Fitness with Nala: Stay Active with Your Furry Friend (Who Happens to Be Human)

Let’s start with the obvious: Nala isn’t a dog. She’s not wagging her tail at the door, chasing after tennis balls, or wearing a leash. Nope—she’s way better than that. Nala is my best friend, my roommate, and my unofficial life coach. She’s the kind of person who shows up with a protein smoothie and a yoga mat when you’re on the couch making excuses.

Together, we’ve turned fitness into something that feels less like a chore and more like a daily catch-up session with squats. That’s how Fitness with Nala was born—just two friends holding each other accountable, moving more, and laughing a lot along the way.

Now we’re sharing it all on FitnessNala.com so you can stay active with your own favorite person (or people), too.

Why Fitness Works Better with a Friend

Let’s be real: staying active isn’t always easy. Life gets busy. Motivation disappears. You tell yourself, “I’ll start on Monday.” Then suddenly it’s three Mondays later, and you still haven’t moved your body the way you wanted to.

That’s where Nala comes in.

Working out with a friend gives you something the gym can’t: accountability with joy. Here’s why it works:

You’re more likely to show up when someone’s waiting for you.
You push harder when you have a cheerleader next to you.
You laugh more, complain less, and enjoy the process.
You can celebrate small wins—like finishing a workout or surviving burpees—together.

We started small, kept things realistic, and didn’t try to “crush it” every day. Some days we did full-on circuit workouts. Other days, we walked and just talked about life. Either way, we were moving—and that was the point.

Getting Started: It’s Easier Than You Think

You don’t need a gym membership, expensive gear, or a personal trainer. Honestly, you don’t even need more than 30 minutes. To start your own Fitness with Nala journey, here’s what you’ll need:

Comfy clothes and sneakers
A water bottle
Music, if you’re into that
One good friend who’s ready to move (or at least willing to try)

Before we jumped into anything structured, we had a quick check-in about goals. Nothing extreme—just basic intentions. Mine was to feel stronger. Nala’s was to move daily and improve her mental clarity. We both agreed to keep it flexible, lighthearted, and most importantly—fun.

5 Fitness Ideas You Can Do Together

You don’t have to be fitness experts to make progress. Here are some of the things Nala and I started doing—easy, low-pressure, and actually kind of fun.

1. Walk & Talk Sessions

This is our go-to. Sometimes we walk fast, sometimes we wander. We vent, laugh, brainstorm, or just enjoy the quiet. It’s therapy, movement, and fresh air all in one.

Want to level it up? Add light ankle weights or choose a hilly route. Sometimes we pause mid-walk to do lunges or squats by a bench—yes, we get weird looks, and no, we don’t care.

2. Mini At-Home Workouts

YouTube is full of 20-minute routines that you can do with no equipment. We each pick a video once a week and try something new—HIIT, Pilates, dance cardio, even partner yoga. (Spoiler: we are not flexible.)

We also created a few go-to circuits we cycle through on lazy days. For example:

10 squats
10 pushups (or knee pushups)
30-second plank
10 jumping jacks
Repeat 3–4 times. Done in under 20 minutes.

3. Weekend Adventure Days

Once a week, we trade routine for something spontaneous: a hike, a long bike ride, rollerblading, or even a paddleboarding session. When the weather’s nice, we pack snacks and make a day of it. Movement + friendship + sunshine? Best combo ever.

4. Dance It Out

This might sound silly, but dance cardio is a vibe. We find a throwback playlist, clear the living room, and let loose. We’re sweaty, smiling, and totally uncoordinated—but who cares? It’s about joy, not perfection.

5. Try the FitnessNala.com 7-Day Challenge

Yep, we built one! Head over to FitnessNala.com and grab our free 7-day partner challenge. It’s full of short workouts, fun prompts, and easy-to-follow check-ins. Plus, you can print a tracker or share your progress online with #FitnessWithNala.

Recovery Is Part of the Process

We don’t work out every day. And honestly, that’s been key to staying consistent. Our weekly routine includes:

Two rest days (with lots of stretching and snacks)
A weekly mobility session using foam rollers or yoga mats
At least one early bedtime after a hard workout
Regular hydration check-ins (we literally text “Water??” sometimes)

We’ve learned that pushing too hard leads to burnout. Giving your body time to recover is just as important as the workout itself.

The Magic of Consistency (Not Perfection)

Here’s the truth: we’ve had off weeks. We’ve eaten pancakes instead of doing Pilates. We’ve skipped workouts to binge Netflix. But the difference now? We don’t quit. We bounce back, usually with a fresh playlist and a new idea.

What helped most was making fitness feel like a shared lifestyle, not a punishment. No guilt. Just progress.

Join the Movement at FitnessNala.com

If you’ve ever wanted to get healthier but felt overwhelmed, this is your sign. Grab your favorite person, set one small goal, and start moving—without pressure. At FitnessNala, we’re sharing:

Our weekly fitness routines
Easy partner workouts
Recipes for post-workout fuel
Printable trackers and calendars
Real, honest stories about what’s working (and what isn’t)

You’ll also find our free 7-day challenge and can follow along using #FitnessWithNala on social media. We want to hear your stories, see your progress, and cheer you on—just like we do for each other.

Final Thoughts: Just Start

You don’t need to wait until Monday. You don’t need the perfect plan or the newest gear. You just need a little movement, a little mindset shift, and maybe one good friend to laugh with when you fall out of a plank.

Nala and I will be here, cheering you on from our yoga mats (probably in mismatched socks). Come join us.

👉 Visit FitnessNala.com to get started.