Pilates Accreditations
- PMA (Pilates Method Alliance) Gold Pilates Certification
- BASI (Body Arts and Science) Pilates Certification
- PhysicalMind Pilates Certification
- Core Intelligence Certification
Other Accreditations
- BalleCore Certification
- Rommett Floor-Barre Technique Certification
- A.C.E. Personal Trainer Certification
- College Degree in Dance
Background
Manon Laplante studied Pilates in New York City where she received her first certification through the PhysicalMind Institute, studying under Lesley Powell. In order to deepen her understanding of the technique, she completed a second certification through The Body Arts and Science International in California, studying under Rael Isacowitz. She is certified through the American Council on Exercise (ACE) and “gold” certified with the Pilates Method Alliance.
Continuing her education and staying current in the field, she participates in many Pilates conventions across the country. She has continued to take private classes for years, studying under Jillian Hessel, to whom she has become an assistant for presentations at conferences.
Originally from Montréal, Manon began studying dance at an early age and earned a college degree in dance from the Collège Saint-Laurent. Manon studied dance at the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) and at Les Ateliers de Danse Moderne de Montréal Inc. (LADMMI), a professional dance school where she first began incorporating Pilates training with her dance technique. She was also a dance teacher and choreographer for over ten years while in her native Québec.
Her desire to further her dance career landed her in New York City where she studied at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance. While training, Manon suffered an injury to her lower back. Although this injury ended her dance career, it brought her attention to the therapeutic aspect of the Pilates technique.
Manon has been working in California as a Pilates Instructor since 2001 and also as a teacher for instructors by offering workshops. She was invited in 2003 to teach the first Pilates Mat workshop for IFAS International, a well recognized center for training fitness professionals in Switzerland. Due to the enormous success of the class, Manon was invited to return and lecture for their annual fitness convention in 2004.
In May 2006, Manon was a guest teacher at the Canyon Ranch Health Resort in Tucson, AZ for their Pilates Week where she taught classes to guests as well as a workshop for the instructors.
In summer 2006, Manon received a certification in the “Rommett Floor-Barre” technique in NYC, studying under Zena Rommett herself.
In winter 2007, Manon took part in a Fletcher Level I Intensive Course in Tucson, Arizona. During that course, she studied under Kyria Sabin and also had the opportunity to learn from Master teacher Ron Fletcher.
In June 2008, Manon completed the “Core Intelligence” course from Long Beach Dance Conditioning, studying under world-renown Marie-José Blom.
Text edited by Marie-Eve Lamothe