Crying clubs: Weepasana centres
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News18
14 hours ago
- News18
Mumbai Gets A Crying Club: How Japan Came Up With ‘Top Tear' Solution For Stress & Woes
Last Updated: Mumbai gets a crying club: What are crying clubs? Why are they becoming popular? Is there science behind it? What is the Japanese concept they are based on? Explained Looking to release your emotions amid the stress and disappointments? India's metros have come up with a solution – crying clubs. Mumbai recently got one, while Delhi, Bengaluru already have their versions. What are crying clubs? Why are they becoming popular? Is there science behind it? What is the concept? Firstly, why do tears matter? Crying plays an important role in mental health by helping regulate emotions, reduce stress, and promote psychological relief. Studies have shown that emotional crying activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which calms the body after stress, and may release hormones like oxytocin and endorphins that improve mood and relieve pain. Research by Dr. William Frey suggests that emotional tears can even carry stress-related chemicals out of the body, providing a form of detoxification. Crying also encourages social support by signaling distress and fostering emotional connection, which can reduce feelings of isolation. However, the mental health benefits of crying depend on context—people often feel better after crying when it happens in a safe and supportive environment, but those with conditions like depression may not experience the same relief. What is a crying club? What does Mumbai's The Cry Club offer? 'Tissues, tea, and emotional support music provided. Ranting, crying, and hugging are encouraged. Designed to help you leave feeling lighter. Step into a space where your feelings are welcome and your tears are safe," it says. The Cry Club invites you to embrace your emotions in a gentle and non-judgmental environment, it says. 'Whether you're carrying heartbreak, burnout, or just the weight of the week, come as you are. Surrounded by soft lighting, comforting tea, and people who understand, you're free to cry, rant, or simply sit in silence. There's no pressure to explain or fix anything. It's a quiet rebellion against emotional suppression a place to let go, breathe, and leave feeling just a little bit lighter," it says. Do other metro cities have such clubs? Surat has had a Healthy Crying Club since 2017. Delhi, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad host informal vulnerability circles inspired Ruikatsu. What is the Japanese concept behind crying clubs? Ruikatsu, literally meaning 'tear activity" or 'tear-seeking", is a Japanese wellness trend focused on the intentional act of crying to relieve stress, improve emotional health, and promote mental well-being. The term combines the words 'rui" (tears) and 'katsu" (short for 'katsudō," meaning activity), similar to other Japanese trends like 'shūkatsu" (job hunting) or 'konkatsu" (marriage hunting). Ruikatsu involves organized sessions where participants gather to watch emotional films, listen to touching stories, or read heartfelt letters—anything that can provoke a genuine emotional release. The idea is that crying helps people release bottled-up emotions, especially in a society like Japan's, where expressing vulnerability in public is often discouraged. These sessions are sometimes led by professional 'tear therapists" who guide individuals through the process. How did the concept come up in Japan? The term was first coined around 2013 by Hiroki Terai, a Japanese entrepreneur who originally gained attention for offering 'divorce ceremonies." He noticed that people going through breakups or stressful life events often felt better after crying, and this observation led him to create structured sessions where people could cry intentionally to relieve emotional tension. Why is Ruikatsu popular? In high-pressure environments like Japan's work culture, emotional suppression is common. Ruikatsu provides a safe and socially acceptable outlet to let those feelings out. Scientific studies have also supported the idea that crying—especially emotional crying, not just reflex tears—can reduce stress hormones, lower blood pressure, and promote emotional clarity. Participants often report feeling lighter, calmer, and more emotionally balanced after a session. Why Ruikatsu is key to Japan Ruikatsu taps into a broader cultural shift in Japan toward mental health awareness, emotional literacy, and alternative forms of stress relief. While Japan traditionally values emotional restraint and stoicism, especially in public or professional settings, trends like ruikatsu are helping normalize emotional expression in a structured, purposeful way. With Agency Inputs view comments Location : Mumbai, India, India First Published: August 06, 2025, 16:56 IST News cities » mumbai-news Mumbai Gets A Crying Club: How Japan Came Up With 'Top Tear' Solution For Stress & Woes Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
19 hours ago
- News18
The Menopause Equation: Hormones, Health And The Healing We Don't Talk About
When menopause comes calling, it's time to build a new relationship with your changing body, one rooted in awareness, nourishment, and self-care. Menopause, as I call it, is the evolutionary intervention that demands women put themselves first and prioritise their health. We all understand menopause as an equation involving biological age, hormones, and environmental factors. However, the long and short of it is that dips in our estrogen and progesterone levels cause associated health issues—including compromised bone health, mental well-being, sleep disturbances, decreased libido, cognitive changes, and heart health. Sounds like quite a list, right? A crucial aspect we all need to keep in mind is that instead of dreading or disliking this stage of life, we must learn to embrace it and heal in it. Treat this as the ultimate calling for self-investment, self-rejuvenation, and self-care! The Japanese seem to have the right attitude towards this life phase, calling it konenki, or the 'renewal period," which to me signifies the start of a new chapter in self-love. 1. Lift your health as you lift weights Building muscle is the perfect antidote to upcoming osteoporosis or joint pain. Strength training is no longer a forte reserved for men, women have owned it for ages now. Ensure you're consuming foods rich in essential plant nutrients, good fats (nuts, seeds, olive oil), fibre, protein, probiotics, and even some complex carbohydrates (whole grains and low glycaemic foods). Instead of cutting down on meals, cut down on junk. It's high time to take a closer look at your immediate surroundings and eliminate the negative influences in your life (yes, that includes toxic people and substances!). 