After a taxing week at work, when a manager felt he was at his breaking point.
After a friend’s recommendation, he booked a session at a rage room — a space designed to let people unleash frustrations by smashing objects.
As the mananer picked up a baseball bat and swung at a bottle, he felt a twinge of fear. But with each swing, the act became less about destruction and more about release, about reclaiming a sense of peace.
“After a while, he started to feel the stress lowering and his mind calming down.
What the manager experienced is a growing trend in India in 2024.
Rage rooms — also called smash rooms — are emerging as an unconventional outlet for anger and stress.
The concept, already popular in countries like the United States of America, the United Kingdom and Japan, has found its footing in India in recent years, particularly as conversations around mental health gained momentum.
The idea is simple yet cathartic: don protective gear, choose from an array of breakable objects –– from plates to electronic devices –– and channel your anger, stress, or anxiety into smashing them, all in a controlled environment.
Rage rooms stand out because they combine physical release with emotional catharsis, creating an experience that feels as much like therapy as entertainment.
Varied experiences
For some, rage rooms provide an immediate and active form of stress relief. As meditation or yoga requires time and patience.
The idea of breaking things in a controlled environment sounded unique and liberating,” he said.
Do rage rooms offer mental health benefits?
It has been learnt that usually, people who come to a rage room either want to experience it once just for the thrill or because they are angry, frustrated, or stressed and want to let it out for a while.
Unlike traditional therapeutic methods such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), mindfulness, or emotional regulation techniques, rage rooms do not address the root cause of the emotional distress, in most cases.
Research in the Journal of Sports Sciences highlights how physical exertion can lower cortisol levels and trigger the release of endorphins, creating a temporary calming effect.”
For some, breaking objects can serve as a metaphor for “breaking free” from emotional burdens or frustrations. This symbolic act provides a sense of control and empowerment, which is often lacking in stressful situations.
What are rage rooms?
Rage rooms provide a safe space to express anger without fear of judgment or real-world consequences.
This allows individuals to explore their emotions without harming themselves or others.
Rage Room mostly attracts Gen Z and corporate groups. They have introduced breakup therapy and sessions to help de-stress after toxic workplace experiences.
It offers a unique mix of fun and catharsis, but experts stressed they’re no substitute for addressing deeper emotional issues.
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