Production Workers Take Five to Reset

A former television producer turned fitness trainer is using her experience with overwork to help make the production industry healthy from the inside out.

The huddle before the sweat at a Crew Moves event

Courtesy: Christine Saldaña NEW YORK — On a rainy Saturday morning along the East River, a group of entertainment industry workers gathered for the day ahead. But instead of carrying cables or apple boxes, they held yoga mats. 

“Raise your hand if you’re tired!” said fitness trainer Sohailla Mahjour, theatrically swinging both arms in the air and drawing laughter from the group attending Crew Moves, a monthly wellness event designed specifically for television and film professionals.

For over a decade, Mahjour worked as a television producer and theatre actress. The long, unpredictable hours and constant pressure on set left a toll. “I saw so many people at work, including myself, struggling with mental and physical health.”

Mahjour encourages attendees to register via QR code

She realized she needed outside support after she hit her breaking point. “I hired a nutritionist and started exercising at my own pace,” she recalled. “I began to feel stronger, confident, like myself again. In 2024, Mahjour slipped into a different role, this time as a fitness trainer. She drew from her experiences to launch a program which aims to address the physical and mental strains that often come with stressful careers. That same year, a Looking Glass survey found that 35 percent of film, TV, and cinema professionals described their mental health as “very poor”, up from 24 percent in 2022. 

“I want to show people they can take care of themselves on and off set,” said Mahjour, one arm stretching across her body, while flicking a braid from her face with the other.

Among the Crew Moves participants was Warren Watson, a sound mixer who wrapped a 16-hour shoot the night before.“It can be rough,” he said, tying his sneaker. “But I thought it’d be a good opportunity to get some exercise.”

Freelance producer Sandra Nlongo turned down two gigs to make it to class. “It was worth it,” she said. “It’s not often you’re surrounded by people who get it.”

“I was telling someone else here about my cousin who passed away many years ago due to unsafe conditions on a set,” Nlongo said. She paused. “It feels good to talk about this with people who understand.”

Majhour designed the classes to combine physical exercise, community support with mindfulness. For those in high-pressure jobs, grounding exercises can be a valuable tool for stress management.

“Meditation can help distinguish between what’s important and what’s less important in life,” said Jonathan Hashmonay, an actor and graduate psychology student at Columbia University.

“Take a step back from the chaos. Find a hobby. You are a three-dimensional person,” he reminds anyone feeling overworked.

Crew Moves will continue meeting monthly, even during the colder months. The next class is set for November 2nd, is a hike through Palisades Interstate Park and ends at an overlook to enjoy the changing autumn colors. by Christine Saldana