Fitness Party

The pace of modern life often means making a choice between spending time with loved ones and creating the time to stay fit. What if you could do both? This is one trend that’s fun and exceedingly popular. It first kicked off among women trying to manage the balance between career, family and necessary chores, and finally deciding that the only way they would get to see their girlfriends is if they could host a soiree that combined social time with fitness. Fun ideas like sweating together to an old collection of Jane Fonda aerobics tapes or signing up for group belly dancing classes have now evolved into bachelorette parties at the gym with a menu of delectable health foods including protein-rich smoothies in margarita goblets and low-fat dip with fresh vegetables and other fun but harmless foods. Being around friends and basking in the shared experience of sweating it out together makes knocking off those last 5 kilos an easier goal.

POLE DANCING

Amongst the most popular of the bunch, pole dancing parties allow a large group to come together and shed their inhibitions for a set duration. While popular overseas, this trend is still finding few takers in India where inhibitions are high. Opting for fun with the girls rather than binge drinking on a night out is clearly taking precedence. Learning some new moves and boosting your self-confidence are just two of the extra benefits of adopting the pole.

THE CORPORATE GETAWAY

Pairing a business retreat with fitness is also becoming popular. Instead of attending a typical dinner or cocktail hour, colleagues are attending fitness classes like group cycling, together. Many business conferences are beginning to include yoga classes as a way to help attendees with stress management. But it’s not just about offering a class or two. Organisers, both in India and overseas, are taking the time to create a whole mind/body commitment.