Emmis Studio, Cologne, Germany / Fitnbench

Boutique fitness concept combines functional strength training, premium design and coach-led programming to make strength training more accessible.

Fitbench, the commercial fitness equipment company dedicated to simplifying training spaces and removing barriers to exercise, is helping boutique fitness operator Emmis Studio redefine the strength training experience through a purpose-built training environment designed around the Fitbench One.

Located in Cologne, Germany, Emmis Studio was created to offer an alternative to the traditional gym experience. Combining boutique fitness with an integrated café concept, the studio delivers high-energy, coach-led classes that make strength training more approachable, engaging and enjoyable for members who may otherwise feel intimidated or uninspired by conventional gyms.

From the outset, the studio was designed around 20 Fitbench One units, giving every participant their own fully equipped training station throughout each 50-minute class. Led by experienced coaches in an immersive environment featuring dynamic lighting and music, every session combines functional strength training with cardio to deliver an efficient full-body workout.

Unlike traditional group fitness classes where members share equipment or move between stations, every participant at Emmis Studio trains from a dedicated Fitbench. With weights and equipment stored directly within each bench, transitions between exercises are quick and seamless, allowing coaches to maintain the pace of the workout while members remain focused on their training.

The integrated storage system also helps maintain the clean, organised aesthetic that forms part of the studio's premium member experience. By eliminating equipment clutter and creating consistent training stations across the floor, Emmis Studio has built a space that is both operationally efficient and visually inviting.

"I know first-hand what it's like to do boring strength training in huge gyms where you don't really know what to do, which exercises or, more importantly, which machines make sense," explains Paula Pingen, founder of Emmis Studio. “I wanted to create an alternative that still focuses on strength training while making it enjoyable and accessible. People know how important strength training is for their health, but traditional gyms don't always provide an experience that keeps them coming back."

The concept has quickly resonated with members, who value the structured programming, dedicated personal training station and coach-led format that allows them to complete an effective workout without the distractions and uncertainty often associated with traditional gyms.

Following the success of its first location, Emmis Studio is expanding with a second Cologne studio later this year. The new Run x Lift concept will incorporate a further 15 Fitbench One units, bringing the total across both studios to 35 Fitbench One systems.

"The best fitness spaces are designed around the experience people have every time they walk through the door," explains Tyler Danen, founder of Fitbench. "Emmis Studio shows what's possible when equipment supports the programming instead of getting in the way. By giving every member their own complete training station, coaches can keep classes flowing, members stay engaged, and operators create a cleaner, more efficient environment. It's exactly the kind of experience Fitbench was built to enable."

The continued expansion of Emmis Studio demonstrates how thoughtfully designed training spaces can help boutique operators create distinctive member experiences while delivering efficient, scalable programming built around functional strength training.

For more information, visit www.fitbench.com