Latest news with #CryClub
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Communal emotional wellness spaces: A trend people are returning to
Emotional well-being is stepping out of the therapist's office and getting into shared spaces. 'Cry clubs' are cropping up across Indian cities as strangers sit down in groups where listening and speaking matter equally. Such wellness circles are designed with care to create a safe and supportive environment. Community and connection Such wellness circles are designed with care to create a safe and supportive environment. Sessions often start with calming exercises, move into an open-sharing phase, and conclude with reflective activities. Organisers share helpline numbers, therapy contacts, or online support group details so the benefits can continue beyond the session. The Cry Club in Mumbai, for instance, gathers participants in an intimate space where they permit themselves to let themselves cry. There is a small entry fee, and attendees can use pseudonyms if they wish. Founder Saurav Arya says this 'encourages emotional honesty'. Support Circle, based in Delhi-NCR, was founded to let people connect with others facing similar emotional challenges. 'Our circles are led by trained psychologists who guide people to adopt habits that help improve their well-being,' notes founder Vishal Bisht. The Listeners' Circle in Bengaluru and the Healthy Crying Club in Surat have a similar set-up; the latter holds monthly sessions where people are invited to release pent-up emotions through tears. From Japanese roots to indian wellness The concept of communal crying or venting has roots in Japan, where the practice of Ruikatsu, or 'tear activity,' encourages intentional crying to relieve stress and improve emotional health. Entrepreneur Hiroki Terai coined the term in 2013 after noticing how much lighter people felt after crying. Some sessions even use emotional films, heartfelt letters or moving stories to trigger genuine tears, sometimes guided by trained tear therapists. Within Japanese culture, crying is being reframed as a sign of balance rather than weakness. Indian adaptations, meanwhile, tailor the practice to local cultural needs, with clubs using guided prompts, films or storytelling to help participants open up. Why it works Mumbai-based Ananya Sharma, 29, recalls her first visit to a cry club: 'I walked in with months of bottled-up emotions. The session began with deep breathing; we then went around the circle, and people spoke and let the tears flow. By the end, I felt lighter; it was the first time in years I cried without feeling guilty or weak.' Psychologists point out that crying in a collective setting is both a physiological reset and a form of social bonding. 'When people share their fears or grief, it strengthens coping skills and turns vulnerability into a bridge for deeper relationships,' shares Pavitra Shankar of Aakash Healthcare, who believes such spaces help counter urban isolation. Minakshi Manchanda, associate director of Psychiatry at Asian Hospital, says crying together can ease headaches and disrupted sleep. She notes, 'We live in a performance age where people suppress emotions. Communal wellness reflects a growing desire for unrestricted connection.' Arpita Kohli at PSRI Hospital agrees: 'Traditional family and community structures in urban India have weakened.' Sharing emotions in such settings, she says, reduces loneliness and strengthens feelings of belonging.
News18
06-08-2025
- Health
- 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.
