Rage workouts gain popularity as fitness trend, but experts question cathartic benefits
Anger-focused fitness classes, often marketed as “rage workouts,” are gaining popularity in gyms across the UK and US, where participants are encouraged to channel frustration through high-intensity exercises such as tyre slams, rope drills and boxing combinations. The trend has been promoted as a modern form of emotional release in a high-stress world.
However, researchers caution that the idea of “venting” anger through physical aggression may not deliver the psychological relief many expect. Studies in behavioural science suggest that acting out aggression can reinforce angry responses rather than reduce them, effectively training the brain to remain in a heightened emotional state.
A widely cited study by psychologist Brad Bushman found that individuals who express anger through hitting objects or simulated violence do not become calmer, and may instead prolong their irritation. In contrast, participants who were asked to sit quietly for a short period reported lower levels of anger, challenging assumptions about catharsis.
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Despite the evidence, rage workout classes continue to expand, with instructors arguing that the combination of physical exertion, loud vocal release and structured movement can feel empowering, even if it does not literally “release” anger in a therapeutic sense.
Experts recommend alternative coping strategies such as mindful breathing, brief periods of quiet reflection, or walking away from triggering situations, which may help reduce physiological arousal more effectively than aggressive physical activity.
As social media fuels interest in extreme fitness trends, gyms have begun packaging rage-themed sessions as both stress relief and performance training, often highlighting dramatic imagery of tyre strikes and battle-cry-style shouting. Critics warn that such marketing may oversimplify emotional regulation, turning complex mental health needs into a fitness spectacle, while supporters argue it offers a safe, structured outlet for frustration in urban environments.
Public debate continues over benefits and risks of such workouts today widely.
