There are already 1,068 reasons I couldn’t actually live in New York City. Now, while it may be fun to visit the Big Apple, I’ve come across reason 1,069.

Fitness birthday parties.

Yes, you read that correctly. There are gyms in NYC that are offering private birthday parties in their fitness centers. The guest invites friends for a group class, picks the playlist, and everyone sweats together for the birthday event.

One fitness birthday celebrant in NYC stated, “I can’t think of celebrating another year of life not working out, and I want to share that with the people I care about. There’s certainly a health component but there’s a gigantic fun component to it as well.”

What me and my friends would look like at a Zumba fitness party. Photo credit: Edson Hong via Foter.com / CC BY-NC-ND

Well, don’t worry, dear reader, I will not be hosting a fitness group birthday party any time soon. Yes, I’ve learned I enjoy Zumba and Cardio Hip Hop classes for active exercise that sees me dancing and smiling (no matter that I am horribly uncoordinated). Yet, I would not go so far as to inflict fitness on others as a way to celebrate my special day.

Whether I even inflict fitness on myself on my birthday is something that I play by ear each year — and it typically loses out to another hour sleeping in or rolling over when I do wake up to read a book.

This said, I do think my athletic child would likely love taking over a gym with a climbing wall and ropes and loud dance music on his birthday. So, if Charlotte, NC, gyms want to open their doors for pre-teen parties, I’m in.

In the meantime, the only parts of the fitness birthday parties outlined in the NYC article that appeal are the customized T-shirts, custom playlists, and Champagne to drink afterwards. That knowing I could eat my cake guilt free after burning calories busting a birthday move.