Blink Fitness has urged its members to put ‘mood above muscle’ as part of a month-long initiative in which the US gym chain’s mirrors will be covered to help people think about fitness differently.

The budget operator – which has 44 clubs in the New York area – is challenging members to think about how exercise makes them feel, not just how it makes them look.

Earlier this year, Blink Fitness launched its "Every Body Happy" campaign based on the philosophy that everyone, of all shapes and sizes, deserves to feel their best. With summer and "swimsuit season" on the horizon, the operator says it is more important than ever to help people think about fitness differently, and kick off summer with a healthy mindset.

"Fitness has never been just about looking a certain way for us," said Todd Magazine, president of Blink Fitness.

"Through our 'Monday Without Mirrors' initiative, we're encouraging our members to take a stand with us – that exercise is good for our health. It's good for our minds. It builds confidence. It's not just about what you see in the mirror."

Mirrors have long been a controversial topic in gyms, with strong arguments for and against them. Advocates say they are vital for studying form and maintaining the correct technique, while others say mirrors dissuade body-conscious members from taking to the gym floor.

Notions of a positive body image have also sparked debate in recent times, and the topic came into sharp focus last year following the controversy around Protein World’s ‘beach body ready’ advertising campaign’. Meanwhile, research from mental health charity Mind found that not feeling ‘gym body ready’ is serving as a significant barrier to taking part in sport and physical activity for people with mental health problems.

Eager to shine light on the issue, Blink Fitness will cover mirrors across its clubs throughout June to help members focus on the wider impact of exercise on their health and wellbeing