{"id":553704,"date":"2026-06-25T16:02:10","date_gmt":"2026-06-25T16:02:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/553704\/"},"modified":"2026-06-25T16:02:10","modified_gmt":"2026-06-25T16:02:10","slug":"new-yorkers-are-attending-grief-sweat-tears-workout-classes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/553704\/","title":{"rendered":"New Yorkers are attending ‘Grief, Sweat, & Tears’ workout classes"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s an exclusive club no one wants to be a member of.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s how several people explained why they were at a \u201cGrief, Sweat, & Tears\u201d<\/a> event this spring, at which about 25 men and women met up for a double-header barre and spin class.<\/p>\n

When everyone gathered in the lobby to chat afterward, sweaty and smiling, conversation flowed as naturally as it would at a bar \u2014 but death and grief were the main topics, with people trading stories about lost loved ones.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s obviously something that people are not naturally inclined to discuss,\u201d Margot Lichtenthal, a past Grief, Sweat, & Tears attendee who lost her father to suicide, told The Post. \u201cBut when you\u2019re talking about it with somebody who can genuinely understand what you\u2019ve gone through, it\u2019s a whole different story.\u201d<\/p>\n

Participants of a Grief, Sweat, & Tears workout class sweat out their grief of losing a loved one through a spin class. Olga Ginzburg for NY Post<\/p>\n

After losing her dad in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lichtenthal found emotional relief through solo hot Pilates \u2014 but she was feeling isolated despite attending support groups.<\/p>\n

Then, a cousin introduced her to Grief, Sweat, & Tears. Lichtenthal admitted that although a group fitness class centered on bereavement sounded unusual, she felt compelled to try it.<\/p>\n

\u201cWorking out was such an outlet for me when everything happened that it just felt like the perfect combination of releasing endorphins and then releasing your emotions at the same time,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

The events start with a workout to help alleviate the physical symptoms of grief<\/a>, followed by social time for attendees to meet others going through similar experiences.<\/p>\n

While she considers herself an open book, Lichtenthal was still surprised by how easy it was to share her story with strangers.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you go through loss, it\u2019s really easy to feel alone in a crowded room,\u201d she explained. \u201cI felt such a sense of unspoken acceptance and understanding that we\u2019ve all gone through.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing able to talk about your story without it being this whole dramatic event, but instead just get these feelings out in a casual way, was a lot more healing than I think people recognize.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fitness \u2026 and recovery<\/p>\n

Grief, Sweat, & Tears is the brainchild of 29-year-old Betsy Kaplan, who lost her father, Joel, to suicide in 2018. Attending therapy left her with pent-up energy and tension \u2014 and an urge to blow it off through exercise.<\/p>\n

The Post attended a double-header barre and spin class this spring. Olga Ginzburg for NY Post<\/p>\n

\u201cTalk therapy is amazing, and I swear by it,\u201d Kaplan said, \u201cbut at the same time, movement, in conjunction with getting out your emotions, just takes the cake.\u201d<\/p>\n

There\u2019s certainly some evidence that exercise can be an effective tool for managing<\/a> emotions associated with grief \u2014 and many experts support it.<\/p>\n

\u201cTaking those pent-up feelings and incorporating them into their fitness routines can be cathartic,\u201d New York clinical psychologist Dr. Ernesto Lira de la Rosa previously told The Post<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cNo one gets how hard this is. But [Grief, Sweat, & Tears] made me feel like I was seen, which I\u2019ve never felt.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jenna DeNapoli<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Kaplan, a p.r. manager, began cold-contacting fitness studios to set up classes and discovered the idea resonated with a lot of people.<\/p>\n

In fact, someone she worked with at SLT Tribeca, where the first event was held in mid-January, had lost their mom and thought the idea of sweating through grief was \u201camazing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Events start with a workout class, followed by a postclass hangout to connect with others also experiencing loss. Olga Ginzburg for NY Post<\/p>\n

\u201cYou put yourself out there, and the person on the back end either can relate or knows somebody very close to them that can relate,\u201d Kaplan said. \u201cBecause grief is really all around us.\u201d<\/p>\n

To join, participants are asked to fill out a form on which they can share details about the person they lost.<\/p>\n

