In New York City, fitness instructor Sylvia Borowska has teamed with the nonprofit Grief, Sweat & Tears (GST) to run a weight‑training class that directly addresses participants’ loss. The $30 pop‑up session begins with each of the 30 attendees choosing the heaviest weight they can lift while visualizing the time that has passed since a loved one died. Borowska, who has taught Liftonic classes for five years, opened the recent class by sharing her own loss of a mother to lung disease and encouraging the group, “Grief is heavy, but we’re stronger than that.”
Growth of emotion‑centered workouts
GST, founded in December 2025, now hosts monthly pop‑up classes across the city, marketing them as “where grief meets fitness.” Over the past six months, roughly 400 people have taken part. Similar concepts have emerged nationwide, from rage‑cycling sessions to anxiety‑focused yoga, reflecting a broader trend of matching workouts to emotional states.
Expert perspective
Psychologist Dr. Ryan Martin, dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Wisconsin‑Green Bay, notes that research on the efficacy of such classes is still sparse. “Pop culture often moves ahead of psychology,” he said, adding that while these classes can foster community, they may also keep heart rate and muscle tension elevated when the goal of exercise is usually to reduce stress.
Martin cautions that participants with panic‑disorder tendencies should be careful, as vigorous cardio can simulate panic symptoms. He also stresses that emotional workouts should not replace professional therapy for deep trauma or prolonged grief.
Community and connection
Beyond the therapeutic intent, participants value the social aspect. Betsy Kaplan, 29, founded GST after losing her father to suicide and wanted a “no‑pressure zone” where people could work out without feeling obligated to share personal stories. She described the environment as a place to meet others who “get it” and form new friendships.
One participant, Jake Montiel, who lost his mother three years ago, said the class helped him speak the name of his loved one aloud and find immediate support from a fellow attendee who had experienced a similar loss.
Other emotion‑focused fitness models
In Westminster, Colorado, Elisa Thurston hosted an engagement party at E‑motion Fitness, a space that blends a rage‑room, gym, and sanctuary. Attendees smash paint‑filled bottles labeled with emotions such as rage or fear, then move to a recovery room with art and quiet music. Thurston said the experience helped her and her family manage wedding jitters, breakup feelings, and work frustration.
Scientific outlook
While a March study of refugees showed a 10‑week exercise program reduced PTSD, depression, and anxiety, researchers admit they do not yet know whether the benefits stem from the physical activity itself, the sense of safety, the community, or a combination of factors.
Dr. Ethan Kross of the University of Michigan advises participants to treat these classes as one tool among many, encouraging self‑experimentation and the option to opt out at any time. He recommends supplementing workouts with therapy, medication when appropriate, nature, and reading on grief.
Overall, emotion‑centered fitness classes are gaining popularity as a way to blend physical health with emotional support, but experts urge caution and emphasize that they are not a substitute for professional mental‑health care.
Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.
