AMA Studio: Bringing Lagree to Madrid with Mindbody

AMA Studio, located in Madrid, Spain, is the country's very first Lagree fitness studio. Owned by Carina Arab, AMA Studio has become a space for movement and wellness. The studio pairs its Lagree classes with a vibrant café and bar upstairs, where clients can refuel with smoothies, lunch bowls, and other nourishing options. 

As the first to bring Lagree to Spain, AMA Studio has carved out a unique niche in Madrid's growing fitness culture. But what makes the studio stand out even more is how Carina has harnessed Mindbody's technology to deliver a seamless client experience. 

From fashion to fitness

Carina didn't set out to become a fitness entrepreneur. She originally worked in fashion in London before she came to Madrid for a six-month project. During that time, she fell in love with the city and began splitting her time between London and Madrid. 

While she had been practicing Lagree in London for years, she quickly realized Madrid didn't have anything like it. "Every time I was in Madrid, there was no workout like this that existed," Carina said. "Everything was very traditional. If I wanted to do any type of Pilates, it had to be through a monthly membership." 

Carina began to see a business opportunity. She knew there had to be others, like her, looking for a more modern and accessible fitness experience. In 2024, she made the leap: leaving her job in fashion and opening AMA Studio in a small pop-up location. By 2025, the studio had expanded into a fully renovated space, reflecting Carina's vision for a complete wellness hub. 

Why Mindbody was the natural choice

When it came time to choose software to run her new business, Carina immediately thought of Mindbody. She had booked countless classes in London through both Mindbody and ClassPass and appreciated the name recognition and reliability that came with the brand. 

"As a foreigner, I needed a bigger company that was more worldwide, which made it an easy decision," Carina explained. Mindbody's international presence gave her confidence that AMA Studio would be visible not only to locals but also to travelers and expats searching for workouts in Madrid. 

Today, Carina and her team rely on Mindbody for nearly every aspect of studio management: scheduling, booking, payroll, reporting, and payments. The Branded App in particular has become a client favorite, thanks to its ease of use and features like Apple Pay. "I love how it works for our clients—it's easy to use, it represents our brand, and it makes payments simple," she said. 

Reporting has also become indispensable for the business. Carina uses it daily to track performance, sales, and memberships. "It's the fact that it's a platform that has everything in one place," she explained. "Without reporting, we wouldn't have such a deep understanding of our business." 

Efficiency for owners, trainers, and clients

For Carina, the Mindbody Business App is part of her daily routine. "I live on the Business App," she said. "I wake up in the morning and the first thing I check is the app to see the bookings and how we're doing today in terms of sales. I love that I can see who's coming, whether or not they're a new customer, how they booked it, and if they're on a membership. It makes it very easy for me to get a good overview of who I'm teaching today and how I intend to adapt that class for them." 

Her trainers benefit from the same level of visibility. They can check their rosters, hours, and schedules in one place, making staff management seamless. Meanwhile, clients enjoy perks like early booking privileges for members and discounts on café items. 

Additionally, payment processing has been a game-changer, especially with Apple Pay, which clients love. Carina appreciates that Mindbody continuously evolves. "I love that every few months there's something new and improved," she said. 

Scaling in a growing market

Since opening, AMA Studio has grown steadily, attracting both locals and international clients who find them through the Mindbody app. Carina is regularly surprised by just how powerful reviews could be in bringing in new customers. "I didn't realize how many people love to read reviews and how helpful this was for us," she said. 

Beyond helping her run the studio, Carina believes Mindbody plays a vital role in shaping Madrid's evolving fitness landscape. "Madrid is a new market and just started blooming in the past two years," she explained. "People here weren't used to fitness as part of their daily lives—they were more accustomed to outdoor activities. But having a centralized platform like Mindbody helps make fitness classes more accessible and introduces them to a new way of engaging with wellness." 

The international reach of Mindbody has been equally important. Travelers familiar with the app in their home countries can easily find AMA Studio when visiting Madrid. "It helps with new customers, people from abroad who are used to using Mindbody can find us," Carina said. As more locals become familiar with the platform, she's confident it will continue fueling growth in the Spanish market. 

Looking ahead, Carina is preparing to open a second AMA Studio within the next five months. She knows Mindbody will play a central role in helping her manage multiple locations while expanding her community. Summing up her experience, Carina said, "Efficient. Everything is in one place. The app and website are instrumental to my business. I know I can go to one place to get all the answers I need." 

For Carina, Mindbody isn't just software, it's the partner powering her vision of making Lagree accessible to Madrid.