If you want to get in shape, go to the gym. So what if you want to get your sanity in shape? Kevin Love might have an answer.
Back in 2017 (yes, almost four years ago!) Love had a panic attack when she played a home game against the Atlanta Hawks.
“I struggled to catch my breath,” he said in The Players’ Tribune. “It’s hard to describe, but everything was spinning like my brain was trying to climb out of my head. The air felt thick and heavy. My mouth was like chalk. I remember our assistant coach yelling something about a defensive set. I nodded, but I didn’t hear much of what he was saying. At that point, I was freaking out. “
As someone who has severe anxiety, I can totally relate to it. Love is a professional athlete, so I can only imagine how much stress there is on his plate. I know there are a few days when I feel like I am struggling to keep myself from freaking out and getting anxiety. According to the Fast Company, Love says it’s strange that athletes have so many people helping them with their physical fitness, but when he was on the floor struggling to breathe, no one really knew what to do.
Mental health is just as important as going to the gym. That’s why Love teamed up to create Coa, a mental fitness gym. Coa was founded by Alexa Meyer and Dr. Emily Anhalt and is a therapist-led platform for emotional fitness classes. The idea behind this is to introduce mental health as a daily practice. The programs are based on the “7 characteristics of emotional fitness”: self-confidence, empathy, play, curiosity, resilience, mindfulness and communication.
I am in love with this idea! If you’re interested in attending with me just know that due to the pandemic, Coa will be virtual for the time being. According to Fast Company, they plan to offer in-person classes at various fitness centers across the country.
