Due to pandemic circumstances, many gyms had to close their doors. Some however found their way to zoom and have incorporated mental health into the workouts.
Liberate, a gym based in Los Angeles, focuses on not only strengthening the body,, but also strengthening the mind. Its virtual content allows members to access classes on-demand and/or on Zoom.
What is a "Mental Health Gym"?
Many people have used fitness and meditation as an outlet for anxiety and stress, leading to an increase in mental health issues as gyms began to close down in the beginning of the pandemic. This was the case for Oliver Bowser, the founder and creator of Liberate.
For Bowser, her outlet was SoulCycle classes, Bootcamps, and Pilates, while for others it might be strength and conditioning, heavy weight lifting, or cardio. In all, the pandemic pushed Bowser to form a community in which people could virtually.
For $19 a month, members get two Zoom classes a week. In these classes there is usually about 10-15 minutes of yoga or mindful movements with journaling conversations, and meditations combined within. This is used to help relax the students and get their body moving while actively conversing about their mental health issues.
Many students of this classes loved the free flowing conversations, knowing they can log into the class from home at a certain time each week, and the community. They called it a non intimidating and fun routine that has de-stressed them while having motivation from other members to keep moving.
Achauer, H. (2021, October 29). What is an 'emotional push-up'? exploring the concept of mental health gyms. The Washington Post. Retrieved January 10, 2022, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2021/10/19/mental-health-gym-emotional-fitness/
note: article also talks about Coa (another mental health gym), maintaining emotional fitness and the concept of emotional pushups.