Where it all began

BACKGROUND

Cecile Sasman was born in Stellenbosch. Her father was the professor and head of the Food Science Department of the University of Stellenbosch. Her mother was an assertive entrepreneur and health and wellness consultant. Her great love for dogs but especially Stannard Poodles, comes from her childhood, growing up with two big friendly black poodles, Donker and Ebony.

Cecile has been part of the ballet world since she was 6, and stepped into the professional ballet world as an apprentice by the age of 15. It showed her the disciplines that are useful in life, thinking on her feet, and being creative.
At 18, she abruptly left the ballet world, to study Psychology, Sociology and Marketing at the University of Stellenbosch. After she completed her studies, she was eager to travel and explore the world. She went to South Korea for 6 years, teaching English, travelling in the East, and learnt how to Salsa dance. Cecile studied BASI (Body Arts and Science International) Mat Pilates in Seoul, while finishing her work in South Korea. The word basi, also means “base” or “foundation” in various fields of anatomy, botany and chemistry. For Cecile, this resonated, starting her Pilates journey as a base until her current nourishing movement facilitations. 

STARTING HER MINDFUL MOVEMENT JOURNEY

Returning home to Stellenbosch at the start of 2015, Cecile opened her first studio-brand, CielaPilates, focusing on mat Pilates and overall health and wellness, at her home, plus worked at various studios and businesses freelance in Stellenbosch.
She worked with Mia Steyn, a nia trainer, and Soleil Terblanche, a yoga and aerial yoga teacher. They played with their skills and brought a wonderful fusion of Pilates, Nia and yoga together in their sessions and elaborated it into weekend workshops. Thanks to the help from Cecile’s husband Thaine, Natasha Thereon, a sports massage therapist and Annelize Taljaard, a mindful clinical psychologist, CielaPilates developed into LeCielStudio which was situated in the heart of Stellenbosch. By the start of 2018, LeCielStudio developed into a team effort of various facilitators presenting Pilates, yoga and barre.

By mid 2018, Cecile’s family had a great opportunity to relocate to Knysna in the Garden Route. LeCielStudio continued to operate in Stellenbosch for a few months, with the wonderful team of Jieun Kim, Fran Sibrits, Lente Kritzinger, Dinah Dick, Edelweiss Gunter and Melanie Rabe, presenting their various classes.

ADAPTING TO CHANGE

In April 2019, LeCielStudio closed its doors in Stellenbosch. This was a great opportunity for the team to venture out and start their individual journeys opening their own mindful movement businesses and for LeCielStudio to settle in Knysna as a boutique studio run by Cecile only.

During 2020 – 2021, LeCielStudio got creative, presenting classes online and outdoors. Eventually things returned to normal again.
For various moments, Cecile also presented Pilates at the Knysna Flight Club, the Knysna Dojo and at the biokinetics, Liesl Medeira.

EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

Cecile studied the Danielle Collins Face Yoga course in October 2022, to add the face yoga skills to her classes, which brings a great addition to mindful movement in general.

After 8 years of doing Nia herself, in March 2023, Cecile qualified as an Art of Sensation facilitator (Nia white belt), at internationally known, The Space Between, in Plettenberg Bay, under the facilitation of Mia Steyn (a second degree black belt in Nia).

In March 2024, she continued her nia training with Ann Christiansen, an international Nia lead trainer from Switzerland, qualifying as an Art of Communication Nia facilitator (Nia blue belt), at Studio Kairos, Johannesburg.

Cecile was privileged to expand her leadership skills, her public speaking and overall JOY practice with the training of Nikki Jackman Joy, a South African JOY catalyst, actor, writer and insightful friend. With her guidance, Cecile is a qualified Level 2 Secret Sunrise facilitator, a JOY facilitator and an UPliftment facilitator. 

In March 2025, Cecile produced the Art of Sensation (Nia white belt) training retreat, facilitated by Nia Trainer, Mia Steyn at the Space Between in Plett.

At the end of March, after a decade of moving with the Pilates modality, Cecile closed her Pilates studio to focus on facilitating Nia internationally. 

Cecile brings Nia to the community, locally and internationally. She takes it with her whenever she travels, she presents Nia online, curates Nia playshops to deepen the understanding of being able to think with your body and move with your  mind, plus add value in the school, corporate, team building and events environments.

WHY JOYFUL MOVEMENT THROUGH NIA?

During the winter of 2023, Cecile rebranded again as Cecile with Love & Light. Her intentions are just that, to bring love and light with various means to the world. She is all about uplifting people, finding joy with movement, connecting the mind, body, soul and emotions for oneself  with dynamic ease, which allows a deepened sense of connection with others and sustainable projects to empower and uplift everyBody, always on a mission to be in win Win WIN experiences.

Have a look at Cecile’s schedule, connect with her, and step in with a beginners’ mind to explore the possibilities of what your being feels drawn to.

” I am passionate about creating a sustainable life that supports holistic wellbeing. Everything from what you put in your being and around your being, to how you move plays a role in your overall health.
I am a passionate Nia facilitator, and play a role in different genres of JOYful movement. My purpose is to expand the understanding of how through mindful-nourishing movement and tapping into our inner body wisdoms, we can make loving shifts with dynamic ease.
The world needs love, and it starts with each individual understanding that they are able to respond with love, light and kindness, and in return to be optimally healthy and JOYFUL.
I invite you to step into regular Nia experiences, with a beginner’s mind, coloring in your life-story-picture with multiple tools and insights I am happy to share with you.”

WHAT IS Nia?

Nia is a holistic movement practice blending dance, martial arts, and healing arts to enhance well-being. Founded in the 1980s by Debbie and Carlos Rosas, it connects mind, body, and spirit through joyful movement. Incorporating dance forms, martial arts, and body-mind practices like yoga, Nia improves cardiovascular health, flexibility, strength, and body awareness while reducing stress. Adaptable for all ages and fitness levels, it offers a balanced, expressive approach to fitness and personal growth.