Exclusive | New Yorkers are bonding over loss and cardio in Grief, Sweat, & Tears workout classes

It’s an exclusive club no one wants to be a member of.That’s how several people explained why they were at a “Grief, Sweat, & Tears” event this spring, at which about 25 men and women met up for a double-header barre and spin class.When everyone gathered in the lobby to chat afterward, sweaty and smiling, conversation flowed as naturally as it would at a bar — but death and grief were the main topics, with people trading stories about lost loved ones.“It’s obviously something that people are not naturally inclined to discuss,” Margot Lichtenthal, a past Grief, Sweat, & Tears attendee who lost her father to suicide, told The Post.“But when you’re talking about it with somebody who can genuinely understand what you’ve gone through, it’s a whole different story.”After losing her dad in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lichtenthal found emotional relief through solo hot Pilates — but she was feeling isolated despite attending support groups.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.“Working 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,” she said.The events start with a workout to help alleviate the physical symptoms of grief, followed by social time for attendees to meet others going through similar experiences.While she considers herself an open book, Lichtenthal was still surprised by how easy it was to share her story with strangers.“When you go through loss, it’s really easy to feel alone in a crowded room,” she explained.“I felt such a sense of unspoken acceptance and understanding that we’ve all gone through.“Being able to talk about your story without it being this whole dramatic event, but instead just get these feelings out in a casu...