GymNation Unloads the Weights for World Mental Health Day
Krissy Vann | Host, All Things Fitness and Wellness
GymNation took an unconventional approach to mark World Mental Health Day 2025 by removing all weights from several of its gyms across the UAE and Saudi Arabia. The decision, which caught members’ attention with empty racks and piles of dumbbells outside, aimed to draw focus to mental wellbeing alongside physical fitness.
The campaign was built around the theme of encouraging people to “unload” emotionally. Rory McEntee, Chief Marketing Officer at GymNation, said, “The only weight we want people to lift on the 10th October is the weight off their mind.”
GymNation partnered with mental health organization Sage to offer special “mental fitness” classes throughout the day. Each session combined movement with open conversations about mental health. The schedule featured themed workouts such as HIIT, dance, and Bodypump, followed by a talk and Q&A with Sage professionals. Members also had the opportunity to book discounted consultations with mental health specialists through the partnership.
“For World Mental Health Day, we wanted to do something that made people stop and think about mental health with the same seriousness as physical health,” McEntee said. “Removing all the weights from the floor achieved that pause, and with Sage’s partnership we’re encouraging people to take that moment to unload mentally.”
The timing aligns with growing mental health awareness in the region. Research shows that nearly 60 percent of people in the UAE and 40 percent of young adults in Saudi Arabia experience at least one mental health disorder. Factors such as financial stress and social media use continue to play a role.
Dr. Gurveen Ranger from Sage said, “We loved GymNation’s bold idea to ‘take the weight off’ this World Mental Health Day. While physical fitness is crucial for mental health, providing a natural boost to mood and reducing anxiety, it is just as important to remind people of the value of talking and unloading emotionally.”
GymNation’s mental fitness classes were open to both members and the public. Sessions took place at selected clubs including Downtown Dubai, Dubai Silicon Oasis, and Bur Dubai.