4. Transcend to longevity As you breathe and meditate daily, you let go of stress and inflammation while taking in fresh healing prana… so why not do this as often as you can? (Hint: Pranayama is the most underrated longevity hack available to us all!) 5. Yes to healing supplements, no to inflammation Sadly, our meals can't always provide everything we need. So why wither away when you can supplement and complement your diet? Start with the basics—Vitamin D and K2, Omega-3, Magnesium, Collagen, and anything else your nutritionist or doctor recommends. 6. Laughter therapy is no laughing matter Make time and space for a daily dose of LOL! Laughter literally and physically heals you from the inside out. 7. Make your sleep a pleasant downtime, not a stressful ordeal Committing to a daily sleep hygiene protocol will prove rewarding for the best person in the room you. 8. Affirm away and always with a smile No more guilt for putting yourself first. Remember: your health and well-being are not luxuries. They are the biological foundation for your hormonal health and longevity. Send positive truths out into the universe just for you. 9. Say hello to your gynaecologist/OBGYN every now and then You've spent decades planning your family's lives—now it's time to gift yourself that same level of brilliant scheduling. Pencil in regular check-ups. Your doctor can help you with a plan tailored specifically to you. When menopause comes calling, it's time to build a new relationship with your changing body, one rooted in awareness, nourishment, and self-care. The News18 Lifestyle section brings you the latest on health, fashion, travel, food, and culture — with wellness tips, celebrity style, travel inspiration, and recipes. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : hormones view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: News lifestyle » health-and-fitness The Menopause Equation: Hormones, Health And The Healing We Don't Talk About Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
21 hours ago
- Time of India
We don't walk anymore—We just count steps
Walking isn't fun anymore, we are held hostage by the step count There was a time when going for a walk meant exactly going for a walk. No wrist buzzing, no real-time pace updates, no dopamine hit from hitting an arbitrary number on a screen. Just you, your legs, a sidewalk, and maybe a sunset if you timed it right. Now? Walking has become a task. A goal. A competition. An item on your to-do list right between 'answer emails' and 'pretend to meditate.' We no longer stroll—we strategize. The step count watches us, judges us, and quietly whispers that 7,382 steps just isn't good enough. What happened? The rise of the step count Let's start with the popular 10,000 steps. It sounds so science-y, so legit. It came from a Japanese pedometer ad campaign in the 1960s. A device literally called 'manpo-kei,' which translates to—yep—10,000 steps meter. Fast-forward to today, and it's gospel. Health apps, fitness influencers, insurance companies—even your grandma's on board. If you haven't walked 10,000 steps, did you even move? And while walking is good for you, and sure, some folks need the nudge to get up and move, we've taken something simple and turned it into yet another performance metric. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Victoria Principal Is Almost 75, See Her Now Reportingly Undo Walking used to be a mental reset. Now it's a mobile treadmill, just without the belt. Performance over presence Go to any park, promenade, or office complex at lunchtime, and you'll spot them: the step counters. Not people on leisurely strolls, but determined, headphone-clad individuals power-walking like their fitness tracker is their parole officer. No eye contact. No scenic detours. Just relentless pacing in circles if need be, anything to hit the number. We've turned a basic human function into a performance. And with that, we've lost the most beautiful part of walking: the aimlessness. Because here's the thing: real walking, the kind that clears your head and reconnects you with the world, doesn't care how far you go. It doesn't need to be Instagrammed. It doesn't come with a daily target. You might even walk five minutes, sit on a bench for ten, then walk home. And you know what? That still counts. Even if your smartwatch says otherwise. The anxiety of incomplete steps We've developed a low-grade obsession. Miss your step goal one day, and it gnaws at you. You feel like you failed. Your body may feel fine, your mind rested, but that gap on your tracking app? That's betrayal. Some people march around their living room at 11:57 PM just to close a loop. Some log 'extra' steps before bed, like hoarding coins in a game. Is that health? Or is it just another way to feel inadequate if you don't comply? Fitness technology has brought a lot of good, but it's also made walking feel… mechanical. Instead of intuitive movement, it's gamified motion. Instead of presence, there's pressure. The lost art of wandering Remember when walking meant window shopping, daydreaming, or talking with a friend while circling the block? Now we're laser-focused on pace, cadence, and distance. We've forgotten how to wander. But here's what science actually supports: walking without distraction, without goals, improves mood, sparks creativity, and lowers cortisol. In other words, you don't need a tracker to benefit. In fact, you may benefit more without one. Philosophers, poets, and inventors throughout history have sworn by the casual, meandering walk. Charles Dickens walked 20 miles a day, not to burn fat, but to battle writer's block. Virginia Woolf wandered the streets of London just to think. Nietzsche famously said, 'All truly great thoughts are conceived by walking.' None of them had an Apple Watch buzzing on their wrist. The case for untracked steps Do not ditch walking. Quite the opposite. Walk often. Walk far. Walk silly. Walk slow. Walk in zigzags if you want. But maybe, once in a while, leave the step counter at home. Take a route you've never taken. Stop to look at flowers. Walk without a podcast. Let your thoughts drift. Let your mind breathe. If you've been feeling like walking isn't helping the way it used to—maybe it's because you're not really walking. Maybe you're just collecting data while moving forward. And no surprise, our bodies notice the difference. When walking becomes just another line to check off your productivity app, it loses the peace that made it powerful in the first place. Movement becomes monotony. Stillness gets buried under stats. Let walking be walking again Here's a radical idea in 2025: walk for the hell of it. No route. No goal. No tracker. Let the walk take you wherever it wants. Breathe the air. Notice the sky. Stop for an ice cream if the mood hits. Because when walking becomes about everything but walking about calories, steps, goals, goals, goals we lose the joy. And joy, believe it or not, is pretty good for your health too. So maybe the question isn't 'Did you hit your steps today?' Maybe it's: 'Did you enjoy your walk?'
