The Reader: Cooking Light reader Peggy Hofstra, 45, from Lakewood, Colorado wants to maintain her healthy lifestyle, but without adding extra stress.

The Expert: Carol Argo, an American Council on Exercise—certified trainer who specializes in the mind-body connection.

Before: For years Hofstra started her day with a power walk through her peaceful neighborhood. "I always have a lot on my mind, and walking gives me the chance to exercise, think, and feel balanced," she says. A new job, however, has her clocking in at 7 a.m., so an early-morning walk is no longer an option, and she finds the gym too noisy. "I want to maintain my healthy routine, but I've deserted exercise for a cup of mocha and some peace and quiet," Hofstra says.

The Workout: Luckily, today's mind-body exercise disciplines mean Hofstra can have a workout that's calming but also builds muscle and burns calories. Yoga, pilates, tai chi, and NIA (Neuromuscular Integrative Action) all require you to be conscious of your breath and perform moves with purpose. "Instead of focusing on one body part, you become aware of the sensation in your body as a whole as you move in your environment," says Argo. That awareness helps you relax, concentrate, and perform better, leading to an enjoyable, effective workout.

Try Argo's Mind-Body Workout—designed a routine that would address strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular exercise, but also provide a sense of peace.

Her Results: This mind-focused routine gave Peggy Hofstra a calming but effective workout. "It was such a departure from my usual power walk," she says. "It helped me relax without feeling like I was working out." She loved the breath-conscious moves, especially the spinal melt: "It set the soothing mood of the workout."

The 30-minute routine kept her moving on busy days. "It was a great complement to my usual exercise," she says. "Plus, it moved very quickly. I felt calm and refreshed afterward."

While she found the routine meditative, she also found it enjoyable, and something her children, Tess, seven, and Ben, four, could do alongside her. "I put on some New Age music, and we all had a good time," she says. She also made one surprising discovery: "I loved being barefoot!" Once the barrier between her feet and the floor was removed, Hofstra felt more conscious of her body and the way it was moving. "Instead of thinking about the grocery list, I thought about how well I was treating my body with exercise."

Alonna Friedman is a freelance writer living in New York City