Movement & Mental Health: Boston Fitness Pros on What It Really Means to Take Care of Yourself

May is Mental Health Awareness Month — and at Fit Scene, we believe that mental and physical wellness go hand in hand. Movement can be a powerful tool for the mind, but it's just one piece of the puzzle. The real work happens in the quiet moments, the boundaries we set, the systems we build, and the grace we give ourselves on the hard days.

We reached out to four Boston fitness professionals to ask the questions that don't always come up in the gym: What does mental health really mean to you? What keeps you grounded? And what would you say to someone who is running on empty?

Their answers are honest, personal, and worth sitting with.

1. Stop confusing suffering with progress.

Jeremy Colon — Owner & Co-Founder of Revamp Training | @revamp.training

Jeremy's relationship with mental health shifted after a kidney transplant that forced him to redefine what strength really means. Then came the Boston Marathon — a race that turned into something much bigger than 26.2 miles.

"The marathon was not just physical," he says. "It symbolized exhaustion, endurance, emotional overload, identity strain, and trying to carry too much for too long. Crossing the finish line felt like both an accomplishment and a wake-up call."

For Jeremy, movement is how he processes what he can't always put into words. "Some of my clearest moments happen while moving. Every opportunity to move now feels like gratitude in action."

His daily anchor? Creating quiet before the noise starts. "Whether it's prayer, reflection, a walk, or simply sitting still for a few minutes — I've learned I need intentional space to check in with myself mentally and emotionally."

And for anyone running on empty, his message is direct: "Stop waiting until you completely break down before you start taking care of yourself. You do not have to earn rest. Your future cannot be built on constantly abandoning yourself in the present."

Catch Jeremy at the South Boston Waterfront Fitness Crawl on May 30th, the Massport Summer Series (June 2nd & 9th, 5:30–6:30pm), and The Greenway Conservancy (Tuesdays starting July 21st, 5:30–6pm).

2. Sometimes you just need to scream it out in a dark room on a stationary bike.

Lyndsay Allyn Cox — Instructor at Down Under School of Yoga | @lyndsayallyn

Lyndsay is an empath — and she'll be the first to tell you that holding space for others takes a lot out of you. "As a coach you are with your students through all their ups and downs, the good, the bad, and the ugly. It's what makes me a compassionate teacher but also means sometimes I need to scream it out in a dark room on a stationary bike."

Her relationship with movement goes deep. "Discovering my love of movement saved me. The only way I survived Covid lockdown, divorce, job loss was by finding a movement practice that worked for me. It gave me an outlet to breathe, sweat, cry, scream, shake."

Her grounding ritual is beautifully simple: intentional breathing. "Not like regular breathing I do automatically — but deep, deep breaths. When I'm walking the dog, or taking a shower, or sitting at a cafe. It reminds me that I am alive."

Her advice for anyone feeling overwhelmed? "First — know that it is perfectly normal. Second — know that you are not alone. Third — move. Take a walk, shake your body, do the hokey pokey, whatever. Just something that gives you a chance to get out of your head and into your body."

Find Lyndsay at Down Under School of Yoga in the South End, Back Bay, Brookline, and Central Square.

3. Strength is mental, emotional, and built through consistency.

Dani Sunshine — Instructor at BronCore Fitness | @danisunshine5

Dani brings a rare perspective to this conversation — she's both a fitness professional and a mental health professional, and the overlap between the two shapes everything about how she coaches.

"Mental health is the foundation of everything," she says. "It shows up in motivation, confidence, resilience, and even the ability to be present in a workout. Strength is not just physical. It is mental, emotional, and built through consistency, self awareness, and learning how to work with yourself instead of against yourself."

Movement helps her regulate, reset, and reconnect. "Some days it is about pushing hard and releasing stress. Other days it is slower and more intentional. It gives me structure, something to come back to, and a way to process without needing words."

Her daily ritual is a moment of pause before the day fully begins. "It helps me feel more in control of my energy and more intentional with how I show up."

For anyone feeling burnt out, her advice is to simplify. "You do not need to fix your whole life in one day. Focus on one small thing. Small wins help us reach our big wins. Burnout is not a sign that you are failing — it is a sign that something needs to shift."

Find Dani at BronCore Fitness, 42 Court St, Boston.

4. Fitness can save lives — because it gives people purpose, structure, and proof of resilience.

Shane Whittredge — Coach at EverybodyFights Seaport | @shanewhittredge

Shane's story starts somewhere most people don't expect from a fitness coach. After battling Cushing's Disease — a condition that affected his hormones, stress levels, and physical health — he experienced depression, anxiety, weight gain, and days where simple tasks felt impossible.

"There were days where I struggled with not recognizing myself anymore," he says. "Now, being six years Cushing's Disease free, fitness has become so much more than aesthetics or performance. It's gratitude for what my body can do. It's proof of resilience. It's my outlet, my therapy, and my reminder that hard things can be overcome."

For Shane, movement is how he processes everything — stress, frustration, self-doubt. "A few years ago, there were times I didn't even feel like my body belonged to me anymore. So now, every workout is a reminder of what my body CAN do instead of focusing on what it can't."

His grounding practice centers on intentional daily movement and the power of community. "Having people around you who support you, challenge you, and encourage you makes a huge difference — especially during difficult seasons of life."

His advice for anyone feeling burnt out is layered and practical: "First, sit back and take a breath. Second, don't isolate yourself. Lean on your people. Talk to someone. And lastly, focus on small wins. Go for a walk. Get a workout in. Drink water. Small actions build momentum."

And his bigger message? "I truly believe fitness can save lives — because it gives people purpose, structure, confidence, and community. It reminds you that you're stronger than you think you are, both mentally and physically."

Find Shane at EverybodyFights Seaport — and catch his Bodyweight Burn class at Seaport Sweat every Tuesday at 6:30pm at Seaport Common.

What We Took Away

Every conversation was different, but the same themes kept coming back.

💚 Mental health is active work. From intentional breathing to daily pauses to therapy, each of these professionals carves out time to check in with themselves — not just their clients.

🏃 Movement supports, but doesn't replace, mental health care. It's a powerful tool, but it works best alongside boundaries, rest, and honest self-reflection.

🤝 You don't have to carry it alone. Ask for help sooner. Talk to someone. Build healthier systems — not just harder ones.

🌿 Small habits add up. A deep breath, a short walk, a moment of quiet before the day starts — the small things are often the most sustainable.

This Mental Health Awareness Month, let their stories be a reminder that taking care of yourself isn't a luxury. It's the foundation everything else is built on.

Want more from Boston's fitness community? Follow us on Instagram @fitscenebos and check out fitscene.co for studios, events, and more.