Move With Purpose: Inside Soul Mvnt, Dubai's Most Intentional Wellness Studio
What does it look like when two women decide that "good enough" simply isn't good enough? For Paloma and Sirine, the co-founders of Soul Mvnt, it meant leaving behind successful careers in luxury fashion and strategy consulting to build something Dubai had never quite seen before: a studio where the music moves you, the design speaks to you, and the community holds you. Tucked into the creative hub of d3, Soul Mvnt is redefining what a fitness studio can be. It's part training ground, part sanctuary, part social space and entirely intentional. From the Lagree Mega Pro machines to the marble DJ booth, from the Korean Recovery sessions to the post-class wellness bar, every detail has been considered with one question in mind: how do we make people feel something? We sat down with both founders to talk about building a lifestyle brand from the ground up, the power of contrast in wellness, and why slowing down might just be the most radical thing you can do for your body.
1. Every great movement starts with a spark. Can you tell us the story of how you and Paloma came together to create Soul Mvnt, and what was the 'missing piece' in the Dubai wellness scene that you were determined to fill?
SB: Soul MVNT was born from a shared vision between Paloma and myself: to create a space that goes beyond fitness and becomes a true lifestyle destination. We both come from different professional backgrounds, myself in luxury fashion and Paloma in strategy consulting, but we share a deep passion for movement, design, and community.
What we felt was missing in Dubai was a place that seamlessly blends high-performance training with emotional connection and aesthetic intention. There are many great studios, but very few that make you feel something the moment you walk in- from the energy, to the people, to the design.
Soul MVNT was our answer to that. An intentional space where every single detail counts, blending movement, community, and design.
2. The studio's architecture is a striking blend of minimalist design and high-intensity function. How do the two distinct spaces: the high-energy Lagree room and the serene mat based studio, work together to offer a complete, holistic experience for your members?
PN: We designed Soul MVNT very intentionally around contrast and balance.
The Lagree room is immersive, high-energy, almost cinematic- it’s where intensity lives. The lighting, the music, the Mega Pro machines, everything is designed to push you beyond your limits.
Then you step into the Flow Room, which is softer, grounded, and more introspective. This is where we host Pilates, Sculpt, yoga, and recovery-based classes. We also newly launched the Lagree Micro Tone class in the Flow Room, which is a combination of the high intensity micro Lagree machine blended with weight training.
Together, both rooms create a full spectrum experience: strength and stillness, power and recovery. It allows our members to build a routine that supports both physical performance and mental reset, which is essential for long-term wellness.
3. You specialize in the Lagree Method using the latest Mega Pro machines, alongside your own unique 'Sculpt' and 'Pilates Burn' formats. For someone used to a standard gym or Pilates class, what is the 'Soul Mvnt difference' they will feel in their first 50 minutes?
SB: It’s the combination of precision, intensity, and atmosphere.
From a training perspective, Lagree is incredibly effective- slow, controlled movements that engage muscles in a very short time. But what truly sets us apart is the level of expertise behind every class.
Our instructors are highly trained by Lagree top coaches and held to very high standards. Each session follows a structured, standardized approach to ensure consistency, safety, and maximum effectiveness, while still allowing each coach to bring their own energy and personality to the room.
The music is curated like a set, the coaching is deeply attentive, and the environment is immersive. It doesn’t feel like a class you attend- it feels like something you’re part of.
Most clients walk out not only physically challenged, but mentally recharged. That shift is the Soul MVNT difference.
4. Soul Mvnt is one of the few places in the region focusing on Korean Recovery using the innovative RecoveRing. Can you explain the philosophy behind this practice and why it’s the secret weapon for anyone pushing their limits in high-intensity training?
PN: Korean Recovery, particularly with tools like the RecoveRing, is rooted in the idea that performance and recovery are inseparable.
It focuses on releasing deep muscle tension, improving circulation, and restoring mobility through very targeted, intentional movements. It may look simple, but it’s incredibly effective.
For anyone doing high-intensity training like Lagree, this becomes essential. It helps prevent injury, improves performance, and allows the body to reset properly.
We see it as the missing link in most fitness routines, people push hard, but don’t recover well. This is where transformation really happens.
5. Music is clearly the heartbeat of your studio, centered around a custom marble DJ booth. Paloma, you often get behind the decks yourself. How does being both a founder and a DJ allow you to connect more deeply with the community during a session?
PN: For me, music is not an add-on- it’s an extension of the experience.
Being behind the decks allows me to read the room in real time, to feel the energy of the class and respond to it. It creates a much deeper, almost emotional connection with the clients.
It also brings me closer to the community. I’m not just building the brand from the outside- I’m in it, living it, sharing that energy with everyone in the room.
That authenticity is something our clients really feel.
6. Your reception area features a sculptural 'health bar' that feels more like a chic café than a fitness studio. What was the inspiration behind your menu of nourishing juices and gourmet bites, and why is that 'post-class linger' so important to the Soul Mvnt culture?
SB: We never wanted Soul MVNT to be a place where you come in,workout, and leave.
The wellness bar was designed to encourage people to connect, to recharge, to make the experience social. The menu is clean and nourishing, but also elevated, almost indulgent in its own way.
That “linger” moment is where community is built. Conversations happen, friendships form, and the studio becomes more than just a workout space.
It naturally extended into our retail as well. Our Soul MVNT apparel line is designed to be worn beyond the studio- pieces that transition from class to daily life, reflecting the same aesthetic and mindset of the brand.
Ultimately, it’s about creating a full lifestyle experience, not just a workout.
7. What is your criteria for choosing the brands and partners you collaborate with, and how do these partnerships help foster the sense of 'shared energy' you aim for in d3?
PN: We’re very intentional with partnerships. It’s not about volume- it’s about alignment.
We look for brands that share our values: quality, design, innovation, and a strong sense of identity. But beyond that, it has to feel natural. The collaboration needs to enhance the experience for our community.
When it’s done right, it creates a shared energy- where both brands elevate each other, and the client feels that synergy in a very authentic way.
8. As a leading business in the field of wellness, how do you see the social context helping your venture move forward in the coming years?
SB: Wellness is becoming more conscious, more integrated into everyday life, and also more community-driven.
People are no longer just looking for results, they’re looking for connection, meaning, and experiences. We see this continuing to grow, especially in a city like Dubai where people value both performance and lifestyle.
For us, the focus will be on deepening that community, expanding thoughtfully, and continuing to create spaces and experiences that people genuinely want to be part of.
Soul MVNT is not just about fitness- it’s about how you feel, and how you live.
