Palash Grover on Why Collective Movement Is the Future of Wellness

In a world that worships productivity but quietly bleeds burnout, wellness has had to evolve: from solitary self-care rituals to something far more collective, visceral, and human. As loneliness creeps into the modern nervous system like smog, a new form of therapy is gaining momentum in unlikely places. Darkened studios, pulsing music, synchronised movement, and breath shared between strangers who slowly become a community.

Group workouts are fast becoming the new therapy because they treat what modern life breaks, not just the body, but the nervous system. In a culture that glorifies coping alone, group workouts remind us that healing can be collective too. And that’s where GroupX enters the chat. At the centre of this movement is Sanctum, a wellness space reimagining fitness not as punishment, but as emotional hygiene.

We sat down with Palash Grover, founder of Sanctum to explore why sweating together may just be the soft rebellion our mental health needs.

Luxebook: In a post-pandemic & burnout world, why do you think GroupX formats are resonating more than solo workouts and is this shift driven by science or simply by social craving?

Palash Grover: In my view, the renewed gravitation towards GroupX isn’t accidental, nor is it just emotional. It is both science driven and socially rooted. Post pandemic, people are craving connection in a world that suddenly felt very disconnected. A solo workout, while effective physically, doesn’t address the deep psychological need for shared experiences. Group fitness offers accountability, energy and structure, but more importantly, it restores a sense of belonging. I have noticed even high profile individuals, people accustomed to private training and isolation by privilege, opting for group formats because of the emotional grounding they provide. When we move together, breathe together and struggle together, the brain registers safety and community. That feeling itself is therapeutic.

Luxebook: You often talk about the psychological benefits of synchronised movement. Can you break down the neurochemical chain reaction and what exactly happens in the brain during a high energy group class that doesn’t happen alone?

Palash Grover:When movement is synchronised in a shared environment, the brain releases a powerful cocktail of neurotransmitters. Dopamine spikes due to anticipation and achievement, serotonin improves mood stability, and endorphins reduce both physical and emotional pain. But the real game changer is oxytocin, the bonding hormone that is released when humans move rhythmically in unison. In a high energy group class, music, rhythm and collective momentum create a shared emotional peak. It turns effort into euphoria. This is very difficult to replicate alone even with the best playlist. There is a reason why many performers, actors and athletes I have worked with gravitate towards group training before major events. It mentally prepares them in ways that private sessions simply cannot.

Luxebook: Loneliness is being called the new smoking. How intentionally does Sanctum design its classes to build community rather than just fitness outcomes? Any real stories or behaviours you have observed?

Palash Grover: At Sanctum, community is engineered, not accidental. We design every GroupX schedule based on psychological as well as physiological principles. From the layout of the studios to the post class interaction zones, everything is created to encourage connection without forcing it. I have seen transformations that go far beyond physical fitness. Members who once walked in with social anxiety now arrive early just to greet their classmates. I have witnessed friendships form, business collaborations begin and even relationships bloom. There are individuals who started their journey quietly in the back of the class and are now the ones energising the entire room. That shift from isolation to interaction is the true metric of success for me.

Luxebook: Decision fatigue is a modern epidemic. How does the structure of a guided class help people regulate emotions, reduce anxiety or mentally switch off in a way traditional gym workouts don’t?

Palash Grover: The modern mind is exhausted by choice. What to do, how long, how hard, when to stop. A traditional gym demands constant micro decisions. In contrast, a guided GroupX class removes that burden entirely. You enter the space and surrender control in the healthiest way possible. That psychological release is rare today. There is no need to check your phone or plan the next move. You simply follow, feel and exist in the moment. This is why many high performance individuals, including CEOs, artists and public figures, find relief in structured group formats. It becomes a moving meditation instead of just another task.

Luxebook: Looking ahead, how do you see GroupX evolving as a mainstream mental wellness tool? Are there specific innovations, formats or technologies Sanctum is betting on in the next 3 to 5 years?

Palash Grover: I see GroupX moving far beyond choreography and calorie burn. The future lies in experiential wellness. This includes breathwork, sound healing, immersive lighting, contrast therapy and even AI driven biometric feedback to tailor the emotional intensity of each session. At Sanctum, I am already experimenting with multi sensory formats that include mindfulness and nervous system balancing within high energy environments. Over the next few years, the line between a fitness studio and a mental wellness sanctuary will increasingly blur. It will no longer be about how hard you train. It will be about how deeply it heals you.

As the wellness industry sheds its obsession with aesthetics and steps into emotional intelligence, GroupX emerges as more than a trend, it’s a cultural correction. A reminder that healing doesn’t have to be quiet, lonely, or clinical. Sometimes, it’s loud. Sometimes, it sweats. Sometimes, it begins with a stranger matching your rhythm in the dark. And sometimes, the most radical act of self-care is showing up; not alone, but together. As Ratan Tata once said, “If you want to walk far, walk together.”

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