Our curriculum has been developed through decades of teaching experience and strengthened by the expertise of respected educators and specialists.
Built on experience. Refined through collaboration.
get to know our faculty
Leslie Parker is the founder of Mindful Movement Education and the primary author of the licensed Pilates teacher training curriculum.
Over the past 25 years, she has taught thousands of Pilates sessions, mentored hundreds of instructors, and spent nearly two decades building one of Toronto's most respected independent Pilates teacher training programs. What began as a desire to develop exceptional teachers for her own studio evolved into a comprehensive curriculum refined through years of teaching, feedback, and continuous improvement.
Like many studio owners, Leslie understands the challenge of finding instructors who not only know the exercises, but know how to teach them. That challenge inspired her to create a teacher training that prioritizes critical thinking, confident communication, practical application, and a deep understanding of movement—not simply the memorization of choreography.
Today, Leslie partners with boutique Pilates studios to help them launch teacher training programs under their own brand. Rather than starting from a blank page, partners receive a curriculum built from decades of real-world experience and strengthened by contributions from specialists in anatomy, pain science, pregnancy, and other key areas of movement education.
Leslie believes the strongest teacher training programs are shaped by experience, strengthened through collaboration, and continually refined to meet the evolving needs of both teachers and students.
Leslie parker
- Owner of mindful movement studio
- 25+ Years Teaching Pilates
- 12 years as Teacher Educator
founder & curriculum director
Samantha Booker developed the Functional Anatomy curriculum included within the Mindful Movement Education licensing program, bringing decades of experience in anatomy education and movement science to every partner studio.
Originally trained as a contemporary dancer, Sam went on to practise as a Registered Massage Therapist for over 24 years and spent 19 years teaching anatomy at Toronto Metropolitan University. Throughout her career, she has become known for making complex anatomical concepts engaging, practical, and easy to understand.
Rather than expecting Pilates educators to become anatomy specialists themselves, our curriculum allows studios to deliver anatomy education created by someone whose career has been dedicated to teaching it. Sam's lectures and educational resources provide trainees with a strong scientific foundation while allowing studio owners and teacher trainers to focus on what they do best—developing exceptional Pilates teachers.
Her contribution reflects our philosophy of bringing together subject-matter experts to create a richer, more comprehensive educational experience than any one educator could provide alone.
SAM BOOKER
- functional Anatomy specialist
- anatomy Professor
- Registered Massage Therapist
curriculum contributor
Danielle Kroetsch is a curriculum contributor to Mindful Movement Education, bringing more than 15 years of Pilates teaching experience and a passion for thoughtful, practical movement education.
Having taught clients from a wide range of backgrounds for over 15 years, Danielle is known for her ability to make Pilates approachable, adaptable, and empowering. For the past three years, she has also been a faculty member of the Mindful Movement Centre Teacher Training Program, mentoring aspiring instructors and helping them build confidence as educators.
With a special interest in pre and postnatal Pilates, Danielle authored Mindful Movement Education's Pre & Postnatal Pilates curriculum, equipping instructors with the knowledge and confidence to safely support clients throughout pregnancy and postpartum recovery. She has also contributed to the ongoing development of the broader teacher training curriculum, drawing on her extensive experience as both a Pilates teacher and educator.
Danielle Kroetsch
- pre & post-partum specialist
- 15 years pilates teacher & educator
- spine & scoliosis specialist
