| History Body by Design Studio was founded in 1997 in Jacksonville, Florida by fitness expert Joe Augustine with help from his friend and former championship body builder Donald “Skip” Sylvester. Since then, the business has grown to include two additional Florida locations and in 2006 Joe opened the Body by Design Studio of Raleigh, North Carolina, our first facility outside of Florida. Our practice has grown to over 350 private clients, and Joe has trained with such notable figures as world championship body builder and 2005 & 2006 Arnold Classic Winner Dexter Jackson, pop music star Lauren Fincham, model and fitness champion Sylvia Shannon, and many others from the worlds of professional sports, entertainment and modeling. Our corporate clients have included Starwood Hotels, Blue Cross Blue Shield and Twelfth House Records. |
 | Our Founder Joe Augustine’s interest in fitness actually began on the business side of the industry when he served as a marketing consultant to some of the nation’s best known fitness organizations and equipment manufacturers including Powerhouse Gyms and Global Fitness, Inc.. Although Joe was the nephew of famous 1960’s body builder Roy Cefalu, he didn’t begin weight training himself until 1994 when he met champion body builder and personal trainer Skip Sylvester. It didn’t take long before Joe himself became a successful amateur body builder, and in 1996 one of the first full-time professional personal trainers in North Florida. Since then, Joe has received numerous awards as both an athlete and a trainer, he has become a noted speaker on the fitness circuit, and he is currently working on his first book Profiles in Personal Training. Joe is a summa cum laude graduate of both Bachelors and Master’s programs at Jacksonville University and holds several certifications in fitness training and education. Joe has earned the title of Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) from American Fitness Professionals & Associates (AFPA). |
| Our Philosophy We believe many things set us apart at Body by Design Studio, but one of the most important things is our unique philosophy toward personal fitness training… Personal training by the experts and nothing less – if you come to Body by Design Studio, you will train only with certified, experienced and demonstrated experts in the field of personal fitness. Most of your training will be done by Joe himself. Total fitness through strength training – We are dedicated to the science of total fitness through the use of research-proven techniques of strength training. This is the proven method to produce permanent results in fat loss, body shaping and better overall health regardless of your age or condition. This technique is also the fastest proven way to fitness. Your training time is yours – during the training session your trainer will be devoted to you (and your training partners if you have them), your needs and your goals. No one will leave you to train on your own, to answer the phone, talk with other clients or prospects, or otherwise detract from your workout. Start as a client but become an expert – We don’t just train you, we make sure you know what you’re doing and why you’re doing it. We seek to give you the knowledge and tools for a lifetime of fitness – no matter where life may take you. Change your body, change your life – Personal fitness is a gateway to other important life changes. Becoming stronger, more healthy and more attractive provides a tremendous boost in self-esteem, self-confidence and personal power. Changing your body into the body you have always wanted for many is the key to a healthier, longer and more fulfilling life. |