Bonding at the bench press - MSNBC

It's long been an inside joke in the fitness industry that it's better to sign up new members and never see them again than to have them use the facilities faithfully. But of course, those members don't renew their memberships either, and clubs are finding that creating a social atmosphere keeps members coming back. They also stay more fit.

Beyond weights and cardio
A survey earlier this year by the Boston-based International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association, which represents gyms across the country, found that 18 percent of member clubs now offer "social programming," ranging from fitness classes that bring together new moms or seniors to marathon training programs to wine tasting and weekend ski trips....