Angeliki Karanikou

Founder of BodySoul Studios

A Life Shaped by Movement

Movement has always been at the heart of my life. My journey began with classical and contemporary dance, which I studied at the Greek State School of Dance and the Rallou Manou Professional Dance School. I went on to receive my Higher Professional Dance Diploma from the Greek Ministry of Culture.

My curiosity and passion for movement later took me to New York, where I continued my studies in contemporary dance and choreography at the internationally renowned Dance Space Center.

During my time there, I was introduced to the Simonson Technique, an approach focused on helping dancers prevent injuries and return safely to movement. It changed the way I saw the body—not simply as a vehicle for artistic expression, but as something that requires understanding, precision and thoughtful care.

Discovering Pilates and Yoga

My experience as a dancer naturally led me to Pilates and Yoga.

In New York, I became a certified Pilates instructor through the Kane School and gained valuable hands-on experience working with dancers, athletes, people with spinal conditions and women during pregnancy.

I continued to expand my knowledge through training with internationally recognised organisations, including Balanced Body, Polestar Pilates and BASI Pilates. I also completed my Vinyasa Yoga training at the OM Yoga Center and Laughing Lotus in New York and became a Yoga Alliance–certified teacher.

The Beginning of BodySoul

In 2003, I returned to Thessaloniki and founded BodySoul Studios with Eirini Karanikou. At the time, Pilates was still a relatively unfamiliar practice in Greece—but we believed deeply in its potential.

Our vision was to create a studio where expertise and personal attention would come first. A welcoming space with small classes, where every person and every body would be treated with care and respect.

Whether someone comes to BodySoul to grow stronger, return to movement after an injury or find a greater sense of balance, our purpose remains the same: to offer knowledgeable guidance that responds to the individual.

Alongside my work at BodySoul, I regularly teach on the Human Mama professional training programme, focusing on safe Pilates practice during pregnancy. I have also been invited to present at conferences organised by the University of Macedonia, GRAFTS and Effect Academy.

My Approach

I believe that good technique, a thorough understanding of anatomy and genuine attention to each individual are essential for moving safely and with confidence at every age.

These principles guide every class I teach—whether in dance, Pilates or Yoga—helping each person experience movement with greater freedom and joy.

Eirini Karanikou

Physical Education Teacher | Pilates & Yoga Instructor | Co-Founder of BodySoul

Movement has always been at the centre of my life—as an athlete, as a movement professional and through my ongoing exploration of the human body. Early in my career, I came to understand that no single method can meet the needs of everyone.

I graduated from the School of Physical Education and Sport Science at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, specialising in Adapted Physical Education. Working with people with disabilities and a wide range of physical needs shaped my understanding of exercise from the very beginning: not as a one-size-fits-all routine, but as a way to improve quality of life through movement that is adapted to each individual.

My search for a deeper understanding of movement took me to New York, where I trained in Pilates at the Kane School and Dance Space. I later moved to London, where I continued and completed my Pilates and Yoga training at Pilates Yoga Works London. There, I also earned my international Yoga Alliance certification in Hatha and Vinyasa Yoga, laying the foundations for a more integrated approach to movement and exercise.

Throughout my career, I have studied with respected teachers from the international Pilates and Yoga community and taken part in specialised courses, seminars and professional training programmes in Greece and abroad. I continue to deepen my knowledge of functional movement, recovery, injury prevention and the ways in which exercise can support a better quality of life.

More than 20 years of daily teaching have given me the opportunity to work with people of different ages, needs and goals. Through this experience, I have developed a comprehensive approach that brings together elements of Pilates, Yoga and other specialised movement practices. The aim is always the same: to offer each person what their body genuinely needs at that particular moment.

Perhaps the most fascinating part of this work is that every body carries its own story, habits, challenges and potential. That constant process of discovery inspires me to keep learning, developing and finding new ways to approach movement, so that every class reflects the real needs of the person in front of me.

I have contributed as a presenter and instructor to educational programmes, seminars and academic events. Today, I continue to teach, learn and refine my approach through my daily work with the people who place their trust in BodySoul.

My Approach

I believe exercise is far more than a workout. It can transform the way we move, breathe, stand and experience everyday life.

My goal is not simply to teach Pilates or Yoga, but to help each person understand their body more deeply and discover what it is capable of. My approach is not defined by a single method or technique. Instead, I draw on the knowledge and experience I have gained over the years to adapt movement to the individual—never the individual to a predetermined method.