Studio Spotlight: OM Academy & Mind Spa

Posted in All > portugal | December 12, 2025

A serene yoga studio with meditation cushions, wooden blocks, and a gong, set against large glass windows and greenery outside.

OM Academy in Porto blends yoga, Pilates, barre and fitness with mindfulness into a unique experience. Two beautifully crafted spaces invite you to move, breathe, and discover a new way to feel well. We sat down with studio founder Rui to hear more about the studio spaces.

How did you [Rui] discover yoga, and what was your journey from student to teacher to studio owner?

I was an investment banker for 20 years in London and Lisbon. My sports were all about adrenaline and pushing hard: CrossFit, kitesurfing, marathons… At some point I felt the need to go in the opposite direction, with a softer approach and more peace for the mind. My first yoga classes and meditations were painful — much more than a heavy CrossFit class — because I simply couldn’t stay still and be alone with my mind. That’s how my journey through yoga and meditation began, leading 10 years later to a total life change.

Was there a special teacher or guide who influenced your practice?

Books like A Monk’s Guide to Happiness (Gelong Thubten), The Happiness Trap (Russ Harris), Happiness (Matthieu Ricard), and Wherever You Go, There You Are (Jon Kabat-Zinn).

I am also learning everyday from our teachers and studends, as I am reinventing myself in a completely new career/life path.

A yoga studio featuring a bright, modern interior with shelves of mats, and a class practicing poses under colorful lighting.

Can you introduce OM Academy and tell us about the two spaces you have in Porto?

OM Academy & Mind Spa is a wellness center for body and mind, combining yoga, Pilates, barre and fitness with mindfulness and wellness practices. It’s an “everyday luxury” experience that makes movement feel natural, fun, and relaxing.

Both of your spaces in Porto have their own atmosphere — how would you describe the character of each one?

We create spaces that feel comfortable, elegant, and bright. Not a chain where everything looks the same, but unique atmospheres shaped by each location, where teachers and students feel at home and want to return day after day.

You offer a wide range of practices, from yoga and Pilates to fitness and meditation. How do these practices come together under one roof?

The most important thing is getting people to move — whatever the practice. We offer varied, innovative classes to keep members engaged and curious. Our combination of practices goes beyond the usual boutique studio while staying far from the big-gym feel.

I also strongly believe (and longevity research confirms) that our bodies need different types of exercise. Yoga brings mobility, flexibility, focus, and grounding. Pilates and barre develop core strength, body conscience and posture. Fitness builds explosive power, endurance, and strength. All of this supports vitality and long-term health.

Our motto: Hot body, cool mind.

A serene meditation scene on the left, juxtaposed with a person performing aerial acrobatics against neon wings on the right.

What values guide the way OM Academy is run and the classes you offer?

Being truthful, offering honest practices, and caring for our community’s wellbeing. We also stay open to new ideas and experiment. Some classes didn’t work, others became great successes. We evolve while staying true to our mission of promoting wellness for body and mind. Yes, it’s a business and must be sustainable, but integrity, hard work, and innovation create real value over time.

How would you describe the teaching team at OM Academy and what unites them?

Just awesome — simple as that. I spent three years attending classes across Porto (and other cities) to invite a unique team to join OM Academy. Unlike many chains, we don’t enforce a standard class flow. Each teacher has the freedom to express their style, attracting different students naturally. Diversity fuels creativity and innovation. To attract and keep the best teachers, we offer a respectful environment and the highest pay rates in the city.

Community is a big part of what makes a studio special. How do you see community come to life at OM Academy?

Some classes run 30–60 minutes over because students and teachers stay talking. We offer long workshops in breathwork, sound healing, and more on weekends, plus events like our summer party or trekking with yoga and sound healing in Gerês National Park. We will also be doing a 10k run and beach swim on the 1st of January.

A serene yoga studio with meditation mats, blocks, and soft lighting, showcasing a person practicing an advanced yoga pose.

How do you support both beginners and experienced practitioners?

Porto is small, so we can’t always split levels, but some classes are naturally more demanding. Teachers support each student closely — most classes have just 5–6 students — and those not comfortable with advanced asanas can rest. We also launched a 1-year Yoga Lab program with 5–6 session blocks dedicated to specific postures like arm balances, backbends, and headstands.

Looking ahead, what excites you most for OM Academy?

We’re only at the beginning. We plan to open 2–3 more studios in Porto to create fuller schedules for our teachers. I’d also love to add longevity and self-healing practices such as ice plunges and infrared saunas. And my crazy dream: a worldwide online meditation chain — if anyone wants to join, let me know.

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