Pilates Santé

The first time I was on a reformer was life changing... I was just 10 years old when I sprained my ankle in ballet class. The injury led me to a physical therapy clinic in Marin County, which happened to have a Pilates reformer. My physical therapist guided me through exercises that felt incredibly challenging yet didn’t cause any ankle pain. Shortly after, I returned to my regular dance routine—even stronger than before my injury. That experience left a lasting impact on my life.​ As I continued my intensive ballet training, I dealt with constant injuries and chronic pain. Pilates rehabilitation became a regular part of my routine in the various cities I lived in, including New York City, Seattle, and San Francisco. Fast forward to 2002—I graduated from physical therapy school and began working in a traditional outpatient clinic. After six years, I started noticing a pattern: Many of my patients were returning year after year with the same issues or similar symptoms. That’s when I began asking myself: How could we help people stay out of pain longer and experience a more comprehensive healing journey? It became clear that the traditional system didn’t always allow people to fully heal, recover, or learn how to prevent future issues. I realized patients needed a place to continue their healing journey even after their symptoms had resolved. This realization led me to open my studio, Pilates Santé, in 2008. At Pilates Santé, our team of physical therapists and skilled rehabilitative Pilates instructors work with clients facing a variety of acute and chronic injuries. Using both equipment-based and mat Pilates exercises, we address each client’s unique imbalances to restore function and improve movement. Picture After 20 years as a physical therapist, I remain in awe of Joseph Pilates’ work and the incredible impact this method of movement has on people’s lives. Pilates has been an integral part of my journey, and I feel deeply grateful to use this method to help clients heal and achieve a significantly improved quality of life. ~ Written by Ariel Lehaitre, studio owner and founder

Training & Credentials (self-reported)

Hours