Michele Larsson

Michele Larsson, founder of Core Dynamics Pilates in Santa Fe, has over 40 years of experience teaching fitness, movement, dance and rehabilitation. She is a former dancer and choreographer who trained at the Julliard School of Music in New York City, and received a B.A. in Holistic Health and Dance Theater from Antioch College in 1981.

She began teaching movement in 1965, instructing dance for the New York Public Schools. She was an assistant teacher of Labanotation – a form of movement notation – at the Julliard School of Music. Larsson continued teaching dance until her retirement from dance at age 45. She has taught modern, jazz, ballet and choreography in professional studios and universities. In 1979, she began teaching Pilates mat work and post-injury classes. Michele is recognized as a master teacher in all phases of the extensive Pilates method utilizing all the apparatus.

In 1982, after 12 years of study with Eve Gentry, Larsson began teacher training under her guidance.  She spent many months working with Ms Gentry, observing individual clients, studying anatomy and kinesiology, and student teaching in a typical apprentice style training situation. Over the years Michele has taken workshops from other master teachers, including Carola Trier, Bruce King, Kathleen Stanford-Grant and Ron Fletcher. 

Larsson then worked as an associate teacher with Eve Gentry for nine years prior to the founding of the Institute for the Pilates Method in June 1991.  There she was the Director of Training and developed curricula and materials for Pilates teacher training as well as screening and approving candidates to receive their Institute for the Pilates Method Certificate. Michele was also involved in product development at the Institute which included numerous videos on the Pilates method.

Building on her past experience, Larsson established Core Dynamics Inc. in 1996, a teacher training organization and Santa Fe, New Mexico Pilates studio. Over the past decade, Core Dynamics Pilates expanded to six training sites nation wide with approximately 300 graduates of the program. In addition to the teacher training workshops, Michele offers continuing education and advanced workshops around the globe. She has taught at national conferences including, the Pilates Method Alliance, Body, Mind, Spirit, Pilates on Tour, Body Control/UK and Pilates Style as well as presentations in Chile, Canada, Singapore, Australia and across the US. She continues to travel internationally providing workshops and seminars on special topics, traditional Pilates and the Eve Gentry technique.

Larsson recently has begun to write articles for various publications including Pilates-Pro on-line newsletter and PIlates Style Magazine. She is currently in development for numerous products aimed at assisting the new Pilates teacher as well as advanced problem solving for special problems and populations. Michele maintains a diverse local clientele at the Santa Fe studio teaching athletes, post injury/special needs individuals and other Pilates teachers.

Ms. Larsson directs the Core Dynamics Pilates Teacher Program as well as teaching Advanced Workshops worldwide.