you’ve been pumping iron for decades, “it's really helpful to have another human there who's watching your technique, giving you feedback, keeping an eye on you from all of the different angles,” says strength expert and podcast host, Holly Perkins , BS, CSCS, author of the upcoming Muscle & Bone. They can give you cues, such as keeping your chest up while squatting or to hinge more from the hips while deadlifting.

• Breaking through (when you want to back down): Building meaningful strength requires pushing close to muscle failure—that critical threshold where growth begins. This intensity becomes more accessible with support—and a partner to spot you. "A lifting partner transforms your capacity to reach that essential intensity threshold," says Perkins. "They can provide minimal assistance at the sticking point—just enough to help you complete the last rep with proper form."

• You’ll show up more—literally: Research published in Management Science showed that going to work out with a friend upped a person’s overall number of gym visits by 35%. That’s big.

• Boosts in confidence and safety: "This movement is helping women approach new exercises and equipment with informed confidence," notes Perkins. "Having another perspective on your form creates immediate improvement opportunities." We’d call that the Huddle Effect .

4 WAYS TO LOCATE YOUR LIFTING HUDDLE 

1. Hit up the weight room regulars.

“Get to know the familiar faces in your gym and find your people,” says Perkins, who says she’s found great lifting partners this way. Ask someone who’s between sets and resting if they’ll give you a hand. You’ve already crossed the biggest barrier most lifting buddies face: agreeing on a time and place.

2. Explore meetup groups.

Discover (or create!) communities specifically focused on strength training. A few to check out: Sweat Pals, Gym Buddy, and the OG Meetup app.

3. Utilize Bumble BFF.

Mark fitness interests and describe your specific focus on strength training in your profile.

4. Expand Strava connections.

The app known and loved by runners and cyclists, Strava, also imports data from strength workouts. It may take a little sleuthing, but you can keep an eye out for connections that are uploading lifting data in addition to logging miles.

Strength-training is the portal to so many amazing things—physical and mental transformation, for starters. With the right lifting partner, you can raise that potential even higher, build more confidence, and cement habits (and friend bonds) that extend beyond the gym.