OUR HISTORY

Body Bliss © has been formally operating in Melbourne since 1997. Antonio Di Cecco, the founder and owner of Body Bliss, began his journey into health and wellbeing early in his teens, he was particularly interested in weight training and developing a strong and symmetrical physique.

In 1990 while studying for his Business Degree, Antonio was approached to do personal training for friends and he soon became a professional personal trainer. Once he finished his degree he founded Body Bliss and continued studying various holistic methodologies including meditation, buteyko breathing amongst others incorporating these practices in his personal training style.

In 1996 Antonio discovered his great passion; YOGA. He quickly became an adept yoga teacher and continued his training with senior yoga teachers around the globe. He became well known for his amazing mastery and great teaching skills.

In 1999 he discovered the subtle and yet profound benefits of Pilates and shortly after undertook his APMA Pilates Training immediately incorporating this technique into his personal training style. Antonio has since visited and trained with renowned teachers worldwide including Alan Herdman at "Alan Herdman Studio's" London UK and  Romana Kryzanowska at Joseph Pilates' original studio "The New York Pilates Studio".

In 2002 Antonio experienced the diverse and dynamic practice of Kundalini Yoga which he found to be a great contrast and complement to his Pilates practice. In 2004 he travelled to New Mexico USA to do his Kundalini Yoga Masters Touch training and become a certified Kundalini Yoga teacher. In addition Antonio has received extensive training in a variety of meditation and healing techniques.

Since 1997, Body Bliss has been growing steadily, teachers have been employed to cover corporate yoga classes and a variety of workshops have been held around the world, Antonio has been a sought after teacher and has worked as the Key Cast Trainer for various Hollywood films such as Queen of the Damned, Ned Kelly and Pirates of the Caribbean.

Body Bliss Wellbeing is a vision Antonio has had for many years. Now, together with his wife Alexandra, also a yoga teacher, the vision is becoming a reality. They have created an environment that is unique, a place where people feel like they are stepping into another world, a world of relaxation, health and wellbeing.

OUR TEACHERS

ANTONIO DI CECCO 

Antonio Di Cecco takes a holistic approach to exercise and lifestyle by combining ancient alternative methods and the latest discoveries from the health & fitness arena.   He is a Pilates APMA Certified Teacher and Kundalini Yoga L2 teacher (KYTANZ, IKYTA, APMA).

Antonio has worked in the health & fitness industry for over 20 years and has trained with senior teachers in Australia, UK & USA. Having  roots from a mainstream fitness background of weight training and athletics  enables him to understand the importance of balance in  physical and mental conditioning.

Antonio has gained great recognition within the Australian & International Film Industry. He has been employed by major Hollywood film productions to prepare key cast for physically and mentally challenging work; including Queen of the Damned, Kingdom of Heaven and Pirates of the Caribbean 1&2 amongst others.

The Pilates Method is one of Antonio’s main areas of expertise. He believes that Pilates creates intelligence, strength & equilibrium in the body & mind which in turn bestows an individual with an excellent foundation to excel in all activities, including yoga. Rather than combining the practises of Yoga and Pilates he sees them as two individual disciplines which are extremely complimentary to each other.

Antonio has had extensive experience developing rehabilitation and healing programs for a variety of ailments. His approach is to awaken and fine tune the inner workings of the body so that channels are opened & circulation optimised. This, in turn accelerating the body’s natural healing/rejuvenating process. He has a continuous commitment to the use of yoga, pilates & meditation as preventative methods for maintaining optimum health.

His life goal is to educate & guide individuals on a positive path of enhanced well-being (physically, mentally & emotionally), thus empowering them to maintain optimum  health  & peak performance while facing their daily challenges.

ALEXANDRA DI CECCO

Alexandra was introduced to yoga at a young age and has studied & practiced yoga for 22 years. She is an experienced Vinyasa & Kundalini Yoga teacher (KYTANZ, IKYTA, YTAA), specialising in Yoga for Women. Alexandra is also a Teacher Trainer Intern for Kundalini Yoga in Australia. She has travelled and studied many healing modalities all around the globe such as Ayurveda, Melchizedek Healing and Pranic Healing.

Alexandra feels a deep calling to uplift women in their life's journey, to this effect she created Luminous Women; her goal is to uplift and inspire women in their journey through life. She runs regular women circles, workshops and retreats to this effect.

A mother of 2 sons, Francesco(4) and Gianluca (6m+), she is passionate about guiding women during conception, pregnancy and motherhood. She has a firm belief that yoga & meditation have profound effects in both mother and baby during this special time in their lives. She is constantly updating her skills and adding to her knowledge and she is now a certified childbirth educator. Alexandra understands the impact of self awareness, yoga, relaxation & meditation during pre-conception, pregnancy, birth and motherhood; much of this research and teachings are now backed up by science, proving the impact each mother has over her baby's mind, health and wellbeing.

She is infinitely grateful to Yogi Bhajan for all the wonderful teachings of Kundalini Yoga, they have changed her life and the lives of thousand others.

SARAH WOODHOUSE

Sarah is committed to improving the quality of peoples lives through movement and movement education. She has a particular interest in working with people with back and pelvic issues and those in recovery from cancer. She was herself was inspired to pursue a career as a Pilates practitioner after experiencing its efficacy in alleviating her own chronic back pain.

Having certified with Polestar International as a Pilates Practitioner (with an emphasis on post-rehabilitation), Sarah established her own fitness studio in Hong Kong in 2000.  While Sarah always emphasized and specialized in Pilates at her studio, her other qualifications allowed her to offer a full range of fitness experiences including personal training, dance and fitball classes and pre- and post-natal programmes.

Sarah wished to deepen her Pilates practice and in 2004 embarked on a second full Pilates certification with The Ron Fletcher Company. This dynamic, challenging, movement-oriented programme complemented her original certification and enabled her to work with a full range of clients from the injured to elite athletes and dancers.

Impressed by the results of The Fletcher Programme of Study, Sarah established teacher training programmes in the work at her own studio and studios around Hong Kong. As a senior teacher for The Fletcher Programme of study Sarah has also been involved in the teaching and examining of teacher-training programmes in the USA, Singapore, London and now in Australia.

GURUDAYA KAUR KHALSA

Gurudaya has a genuine love of Kundalini Yoga and teaches with the same passion and commitment that she has for her own practice. She underwent her training in Sydney in 2007 and now volunteers as an assistant with the Kundalini Yoga Teacher training in Melbourne.

She is currently studying Remedial Massage and is also qualified as a Holistic Kinesiologist. When she’s not teaching or practicing yoga she loves to spend her time singing and cooking.

LAURA CEPPELLI

Laura is a Stott certified Pilates instructor from Wales, who has undergone training in Europe & Australia. She has been in Melbourne - Australia since 2008 teaching at various studios. She specializes in pregnancy pilates, and is passionate in knowing pilates is one of the best methods of excercise and relaxation a pregnant woman can do.

Laura´s personal experience, good nature and sense of humor make classes enjoyable and will help enhance your experience at this most wonderful, joyful time in your life.