Because the holidays are heavy and movement helps you carry them.
Washington, D.C. — December 2025 — As holiday stress peaks nationwide, fitness entrepreneur Gerard “Coach G” Burley of SWEAT DC is reminding the community that movement does more than build strength. Growing research shows that exercise can be as effective — and in some cases more effective — than medication for managing stress, anxiety, and mild to moderate depression.
While the holidays bring celebration, they also bring disrupted routines, increased pressure, loneliness, and elevated stress levels. Multiple studies, including meta-analyses published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine and the BMJ, show that physical activity reduces depressive symptoms at levels comparable to antidepressants. And for Sweat DC, the mission to help people move with purpose has always been deeply personal.
Coach G grew up watching his mother, Henrietta Burley, embody strength and resilience. She poured everything into her family and community, often putting her own health last. When she passed away suddenly from congestive heart failure the week before he left for college, movement became his lifeline.
“Movement saved me,” said Coach G. “It gave me a way to grieve, to rebuild, and to feel strong again. I wanted to create a space that could have saved my mom’s life, somewhere people feel supported, seen, and connected, especially during seasons when life feels the heaviest.”
While the holidays bring joy, they also bring disrupted routines, elevated pressure, loneliness, financial strain, and emotional overload. Movement counteracts all of it — and fast. Studies show that consistent exercise can:
- Improve mood by increasing serotonin and dopamine.
- Reduce anxiety and emotional overwhelm.
- Strengthen resilience and cognitive function
- Improve sleep quality and stress hormones and support long-term mental health on par with medication
At SWEAT, people of all backgrounds come together to move, breathe, and build confidence, creating the kind of community that helps carry people through the emotional weight of the season.
“The holidays can be beautiful, but they can also be heavy,” added Coach G. “SWEAT is about giving people a place to feel strong, supported, and connected when they need it most.”
Founded in 2015 by Gerard “Coach G” Burley, SWEAT DC is a premier fitness community offering strength, conditioning, and wellness programming for all fitness levels. With locations across D.C. and Baltimore, SWEAT’s mission is to sweat with purpose, building confidence, community, and resilience through movement.
For more information or questions please reach out to Brandt Ricca at brandt@noraleedc.com or at (202) 417-1177.
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