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Many people experience an emotional release, such as crying, during a hard workout, and this common phenomenon is rooted in the connection between the mind and body.

The Mind-Body Connection Makes You Cry During Workouts

Crying during a workout is often due to the strong mind-body connection. The mind holds our thoughts, memories, and emotions, which can manifest physically. Emotions can be felt in the body, such as butterflies in the stomach when excited or a warm flush when shy. When emotions are repressed and not dealt with, they can become trapped in the body, leading to physical pain or discomfort. Tears are one way these emotions find an escape route.

Exercise can trigger the release of these trapped emotions, a process known as somatic release. Activities that involve rhythmic, bilateral movement, like running, dancing, tai chi, and yoga, can stimulate this release. For instance, lingering anxiety from a past heartbreak might cause chest tightness, or childhood insults might manifest as gut irritation. Unhealed emotional pain can result in physical tension, such as tight hips from fear due to bullying.

The Healing Power of Crying

Crying during a workout can be a natural and beneficial emotional release. Suppressed emotions, if not expressed, can lead to various health issues, including heart disease, anxiety, depression, and a compromised immune system. Crying releases feel-good hormones like oxytocin and endorphins, which can reduce stress and emotional pain. This act of emotional release can make a person feel significantly better, both mentally and physically.

Embracing the Tears

Allowing oneself to cry during a workout is important for emotional and physical health. When people focus on the movement rather than the outcome of their exercise, they often experience an unconscious release of pent-up emotions. This emotional release can come as a surprise, as it did for a woman in a fitness class who cried during a dance session. Instead of resisting these tears, embracing them can facilitate healing.