The Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce is pleased to shine a spotlight on Alisha Bliss in our Community Proud series, sponsored by Charter Oak Credit Union. Alisha is the owner of Body By Bliss, a Pilates studio built around movement and community. She has created a space where clients feel supported as they become stronger and more confident in their bodies.

Alisha began teaching fitness as a teenager after her swim coach encouraged her to become a lifeguard and swim instructor. She went on to teach aquatics classes at the YMCA and train friends after school. Over the years, she taught bootcamp and boxing along with spin and Pilates.

Thanks to her lifetime participation in sports, Alisha has always been fascinated by body mechanics and movement patterns. Discovering Pilates was like discovering a bridge between that passion for fitness and the logic of her engineering brain. Even more importantly, Alisha noticed the physical effects of the practice in her own body. The results showed her how movement could improve someone’s daily life. 

Alisha moved to the Groton and Mystic area in 2011 without knowing many people. Teaching fitness helped her build connections and become part of the community. When her engineering job became more demanding, she considered stepping away from teaching. Her clients had another idea and encouraged her to open a studio.

Their support became the foundation for Body By Bliss. Alisha opened the studio while continuing to work full time as an engineer. As the business expanded and outgrew its spaces, she eventually had to choose between her two careers. She chose the studio and the community that had grown around it.

Body By Bliss is now celebrating ten years in business. Alisha is proud of the studio’s growth and its ability to adapt during the COVID pandemic. She is also proud of how the business has refined its focus on Pilates and strength conditioning. The studio has expanded its hours and can now welcome new clients again.

Alisha wants to be known for creating a place where people feel understood and empowered. Quality and attention to detail are important to her. She wants clients to leave each session feeling stronger and more comfortable than when they arrived.

That commitment extends to every part of the studio. Alisha is thoughtful about selecting instructors who share her standards for client care. Her team has studied classical and contemporary Pilates with respected teachers. She also operates a comprehensive teacher training program to help prepare the next generation of instructors.

Body By Bliss features a wide range of classical and contemporary Pilates equipment. Alisha invests in high-quality apparatus because she wants to give clients the best possible experience. New visitors often walk into the studio and are surprised by how much it offers.

Trust begins with listening. Alisha remembers the personal details that matter to her clients and incorporates their goals into each session. She describes her brain as a Rolodex of bodies and movement patterns. It also holds many conversations that will be continued during the next visit.

Clients begin to trust the process when they understand that the instructor is working beside them toward a shared goal. The greatest reward often comes when someone realizes that a painful back or another long-standing concern is no longer affecting daily life. Those results are reminders of why Alisha began teaching in the first place.

Community involvement has always been part of Body By Bliss. The studio has supported local garden clubs and Mystic Aquarium. It has also donated gift certificates to many fundraisers and community events. For several years, Body By Bliss organized Pilates for Paws to benefit local animal rescues and shelters. The studio recently revived that spirit through a raffle fundraiser for Save One Soul Animal Rescue in Rhode Island. Alisha and her team have also organized food pantry drives and collections for women’s shelters.

Her commitment to community continues through Step Up, a free walking group that encourages people to move and connect. Body By Bliss also started the Fit & Lit Community Book Club. Both programs reflect Alisha’s belief that wellness can bring people together in many different ways.

The people surrounding Body By Bliss are what make this area feel like home to Alisha. Clients and staff have become her studio family. Their relationships have helped make everyday life in Mystic feel connected and meaningful.

Alisha continues to learn from her mentor Sonje Mayo, who studied under Joseph Pilates. She is always testing new fitness equipment and looking for better ways to serve her clients. Movement remains one of her greatest sources of inspiration, especially when someone in her studio becomes excited about a new goal.

Her engineering background still appears in unexpected ways. While attending Drexel University, Alisha competed on the Concrete Canoe and Steel Bridge teams. She helped build and race concrete canoes. She also helped design and weld a steel bridge that could support a car. In addition, she founded Drexel’s coed field hockey club team.

Outside the studio, Alisha enjoys working out and spending time with her family. She loves animals and indoor plants. She is also unusually enthusiastic about spreadsheets and office supplies. Post-it notes help keep her organized, while Earl Grey tea keeps the operation moving.

Alisha credits many people with helping Body By Bliss reach its tenth anniversary. Her husband has served as the studio’s behind-the-scenes technology expert and handyman. He has also assembled equipment and moved countless items. Their families have supported the business throughout its journey.

She is grateful to Dana Affinati and Tristen Taylor for encouraging her to pursue the idea. She also thanks Diane Armstrong and Tyler Page for their early support. Alisha credits her staff and studio manager Alex with bringing dedication and heart to the studio each day.

Being recognized through the Community Proud series is meaningful to Alisha because Mystic has become her home. The honor celebrates the work she has poured into Body By Bliss. It also recognizes the relationships that have made the journey possible.

The Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce is proud to recognize Alisha Bliss. We thank her for helping people move with greater strength and confidence while creating a welcoming community through Body By Bliss.