Meet Our Team
We believe aliveness is not a fleeting moment - it’s a way of being.
At Body Alive Studios, we believe aliveness is not a fleeting moment - it’s a way of being.
We are a community of bold, open-hearted humans devoted to living fully and intentionally. We practice not for perfection, but for permanence - for the unshakable connection to our breath, our centre, and our power.
This is more than just movement. It’s a pathway to full aliveness.
Rani Shah
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Rani Shah is an internationally experienced yoga and movement educator whose teaching is inspired by a lifelong fascination with the intelligence of the human body and its remarkable capacity for growth, adaptation and transformation.
With more than 15 years of teaching experience, Rani has guided students throughout Australia and South East Asia. She holds over 900 hours of registered yoga teacher training across Vinyasa, Hatha and Wild Lotus Yoga, complemented by specialised studies in Zenthai Shiatsu Massage, Embodied Movement, Animal Flow, calisthenics, functional strength training, and a lifelong devotion to dance, including Salsa, Bachata and Belly Dance.
Her diverse background has shaped a unique approach to movement that bridges strength and softness, structure and spontaneity. Rather than viewing yoga as a collection of poses, Rani teaches it as a practice of cultivating vitality - one that honours the body's natural capacity to move in spirals, curves, rotations and organic patterns as much as in stillness and alignment.
At the heart of her teaching is the understanding that movement extends beyond the physical body. As we develop strength, mobility and awareness, we also influence the fascial, emotional and energetic systems that exist in constant relationship with one another. A truly intelligent movement practice nurtures every layer of our being.
Rani believes that lasting transformation comes not from chasing complexity, but from practising the fundamentals with care, curiosity and consistency. She invites students to meet each movement with both alertness and surrender - to build resilience without rigidity, embrace challenge without force, and cultivate strength that is balanced by grace.
Above all, Rani teaches with a simple intention: to help others cultivate a steady state of Full Aliveness - a practice that supports not only how we move, but how we live.
Martina Mendiverri
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Martina came to yoga after an unexpected head injury whilst training acrobatics, which required her to slow down and explore a new movement practice while she healed. Yoga had always been a distant calling card for many years for her, but with an unwavering focus to train hard at her career path, she struggled to find the time to prioritise a mindfulness practice as much as her external ambitions (a familiar struggle for many). As burnout rapidly became a daily state of being, life eventually forced her to slow down via her concussion and guided her back to a path of balance and care of the internal self, which she found through Vinyasa.
Incorporating a regular asana practice into her life developed not only a level of strength and mobility that her acrobatic training alone was missing, but perhaps more importantly, a deepened state of interoception (mind-body connection) and nervous system regulation.
A level of awareness and a tool, she believes, that is of extraordinary value to all, no matter your background. Encouraging a curious and explorative approach to the ever evolving journey of movement and connection to the self, Martina aims to help her students develop a deeper level of strength and trust in both their bodies and mind.
Bringing a love for self-development and movement with a heavy emphasis on anatomy and neuroscience, expect a challenging class that intertwines these passions.
Bibiana Franco
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Bibiana has been dancing for as long as she can remember. Her journey began as a little girl performing traditional Colombian folkloric dance, where she first discovered the joy of moving to music and sharing that energy with others. From those early performances, Bibiana went on to perform for large audiences as a solo artist as well as part of professional dance groups, and later as the artistic director of her own dance company.
Her training has taken her across South America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand, shaping a unique style that blends global influences with a modern, expressive approach to movement. At the heart of Bibiana’s professional training is Belly Dance, a form she has studied and performed for more than 20 years. This deep experience brings both technical skill and soulful expression into everything she teaches.
Bibiana’s classes are known for their joyful, high-energy atmosphere. Drawing on the sensuality of belly dance and the fiery flair of Latin styles, she creates a space where students can reconnect with their bodies through music, rhythm, and movement. Her teaching focuses not just on choreography, but on feeling the beat, building confidence, and allowing movement to come from the inside out.
Through guided sequences and moments of freestyle, Bibiana helps students develop body awareness, cardiovascular endurance, and a sense of flow, all while having fun. Her warm and uplifting approach makes her classes welcoming for everyone, whether you’re stepping into a dance class for the first time or returning to movement after a break.
For Bibiana, dance is more than technique, it’s a celebration of rhythm, expression, and the simple joy of moving your body.
Eli Murfet
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Eli is an enthusiastic and curious new voice in the movement community, bringing a genuine passion for Pilates and a belief that movement is an important part of a balanced, fulfilling life. Having experienced many different journeys throughout his life, Eli discovered Pilates in 2024 after being introduced to the practice by a friend. Since then, he has dedicated more than 600 hours to his own practice and self-mastery, developing a deep appreciation for the way mindful movement can support both body and mind. Eli is currently completing his Diploma of Pilates Instruction and has successfully completed both the Matwork and Reformer components of his training. As a keen learner, Eli brings enthusiasm and curiosity into every session. He has a particular interest in anatomy, the mechanics of movement, and understanding how Pilates can support strength, mobility and wellbeing as we move through the different stages of life. His teaching style is encouraging, considered and grounded in a genuine desire to help people better understand and connect with their bodies.
