Trenton Sweet – Energy Fitness Studio – is kicking off our month of men’s health!
In a world where men are often asked to carry more than they’re allowed to feel, it’s time we have a real conversation about men’s health—not just from a fitness or medical standpoint, but holistically. My most recently published book “Rewilding the Modern Man” is exclusively about men’s health, where I dive into this topic extensively.
As a gym owner at Energy Fitness Studio, and a husband and father of four, I’ve seen firsthand how our physical, emotional, and spiritual health are all tied to one powerful thread: our hormones.
The Hormonal Foundation of the Modern Man
Hormones like testosterone, cortisol, and dopamine aren’t just biological markers—they’re spiritual and mental gears. When one is out of alignment, the whole machine feels off. You might feel it as fatigue, irritability, anger, brain fog, a lack of drive, low libido, or even apathy. You might not realize that the root cause isn’t just in your circumstances—it’s in your biology.
But here’s the truth: you can take ownership of that biology.
And it doesn’t have to come in the form of synthetic pills or expensive prescriptions. Most of the healing happens when we return to your nature, to movement, to breath, and to the ancient rhythms that men have always known, but often forget in the noise of modern life.
Exercise: The Hormonal Reset Button
When a man lifts weights, swings kettlebells, sprints, or walks uphill with purpose—he’s not just building muscle. He’s sending a signal to his endocrine system to wake up. Testosterone rises, dopamine kicks in, growth hormone is released, and the stress hormone cortisol gets regulated.
Resistance training and explosive functional movement do more than change your body composition—they sharpen your mind, fuel your confidence, and elevate your capacity to show up powerfully for your family, your work, and your mission.
When I train men at Energy Fitness Studio, I remind them that it’s not about chasing aesthetics—it’s about becoming dangerous in the best way possible. A protector. A provider. A present man.
Sauna: Ancient Heat, Modern Medicine
Heat therapy isn’t new. Nordic cultures, Native Americans, Romans, and Japanese traditions have all utilized heat as a form of purification and strengthening for centuries. And now science is catching up.
Regular sauna use—3–5 times per week for just 20 minutes—has been shown to:
• Increase testosterone naturally
• Lower chronic inflammation
• Enhance growth hormone
• Boost mental clarity and resilience
• Aid in detoxification and cardiovascular health
More importantly, it offers a moment of silence. Of stillness. Of presence. The sauna becomes a sacred space—a modern sweat lodge—where the noise of the world burns away and a man can simply—be.
Stress Management: Reclaiming the Calm Within the Storm
Men today are under immense pressure: to perform, to be valued, to suppress emotion while staying stoic and strong.
Men make up 50% of the population yet commit 80% of the suicides—men are 4X more likely to commit suicide. Almost 94% of the prison population are men, men are 1.5x more likely to become homeless (277 out of every 100,000 men), and men are 3x more likely to die of alcohol abuse. To name a few disparities. Men also commit close to 80% of the harmful crimes in our country taking many more men’s lives as a consequence. I display these statistics not to say women aren’t also experiencing mental health issues in today’s climate but to underline the fact that men seemingly have nowhere to go to resolve such issues.
That’s where ownership, accountability, and responsibility come back into the conversation. No victimhood allowed. Life is 10% what happens to you, and 90% how you respond to those things.
The issue is obvious, but most of these consequences can be avoided easily by “Rewilding the Modern Man”. Eat clean, move your body, sweat, spend time in silence (no phone, no tv, just silence), and build community. Men need purpose, we do. Without purpose we dissolve into worthlessness. This is why men 75 and older commit suicide at the highest rate of all age and gender groups, old age and isolation lead to depression, and a feeling of worthlessness. So, find some stuff to live for.
Limit your stress. Chronic stress elevates cortisol, tanks testosterone, and leads to burnout, addiction, emotional distance, and even disease. All of which can leave a man feeling devalued.
You can’t avoid stress—but you can train your nervous system to respond differently.
That’s where exercise, sauna use, breathwork, prayer, cold plunges, quality sleep, nature walks, journaling, and silence come in. These are not soft practices. These are WARRIOR practices. When you learn to regulate your nervous system, you reclaim control of your state. That’s how we begin to heal generational patterns—not by numbing or escaping, but by confronting and transmuting.
Why Men’s Mental Health Matters for Society
When a man is mentally broken, disconnected, or emotionally repressed, the ripple effect hits everything: marriages crumble, children grow up without emotional modeling, communities lack caring leaders and guardians, and society becomes chaotic.
But when a man heals—when he balances his hormones, trains his body, quiets his mind, and listens to the call of his soul—he becomes a pillar. A strong foundation with PURPOSE. He becomes someone you can count on. He becomes a father who sees his kids. A husband who protects and cherishes. A friend who lifts others up. A leader who builds, not destroys.
This is not about ego—it’s about presence and purpose.
Men’s mental health isn’t a luxury issue. It’s foundational to the strength and structure of our culture. A thriving society begins with thriving men who are in alignment—physically, emotionally, spiritually.
Final Thoughts on Men’s Health
To the men reading this: you are not broken. You are not weak for wanting more peace, more vitality, and most importantly more meaning.
You were made to carry weight—but not to be crushed by it. You were made for challenge—but not for self-destruction. You were made to protect and provide—but not at the expense of your own soul.
Let this be the season you take radical ownership. Train your body. Sweat in the sauna. Master your breath. Take time for reflection. And surround yourself with other men who are on the same journey.
Because when men rise, everything changes.
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Looking to get back to basics & build community? Check out Energy Fitness Studio!
Trenton Sweet
Author of “Rewilding the Modern Man” & “Awakening the Tranquil Warrior”
World Record Holder 💪
Co-Owner of Energy Fitness Studio
Host of The Energy Fitness Podcast
Father. Husband. Brother on the path.
