Most of us are well aware of the mind-body connection, and there’s no denying the impact our mental wellbeing has on our physical health, affecting everything from our gut health to our sleep patterns and our emotions.

It’s this recent shift in our understanding that’s led more trainers to open their own studios with the aim of strengthening both elements. Say goodbye to quick-fix, fat-loss-focused bootcamps and gymtimidation, and hello to mind gyms, where the workouts not only equip you with the tools to meet your physical goals but also help to strengthen your mind.

At south-west London studio Resilience Zone, the motto is ‘squats for the soul, bicep curls for the brain’. There, you can relax with sound baths, breathwork and yoga, book talking therapy and enjoy an introduction to mindfulness. If you’re after something more active, however, the timetable of fitness classes held at sister studio Transition Zone includes boxing, TRX and mobility workouts.

“You look after your body from a physical perspective, so why should it be any different from how you look after your head?” asks Claire Finlay, founder of Resilience Zone. “Everyone goes through highs and lows in life, and there will always be curveballs thrown at us. We need to know how to navigate them – that’s the whole purpose of a mind gym.” 

Since Resilience Zone opened in 2021, other trainers have looked to foster their own approaches to mental and physical strength. 

That was certainly the case for PT and therapist Nikkita Hope-Brown. After over a decade as a personal trainer, Hope-Brown studied to be a counsellor. It was her work in trauma therapy that inspired her to open Found, a women-only strength studio in Battersea helping you to “free your mind and transform your body”. 

“I realised that some of my personal training clients probably needed a bit of therapy, and my therapy clients definitely needed a regular exercise routine,” she explains. “If you’re not working out in a healthy way or you’re not working out at all, it’s like parking a car outside and leaving it to deteriorate. Our bodies are made to move (responsibly).” 

Each client in Hope-Brown’s small group training sessions has their own alcove with a locker and mirror. All of the classes start with setting an intention and writing it on the mirror. 

“It’s your own little personal message that you can see as you workout, to you, from you.” Hope-Brown explains. “Then we do strength sets, a circuit and a finisher. We do peak, but then we stretch and do a neuroscience exercise at the end.” 

She uses techniques like havening, a calming exercise designed to soothe via a series of gentle touches. “It was my work on trauma that made me realise the brain is the same as the body; you need to do specific exercises to work out those brain regions and support overall wellbeing.” 

If you think mind gyms are all relaxation and meditation, however, then think again. These studios still offer extra-sweaty workouts to get your blood pumping and endorphins flowing, while supporting you in meeting your fitness goals in a way that’s sustainable and benefits your mental wellbeing.  

Danni Tabor, co-founder of women-only studio Lift Studio LDN, emphasises: “We’re not against fat loss, we’re just against the way in which it’s normally approached. Instead, we’ll work with you to support your fitness goals in a compassionate, sustainable way that enhances your life, rather than taking away from it”

Lift Studio LDN focuses on weight training and shares mindset resources such as podcasts, journaling prompts, nutrition and activity tips with its members. Encouraging them to think about what they are gaining – strength, community, a greater mind-body connection – rather than the weight they’re losing.  

It’s all about making exercise a pleasurable experience, rather than a punishment. And, the physical studio space plays a huge role in this for many independents. They ditch the harsh, overstimulating lighting and opt for natural elements that allow their clients to connect with themselves.  

At Found, the aesthetic focus is on creating a soft, calm environment. “Our heads are so noisy, our lives are so noisy; we wanted to create a space that didn’t add to that noise,” Hope-Brown says. “We want people to feel safe and looked after. You’re coming here to invest in that woman in the mirror, so I wanted to put as much effort into creating the studio as I want women to put into themselves,” Hope-Brown explains.

At Lift Studio LDN, the squat racks are surrounded by plants, bringing a sense of the outside in, with brightly coloured walls and female-focused art. For Resilience Zone founder Finlay, creating a space that was airy, welcoming and non-clinical was also key.  

The question is, are Londoners ready to embrace the mind-body workout and invest in a 360-degree wellness approach? Well, it’s complicated. 

Like so many small businesses, boutique fitness and wellbeing studios have felt the brunt of the cost of living crisis. Replace London, a functional fitness studio combining physical and mental recovery with body rollers and meditation pods, finds that its clients only really look at these spaces as a treat, rather than a crucial part of their routine.

“It’s an experience they might do once a month, but to really get the benefits, you need to do it a couple of times a week and make it part of your training routine,” founder Ania Hoppner tells us.  

Finlay agrees, adding that this part of the wellness industry is still a work in progress. “I don’t think it’s a fad; I think it’s going to gain momentum, providing it doesn’t come across as woo-woo, because that scares people off,” she says. “There’s a science behind it that helps people fully understand the benefits, and I think many people are already starting to realise this.”

Despite the slow-moving pick-up, business owners are noticing that, once again, it’s the younger generation that is showing themselves to be much more open to this way of working out.

“Those in their 20s and 30s are more aware of the benefits of a full-body approach, and as they continue to move up in their careers and can invest in these sorts of gyms and classes. Maybe that’s when it’s really going to boom and become much more mainstream,” Hoppner says.  

It can only go up from here, Tabor adds. “If people want sustainable, long-lasting changes, it all starts with the mindset and with changing your relationship with exercise and with your body.”

While there are other ways to do this, through therapy and at-home self-development practices, at these mind gyms you can assume you’re in safe hands, with qualified trainers and therapists who can guide you to working out your body and your mind.  

As ever, if you are struggling with mental ill health, it’s worth seeking help from your GP as a first port of call.

Images: Getty