With busy schedules and fast-paced lifestyles, finding time to exercise — and then a moment to catch your breath — can feel challenging. Mindful movement (or mind-body) classes can help you fit both moving your body and relaxing your mind into your day.
“Mind-body fitness is where everything starts to click,” says Austin Head, elite instructor at Life Time in New York City. “Instead of simply going through the motions of a workout or a fitness class, mind-body classes allow you to be fully connected to what you’re doing — to really be in the moment, connecting your mind to your movement. This can lead to better form and better movement control, which can result in fewer injuries and feeling better overall.”
When you step into the studio for these classes, you do more than build physical strength. Connecting your body and mind can unlock improved mental clarity, melt away stress, and cultivate a sense of well-being.
Whether you prefer yoga, sculpting with light weights, Pilates, barre, or a combination, there’s a mind-body class for you at Life Time. To help you figure out which ones best match your goals and preferences, we’re breaking down each mind-body class so it’s easier for you to choose.
CTR
Cultivate strength, flexibility, mobility, and total-body control through deliberate, purposeful movement.
What to expect: CTR is a high-energy, low-impact athletic reformer workout designed for all fitness levels. Using a Pilates reformer (and exercises inspired by Pilates), this class blends the power of performance-based training with the precision and control of reformer movement. It’s rhythm-driven, empowering, and graceful. It’s included for all members with a Life Time signature membership at select locations. (Learn more: “Core, Tone, Reform: What Is CTR at Life Time?”)
Equipment: Pilates reformer
Length: 45 or 60 minutes
MB360
Go deeper, let go, and challenge yourself to improve mental health and physical performance.
What to expect: This mind-body program combines meditation and mobility work with functional strength and conditioning exercises — all in a high-energy format to improve the way you move and feel. The functional strength and conditioning movement patterns help participants build better posture, mind-body connection, and balance. The key philosophy of MB360 is to build intensity on integrity, which means being intentional and present in your mind and body throughout the experience. (Learn more: “Everything to Know About MB360.”)
Equipment: Mat, dumbbells, optional weighted vest
Length: 60 or 75 minutes
Warrior Sculpt
Feel calm on the inside and strength on the outside.
What to expect: This class combines the benefits of strength training with light weights and yoga. You’ll move mindfully through yoga poses, including upward- and downward-facing dog and warrior, as well as strength moves such as overhead presses, pushups, and squats. This class is set to energizing music, which serves as the soundtrack for your mind-body journey. The room is set to a medium-high heat between 85 and 95 degrees F. (Learn more: “4 Moves You’ll See in Warrior Sculpt.”)
Equipment: Yoga mat, light to moderate dumbbells
Length: 45 or 60 minutes
LIFE BARRE
Find alignment, strengthen your core, and tone your muscles.
What to expect: Practice the precision, control, and elegance of a classical ballet class and the power and strength of barre fitness. From pliés and arabesques to squats and shoulder presses, this on-and-off-the-barre class uses a variety of props and tools to challenge your strength, flexibility, stamina, and mobility. (Learn more: “5 Moves You’ll See in Life Barre.”)
Equipment: Floor-mounted barre, dumbbells, resistance bands, gliding discs, Pilates ball
Length: 45 minutes
LIFE BARRE Core
Challenge your core to improve posture and balance.
What to expect: This class combines graceful ballet-inspired sequences with challenging core exercises. Drawing from ballet, yoga, and Pilates, each class targets your core muscles, as well as your glutes and lower back, which affect core stability. This low-impact workout can help improve your posture and balance through movements performed both on and off the barre.
Equipment: Floor-mounted barre, dumbbells, resistance bands, gliding discs, Pilates ball
Length: 30 or 45 minutes
MAT FUSION
Build strength and length through precision, breath, and high-rep burnout.
What to expect: This strength-meets-flow mat-based workout blends yoga, Pilates, and barre elements to build stability, endurance, and full-body strength through high-rep, low-impact movement. Engage your muscles through full-body compound movement patterns, activating all major muscle groups before moving into highly adaptable and challenging balance work. End with intentional stretches to release tension and breathwork to activate the parasympathetic nervous system. (Learn more: “What’s the Difference Between MAT FUSION and MAT PILATES?“)
Equipment: Mat, dumbbells, resistance bands, gliding discs, Pilates ball
Length: 45 to 60 minutes
MAT PILATES
Feel longer, stronger, and more connected to your body.
What to expect: A precision-based, full-body Pilates practice on the mat that builds core strength, control, and total-body alignment through intentional, dynamic movement. Focus on developing muscle control and building core strength through foundational movements and advanced balance, stability, and postural exercises. (Learn more: “What’s the Difference Between MAT FUSION and MAT PILATES?“)
Equipment: Mat, dumbbells, resistance bands, gliding discs, Pilates ball
Length: 45 to 60 minutes
MAT CORE
Target the core for better posture, balance, and stability.
What to expect: This mat-based class serves as a focused core training session. You’ll strengthen from the inside out with targeted activation, and low-impact, mat-based movements to work the abdominal muscles, back, and glutes.
Equipment: Mat, resistance bands, gliding discs, Pilates ball
Length: 30 minutes
FIRE HIIT
Fire up with high-intensity interval training and zen out with guided yoga flow.
What to expect: This class is a unique fusion of high-intensity interval training and yoga, with mindful recovery in between. You move quickly, sweat, and lose your breath before finding it again in guided yoga poses. The room is set to a medium heat of around 85 degrees F.
Equipment: Yoga mat
Length: 45, 60, or 75 minutes
SURRENDER YIN
Relax your mind and stretch your body.
What to expect: Move through a slow, meditative yin-yoga practice to create greater mobility in your joints while mindfully stressing your body’s connective tissues and challenging the calmness of your mind. An instructor guides you through a sequence of yin poses, encouraging you to concentrate on your breath as you hold the poses for extended periods. The room is set to a low heat of around 75 degrees F. (Learn more: “3 Moves You’ll See in SURRENDER Yoga.”)
Equipment: Yoga mat
Length: 45, 60, or 75 minutes
FLOW VINYASA
Level up your yoga practice with a faster-paced flow.
What to expect: This vinyasa-style yoga class features a series of flowing yoga sequences, then sets you free to explore the poses at your own pace. Allow your breath to guide you to a state of mental calm during this powerfully energetic experience. The room is set to a medium-high heat between 85 and 95 degrees F.
Equipment: Yoga mat
Length: 45, 60, 75, or 90 minutes
ROOT HATHA
Calm your mind while increasing mobility and strengthening your body.
What to expect: Flow through a series of foundational yoga poses while noticing the physical sensations and energetic aspects of the practice. This is a slower-paced, beginner-friendly yoga class that provides the opportunity to breathe deeply as you build steadiness in each posture. This hatha yoga experience can help you feel more grounded while also inspiring acute muscle engagement that creates greater stability in your joints. The room is set to a low heat of around 75 degrees F. (Learn more: “5 Moves You’ll See in ROOT HATHA Yoga.”)
Equipment: Yoga mat
Length: 45, 60, or 75 minutes
SOL GUIDED VINYASA
Learn the fundamentals and flow of yoga in a fully guided class.
What to expect: Synchronize your breath to your movements as you flow through a blend of standing and vinyasa yoga poses. Your teacher provides cues throughout class to gently guide you, offering modifications as needed. This class is designed to systematically untie the knots that can block the flow of energy in the body, especially those in the back, thighs, and glutes. The room is set to a medium-high heat between 85 and 95 degrees F.
Equipment: Yoga mat
Length: 45, 60, or 75 minutes
