Sending out the invitations was a cinch thanks to email, and I immediately started getting responses. It was going to be a full house! I asked everyone to dress in exercise clothes and to bring any DVDs, free weights, tubing or other small fitness items that they wanted to trade. If anyone had a big piece of exercise equipment she wanted to swap at a later date, she could find a taker at the party.
The day before the big event, I bought everyone brightly colored water bottles and pedometers from a discount store. Now, we had no excuses for not getting our 10,000 steps and eight cups of water a day!
The party was such a hit that we decided to make it an ongoing affair. One friend who would be turning 40 soon wanted to host her own fitness party instead of expecting people to bring her gifts. She said a fitness party would remind her of the importance of staying healthy-instead of dwelling on the passing of time. Another friend was inspired by the fitness party when planning her child's birthday party, which would be a spring skating party for his friends. We were on a roll!
Here's a quick list of ideas for hosting your own fitness party:
- Party favors: Stick with the health theme by offering pedometers, water bottles, pocket nutrition guides, jump ropes, yoga mats, water flavoring packets, or iTunes gift cards.
- Demonstrations: Hire a qualified instructor from a local gym or studio to lead your friends through a workout. Try: yoga, Pilates, belly dancing, salsa, hip hop dancing, boot camp, or more.
- Healthy foods: Cook (or cater) light and healthy finger foods like fresh fruit and veggies, edamame, smoothies, water, fruit juice, low-fat yogurt, nuts, and dried fruit.
- Fun & games: Offer prizes for winners in a few friendly competitions: an outdoor run, most pushups in a minute, longest plank hold, or greatest flexibility.
- Themes: Create a theme centered on one particular aspect of fitness, such as running, dancing, yoga, or strength training. Create games, foods, contests, quizzes, demonstrations and party favors that bring the theme to life. Take turn hosting the workout party with your friends (once a month for example), trying a new workout theme each time.
- Seek adventure: Who says you have to stay confined to your house to throw an exercise party? Check out group rates for classes at local gyms or studios; meet and work out at a local park; try outdoor activities like inline skating, hiking, swimming, and biking.
- Share & swap: Besides fitness videos, ask guests to bring other exercise-related items that they no longer want or use. Some ideas include: gently used workout clothes or shoes, past issues of fitness magazines, group fitness passes to a local gym, or even big-ticket items like treadmills or aerobics steps. Guests can choose to loan their items or make permanent trades.
Hosting your own fitness party is a great alternative to a cocktail party where alcohol is at center stage, or a home shopping party where people feel pressured to spend money. With a little imagination (and some friends who don't mind sweating a bit), you'll burn calories and bond with your buddies in no time.
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