Today we’d like to introduce you to Christine Chapa.
Hi Christine, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve been doing Lagree for about 10 years, and over that time it became a really big part of my life. I originally got hooked because I could see such a noticeable difference in my distance running. I eventually became Lagree certified and knew that one day I wanted to create a studio of my own.
When I moved back home to San Antonio, I started thinking about what I wanted that studio to look and feel like. I live in King William, and I wanted to create something that felt like it truly belonged here—a studio that was walkable, welcoming, and accessible to all kinds of people. Somewhere that fit the Southtown vibe, with great coaches, fun music, and a really friendly atmosphere.
Art was also a big part of that vision. Southtown has so much creativity and incredible public art, and I wanted Onda to feel like it belonged in the neighborhood rather than just being another fitness studio. That inspired the mural inside the studio, which I painted myself. It was a fun way to bring some of that Southtown energy into Onda and make the space feel personal and connected to the neighborhood.
One of my favorite parts of opening Onda has been getting to know even more of my neighbors. So many of our clients have become friends, and I love seeing those friendships continue to grow in the studio. You can really see it when people walk through the doors—the smiles, the hugs, the conversations, and just the genuine excitement to see each other. That kind of joy is exactly what I hoped Onda would create.
I wanted Onda to be more than just a place to work out. I wanted it to be a place where people know your name, feel comfortable walking through the door, and have a routine that helps them genuinely see and feel progress. We have music that spans different genres and decades, we celebrate everything from someone’s first class to their biggest milestones, and we definitely don’t take ourselves too seriously.
And then there’s Travis, my dog, who has basically become the unofficial studio mascot. I love that opening Onda has given me the opportunity to spend so much more time with him. He loves being at the studio, and our clients absolutely love him. Seeing people light up when they walk in and Travis comes over to say hi is one of those little things that makes the studio feel like home.
Living and working in King William has made the whole experience even more special. I feel incredibly lucky to be part of a neighborhood that supports local businesses and values connection. And having my dog Travis at the studio is one of the best parts—he brings so much joy to everyone who comes through the doors, and opening Onda has also given me the chance to spend more time with him.
Ultimately, Onda is the studio I wanted to create for myself: a great workout, great coaches, good music, art, and a place where people genuinely enjoy showing up.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road, but I think that’s part of building something from the ground up. This was my first time opening a business, so there has been a lot to learn along the way—everything from the day-to-day operations to the financial side, hiring, marketing, and all the little things you don’t realize go into running a studio until you’re actually doing it.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Lagree Onda?
Lagree Onda is a boutique Lagree fitness studio in King William, offering 45-minute, full-body workouts that are low impact and high intensity. Lagree is a strength-based workout that uses slow, controlled movements and constant muscle tension to build strength, endurance, balance, and stability. It’s challenging, but it’s also something people can stick with and see real progress from over time.
What I think sets Onda apart is that we care just as much about the experience as we do the workout. We have great coaches who really care about helping people move well, get stronger, and feel comfortable in class. We want people of all fitness levels to feel welcome, whether they’ve been doing Lagree for years or are walking into their first class ever.
We’re also very much a neighborhood studio. I live in King William, so creating a place that felt connected to the neighborhood was really important to me. We’re walkable, welcoming, and intentionally designed to feel like part of Southtown. That includes the art in the studio—I painted the mural myself because I wanted Onda to reflect the creativity and personality of the area.
We’re known for being fun, too. Our playlists span genres and decades, and we don’t take ourselves too seriously. You might hear a classic throwback one day and something completely different the next. We want class to be challenging, but we also want people to have a good time.
I’m probably most proud of the brand we’ve created around Good Onda Only. It’s more than a tagline—it really captures the energy we want people to feel when they walk through the door. Our members know each other, many have become friends, and you can see the joy on people’s faces when they come in and see familiar faces. And, of course, Travis is usually around to make everyone’s day a little better.
Ultimately, I want people to know that Onda is a place where you can get a really great workout, but also feel like you belong. We’re here to help people get stronger, feel better, and actually enjoy the process along the way.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I think fitness is going to continue moving away from being just about how you look and more toward how you feel, how you move, and how you age. Strength training, mobility, balance, and functional movement are becoming a much bigger part of the conversation, and I think that will continue over the next 5–10 years.
I also think people are going to want fitness to feel more personal and more connected. For boutique studios like Onda, I think the opportunity is creating an experience people genuinely want to be part of—not just somewhere they go to exercise. People want great coaching, results they can feel, a welcoming environment, and to know the people they’re working out alongside.
That’s something I’m really excited about because it’s exactly what we’re trying to build at Onda. Fitness can be challenging and effective without feeling intimidating or overly serious. I think the studios that combine great programming with personality, connection, and a strong sense of place will continue to stand out.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lagreeonda.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/lagreeonda
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/lagreeonda
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lagree-onda
- Yelp: https://m.yelp.com/biz/lagree-onda-san-antonio
