New Study Validates barre3’s 18-Year Approach to Mindful Fitness

Barre3, the guided fitness practice with 200+ studios globally and 2,300+ online workouts, today released findings from the barre3 Mindfulness and Fitness Impact Survey, a first-of-its-kind study examining the physical, psychological, and daily-life benefits of integrating mindfulness with fitness. The research, led by Gloria T. Han, PhD, clinical psychologist and Assistant Professor at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, confirms what barre3 has practiced since its founding in 2008: that fitness and mindfulness together produce outcomes neither can achieve alone.

The study surveyed 307 barre3 clients—99% of whom identify as women, with 59% between the ages of 35 and 54—and found compelling evidence that barre3’s approach to mindful fitness delivers measurable benefits across physical health, psychological well-being, and everyday life.

Key findings include:

• 96% of clients report feeling physically stronger overall since starting barre3
• 96% report feeling calmer and clearer-headed after class
• 92% report that daily tasks feel easier
• 81% report an improved ability to manage daily stressors
• 82% actively notice improvements in breath, posture, and alignment throughout their day

The numbers tell a consistent story: the benefits of barre3 don’t stop when the workout ends—they show up in how clients move, think, and feel in their everyday lives.

The study also found that consistency amplifies impact. Clients attending three or more classes per week are nearly twice as likely to report strong physical functioning, almost twice as likely to report high psychological well-being, and two-and-a-half times more likely to report using barre3 skills in everyday life. The data also points to something the fitness industry rarely measures: sustainability. Barre3’s approach builds strength without the burnout that so often derails long-term fitness goals.

Dr. Han framed the findings within her Embodied Regulation framework—a science-backed model identifying barre3 as a practice that improves nervous system flexibility, effort tolerance, self-trust, and emotional regulation through the intentional integration of physical challenge and mindful awareness. “When fitness enhances regulation,” says Dr. Han, “people experience meaningful physical, psychological, and social benefits.”

Barre3 co-founder Sadie Lincoln built the practice around the belief that being “fit on the inside” matters as much as physical results—that every workout should leave you feeling focused, accomplished, and energized, never injured or defeated. For Lincoln, these findings affirm what barre3 was built on. “This research validates what we’ve believed since 2008: when you train your body and support the nervous system simultaneously, you build self-trust that completely changes how you show up for your life,” said Lincoln.

The research comes at a moment when the fitness industry is increasingly reaching for mindfulness as a differentiator. Since its founding, barre3 has integrated breathwork, sensation-based cueing, and healthy challenge into every class—and the data reflects the effectiveness of this approach. Whether that’s stepping into the studio or streaming a workout at home, clients report not only physical and psychological benefits but a sustainable connection to the practice: 96% look forward to barre3 and miss it when they can’t come to class, and 69% report actively applying barre3 cues and skills in their daily lives.