I first experienced the power of therapeutic Pilates at the age 10.

After a ballet injury, physical therapy led me to a clinic that used a reformer. The exercises were challenging but pain-free, and I returned to dance even stronger. That experience stayed with me. 

Years later, as a licensed physical therapist, I began to notice something troubling. Patients would complete treatment, only to return months later with the same pain. The traditional model was not enough. What was missing was guided movement that supported long-term healing. Pilates, when taught with clinical understanding, became that missing link.

Since opening Pilates Santé in 2008, I have spent over 17 years helping instructors build the skills they were never taught in their original training to apply in their clients' Pilates sessions.

Are You an Instructor Who Feels Stuck? You wish to help clients with pain, but you are not sure how to do it safely. You feel like your certification & training gave you tools for fitness, but not for healing. You see the need for deeper education, but do not know where to begin.

I wish to let you know that you are not alone. The clinical instructor curriculum was created to fill that gap. Through clinically grounded education and mentorship, you will gain the skills to support clients recovering from various musculoskeletal injuries & conditions.

 Pilates has the potential to change lives.
With the right tools, you can be the one to guide that change.
Let me help you get there with the Clinical Instructor Academy.

About Your Professor:
Ariel Lehaitre

Ariel Lehaitre is a physical therapist and Polestar Certified Rehabilitation Specialist with over 20 years of experience in Pilates-based therapeutic exercise. She holds a B.S. in Clinical Exercise Physiology and an M.S. in Physical Therapy from Boston University.

A former pre-professional ballet dancer, Ariel trained with the School of American Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, and Pacific Northwest Ballet. Injuries led her to discover Pilates for rehabilitation, which not only supported her recovery but also inspired her transition to professional salsa dancing and international instruction.

In 2008, Ariel founded her rehabilitative studio, Pilates Santé, to provide a more integrated approach to healing by combining physical therapy and Pilates. Her clinical focus is on correcting muscle imbalances, improving motor control, and restoring functional movement so clients can return to their active, pain-free lives.

A dedicated educator, Ariel recently launched Clinical Instructor Academy, a sister business to Pilates Santé, designed to train Pilates instructors to deliver safe, clinical-based sessions for clients with diverse musculoskeletal conditions.