The first class had 13 people. Now, Kaplan is managing waitlists and even has studios reaching out to her to set up Grief, Sweat, & Tears classes.<\/p>\n

Initially, some workouts had a discounted admission fee, with a portion of proceeds donated to a grief-related charity. Others were completely free, usually at the behest of the instructor \u2014 who experienced a loss of their own.<\/p>\n

Moving forward, classes will have a fee, although Kaplan will strive to ensure they\u2019re affordable and accessible.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo be able to go into these fitness studios and just sweat \u2014 and sometimes even cry after having such a good sweat release \u2014 was like, \u2018Wow, this is going to become a part of my everyday,’\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s certainly some evidence that exercise can be an effective tool for managing emotions associated with grief. Olga Ginzburg for NY Post<\/p>\n

An exercise in healing<\/p>\n

Grief can often be an isolating, lonely experience. That was true for Jenna DeNapoli, a nurse and content creator from Long Island, who lost her father to stomach cancer in 2018. <\/p>\n

\u201cI come from an Italian family,\u201d the 29-year-old said. \u201cYou don\u2019t talk about your feelings. You don\u2019t go to therapy. Everyone loses people. You just figure it out.\u201d<\/p>\n

But after she started talking about her grief on social media, an old friend invited her to a Grief, Sweat, & Tears class at the Pilates studio Serotonin Club.<\/p>\n

Despite her initial skepticism, she was hooked.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s something so special about connecting with people who have gone through similar situations,\u201d she said. \u201cNo one gets how hard this is. But [Grief, Sweat, & Tears] made me feel like I was seen, which I\u2019ve never felt.\u201d<\/p>\n

Though it was emotional \u2014\u00a0and she \u201cnever wanted to be part of this club\u201d \u2014 she wishes she had gone sooner.<\/p>\n

Betsy Kaplan (front center) started the group after losing her father as a way to bring together others who were grieving. Olga Ginzburg for NY Post<\/p>\n

Kaplan (pictured) organizes at least one workout event a month, from Pilates or barre to boxing and spin classes. Olga Ginzburg for NY Post<\/p>\n

Just cry (or sweat) it out<\/p>\n

Grief, Sweat, & Tears was never meant to replace therapy or support groups. Kaplan simply wanted to create a space where people could talk openly about loss without the clinical feel of therapy or traditional grief groups.<\/p>\n

And their social media capitalizes on this, striking a balance between empowerment and turning a tragedy into comedy with dark humor, often calling out the \u201cdead dads club.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re not having prompts and sitting in a circle saying the name of our person and \u2026 what\u2019s coming up for us,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n

If an attendee has just experienced a death anniversary or a challenging calendar moment, such as the deceased\u2019s birthday, Kaplan may ask if they\u2019re comfortable sharing their story.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s how Anthony Martin, who lost his mom to breast cancer in 2011, ended up speaking at a class in mid-March that fell near the anniversary of his mother\u2019s passing.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was definitely a little bit of anxiety there,\u201d the 37-year-old told The Post. \u201cBut feeling that sense of understanding and community gave me relief.\u201d<\/p>\n

Many have found support in the unique community for grief, without the clinical feel of talk therapy or support groups. Olga Ginzburg for NY Post<\/p>\n

Building endurance<\/p>\n

Everyone walks into a Grief, Sweat, & Tears event with similar emotions \u2014 but they often leave with a new perspective on grieving.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat event helped me think about grief more intentionally,\u201d Martin said. \u201cAnd I think that\u2019s given me more confidence to \u2026 be more of a help to [others] by listening and offering advice.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Lichtenthal, attending the event was also a reminder to be more mindful and present while dealing with her loss.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re so busy trying to put a Band-Aid on everything when uncomfortable or difficult situations transpire,\u201d she said. \u201cBut \u2026 this type of community is here to help you continue living through what you\u2019ve experienced and grow from it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Interest in the community events has been increasing quickly, with people messaging Kaplan about starting chapters in cities including Chicago and Dallas.<\/p>\n

For now, she\u2019s focused on providing a unique space for those who are grieving and building community.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope people start to build friendships and networks that they can now rely on,\u201d Kaplan said. \u201cIt\u2019s a beautiful thing to see people giving hugs after and exchanging phone numbers and just building their own sense of community through grief, sweat and tears.\u201d<\/p>\n

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