The name says everything. Palmi translates to “palm of the hands” in Italian, a symbol of care and movement. Sano means “wholesome” or “healthy”, embodying the community she set out to build. “It’s very personal to me”, she says. “That really symbolizes everything we stand for: movement, recovery, and community, and how all of those pieces come together to create a full experience”.

Her entry into wellness wasn’t planned from a boardroom. It came through her body. After an injury ended her athletic career, she found Pilates, and it changed everything. “I became obsessed”, she admits. “I was that person trying to convince all my friends to come to class because I felt how impactful it was, not just physically but mentally too”.

That personal conviction, combined with years of trend research and brand work in the wellness space, gave her a clear read on where the industry was heading. Being born and raised in Miami made it personal. “I look at it through the lens of growing something meaningful in my hometown”, she says.

Located in Wynwood area, palmi + sano is an infrared heated studio offering yoga, sculpt, Pilates, and recovery modalities. But what sets it apart isn’t the class menu. It’s the identity behind it. The space hosts artist residencies, art shows, and ceramics workshops, and was the first in Miami to bring Red Light Therapy events to the city. “There’s something really special about the connectivity between art and movement”, Gaby reflects. “They’ve both always been a huge part of my life, and bringing them together in one space just feels natural and intentional”.

The Fitneur sat down with Gaby to talk about building with intention in one of the city’s fastest-growing wellness markets.

— The wellness scene has evolved a lot. Where does your vision fit within that?

— There’s been a real shift from just fitness to more holistic wellness. People are thinking about longevity, recovery, and how they actually feel, not just how they look. We’re blending movement, recovery, art, and community in a way that feels more lifestyle-driven than fitness-focused. It’s not one-dimensional. 

— And how would you describe the entrepreneurial environment in Miami?

— There is definitely a sense of community here, especially among the people who are really building with intention. The major movers and shakers support each other, collaborate, and show up, it feels like we’re all contributing to something bigger. Of course, like in any growing city, you’ll see some people try to ride the coattails of established entrepreneurs, but that’s just part of the landscape. Fortunately, palmi + sano has been able to be part of some really impactful collaborations, and that’s only continued to reinforce our place within the community.

— What does a first visit to the studio actually feel like?

— From the moment you walk in, you can feel that it’s different. It’s welcoming, it’s intentional, and it doesn’t feel transactional. Community isn’t a buzzword for us, it’s a pillar we’re actively building, even in the small, subconscious moments.

— You came from marketing and PR. How did that shape the way you built this?

— I was constantly building campaigns and pitching ideas specifically in the wellness space. Through that, and a lot of trend research, I could see where things were going. I knew the wellness boom was coming, and I knew this was a direction I wanted to be in long-term.

— What’s next for palmi + sano?

— We have some incredible activations and pop-ups planned for Q4, and this summer we’re making some design updates that were always part of the original vision, just now coming to life. My dream is to keep growing in a way that feels creative and true to what we’ve built. Expansion has definitely been top of mind, and making sure we do it in a way that keeps the integrity of the brand is really important to me. 

Want more? This is just the beginning www.instagram.com/palmi.sano.wellness https://www.palmisanowellness.com/