Let them eat cake later: Americans hosting 'fitness parties'

NEW YORK (REUTERS) - From spinning birthday celebrations to pole dancing bachelorette bashes, US gyms are offering fitness parties as a new way to mark life's milestones - with a few friends and a good sweat.

Gyms and fitness studios are often eager to host the festivities, which light up darkened rooms after hours and expose potential new members to their services.

"We've created bachelorette parties, birthday parties, college reunions and divorce parties," said Ms Donna Cyrus, senior vice-president of programming at Crunch, a national chain.

Pole dancing parties are among the most-requested fitness parties, and the merrymakers are overwhelmingly young women in their 20s and 30s.