Training as Therapy: Using Fitness to Manage Stress

By Kike Yepes

Stress isn’t going anywhere.

It comes with work, family, responsibility, and the constant hum of modern life.

But how you handle it, that’s what makes the difference.

Some people bottle it up. Others scroll it away.

The smart ones? They train.

Because training, when done right, isn’t just about getting stronger, it’s about staying sane.

At CrossFit 1864, we see it every day. People walk in carrying the weight of their world and walk out lighter, not because the problems disappear, but because they’ve built the tools to face them.

Don’t Chase Exhaustion, Chase Energy

We’ve been sold this idea that the harder you train, the better it works.

More sweat, more pain, more effort.

But real progress and real therapy doesn’t come from exhaustion. It comes from energy.

If your workouts leave you drained and anxious, you’re missing the point. The goal of fitness isn’t to empty the tank; it’s to refill it.

That’s the difference between working out and training with purpose.

When you find the right environment like a group fitness class that challenges but doesn’t crush you leave feeling better, sharper, and calmer. You stop chasing exhaustion and start chasing energy.

At CrossFit 1864, we design each session that way. You’ll work hard, but you’ll also walk out feeling recharged ready to take on the rest of your day.

Pick Workouts That Lift Your Mood

Movement changes your chemistry.

The right workout triggers endorphins, clears mental fog, and helps you breathe again.

The trick is choosing what lifts you — not what punishes you.

If you dread every session, it’s not therapy. It’s tension.

That’s why the best CrossFit gyms in East London are about more than barbells and burpees. They’re about community — walking in and hearing your name, getting a fist bump, and remembering you’re not alone.

The workout becomes a byproduct. What you really get is connection, laughter, and perspective.

When you find the right gym maybe one near Canary Wharf where the community feels like familythat’s when fitness stops being a chore and starts becoming therapy.

Learn to Breathe Properly

You can’t control life.

You can control your breath.

Learning to breathe well between sets or movements is one of the most underrated forms of therapy. It tells your nervous system: “We’re okay.”

In the middle of a tough workout, when your heart is racing and your mind starts to spiral, slow down your breath. Inhale through the nose. Exhale longer than you inhale.

Do that for a few rounds and watch what happens, not just in the workout, but in life.

The same breathing that helps you recover between sets will help you stay calm before a big meeting or when life throws a curveball.

Move Daily, Even on Rest Days

The human body isn’t meant to sit still all day.

Movement, even light, easy movement, is a signal to your brain that you’re in control.

You don’t need to lift heavy every day to feel the benefits of training. Go for a walk. Stretch. Flow. Do a few mobility drills or a short yoga session.

These little things keep your body fresh and your mind steady.

At CrossFit 1864, we teach members that “rest day” doesn’t mean “do nothing.” It means recovery with purpose, the kind that keeps you ready for the next challenge.

The Real Goal: Calm, Not Chaos

Training can be chaos, music blasting, heart pounding, everyone pushing hard.

But deep down, the real goal is calm.

To train until your mind quiets down.
To breathe when everything feels heavy.
To find stillness in movement.

That’s therapy.

And the beauty of it? You can start anytime. You don’t need to be fit to begin, you just need to show up.

A Note on Gratitude

Every time you walk into the gym, you’re giving yourself something the world rarely offers: time.

Time to breathe.
Time to move.
Time to reconnect.

Be grateful for that hour.

It’s not “just a workout.” It’s therapy, in motion.

So, the next time stress builds up, remember you don’t need to escape life. You just need to train through it.

At CrossFit 1864, we help people do exactly that: use fitness as therapy, energy as medicine, and training as a way to manage stress, one class at a time.