Get Some Action: Exercise Date Ideas For Valentine's Day

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FORGET PERFUME AND cologne for Valentine's Day. The sexiest scent of all is sweat (it's those pheromones!), so celebrate the holiday as a dynamic duo with one of these fitness activities.

TAKES TWO
Instead of going to a restaurant thinking about what to eat, at Meze (2437 18th St. NW; 202-797-0017) you have to think about what to do with your feet — at the $10 tango classes offered every Monday night. Beginners can show up at 7 p.m. or 8 p.m. for an hour-long intro to the footwork, holds and turns. And although it's a notoriously difficult dance to master, native Argentinean instructor Pablo Fontana assures that the teaching technique makes it accessible to anyone. "These are not just memorized steps, so little by little the body will remember how to move without any effort," he says. More seasoned students show off what they can do during the advanced class at 9 p.m. The dance floor opens to all for a candlelight milonga at 10 p.m.

LOVE MATCH
You're guaranteed to get hit on at the East Potomac Tennis Center (1090 Ohio Drive SW; 202-554-5567). The indoor facilities at Hains Point are open to the public. Call up to a week in advance to reserve a court ($28.50-$38 per hour), or press your luck and just show up. Don't have a racquet? They sell them on-site, along with balls, strings and other accessories. To serve up an even more romantic day, warm up by taking a stroll around the monuments and Tidal Basin on your way from the Smithsonian Metro stop.

THAI'D TOGETHER
Back rubs are fine, but learn to release tension like a pro at "Thai Massage for Lovers" at Flow Yoga Center (1450 P St. NW; 202-462-3569). For $30 per person, the two-hour seminar on Valentine's Day (6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.) will teach couples ways to relax using only their bodies as props, focusing on acupressure and stretching. Taming tightness is just the beginning, promises instructor Angela Cerkevich. "It's very soothing on the nervous system and can cause a meditative mental state because of the gentle rocking of the massage," she adds. Participants are welcome to bring cameras, so you can remember what you learned and repeat as needed at home.

WHITE PICKET FENCING
Sparring is part of any relationship. Make yours an aerobic experience by dueling it out at Rockville Fencing Academy (50 Southlawn Court; 240-715-1910). Stuart Sacks, the owner and head coach, says swordplay is ideal for couples. The practice helps twosomes improve their skills. Plus, he says, "when a pair gets on the strip and gets the chance to hit each other with swords, there's an extra fun intensity there." The academy offers beginner classes and private lessons in which couples can work two-on-one with a coach. The playing field is surprisingly equal, Sacks adds. "Being twice as big and twice as strong as someone is an advantage, but being quick and having good technique is more important."

Written by Express contributor Katie Test