About me
Welcome to Core Reformer Pilates, a Pilates studio offering live online mat and reformer Pilates classes, in‑person sessions, and small‑group Pilates retreats. Our approach focuses on building strength, improving mobility, and supporting long‑term health through precise, instructor‑led movement in a supportive community.
My Story
About Marie‑Laure
Marie‑Laure Freshard is a Comprehensive Certified Pilates Instructor with over 12 years of professional teaching experience, specialising in Reformer Pilates, mat Pilates, posture correction, strength development, mobility, and mindful‑focused movement. She has been certified by Power Pilates in New York City since 2013, after completing an intensive 600‑hour comprehensive classical Pilates certification program covering all apparatus.
Now based in Geneva, Switzerland, Marie‑Laure delivers live online mat and Reformer Pilates classes, in‑person sessions, and small‑group Reformer Pilates retreats in Ibiza. She teaches fluently in English and French, serving an international clientele seeking precise, intelligent, and mindful movement.
Professional Background and Pilates Training
Marie‑Laure began her Pilates career in the United States, refining her teaching at Urban Front Pilates in Philadelphia, where she worked within a classical Pilates framework. Her professional journey then took her to Brussels, where she spent three years expanding her approach by integrating Stott Pilates techniques, allowing her to adapt classical principles to a wide range of bodies and needs.
Her certification required over 600 hours of structured study, supervised teaching, and personal practice, ensuring deep mastery of mat work and all Pilates apparatus, including the Reformer, Cadillac, Chair, and Barrels.
Areas of Client Focus
Marie‑Laure works with:
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Beginners seeking a safe and structured introduction to Pilates
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Experienced practitioners refining strength, control, and precision
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Clients focused on posture improvement and core stability
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Individuals looking for intelligent, injury‑aware movement
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International clients joining live online Pilates classes from home
Her sessions emphasise clarity of movement, anatomical precision, and sustainable strength.
From Science to Movement
Before becoming a Pilates instructor, Marie‑Laure built a career as a pharmaceutical scientist, chemist, medical device moderator, and teaching assistant. This scientific background informs her teaching style, bringing a strong analytical foundation, attention to detail, and evidence‑based understanding of the body.
In her Pilates instruction, she blends scientific structure with creativity, helping clients understand not only how to move, but why each movement matters.
Teaching Philosophy and Style
Originally from France, and with a professional life spanning France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, the United States, Japan, and Switzerland, Marie‑Laure brings a multicultural perspective to her teaching. She speaks French and English fluently, has working knowledge of German and Dutch, and is currently learning Spanish.
Inspired by the elegance and discipline of Japanese culture, her classes balance precision, flow, and mindfulness. She is particularly drawn to the Reformer, where control and movement quality meet rhythm and expression.
Mentorship and Continued development
Marie‑Laure trained privately with her mentor Karen Pecarsky, whose creative and expressive approach to classical Pilates deeply shaped her teaching. This influence is reflected in Marie‑Laure’s use of clear cues, imagery, and thoughtful progression, making sessions engaging, accessible, and effective.
She continues to evolve her practice through ongoing study and teaching across different environments and client populations.
Reformer Pilates Retreats in Ibiza
Living between Geneva and Ibiza, Marie‑Laure hosts Reformer Pilates retreats in Ibiza, based in the tranquil southwest of the island. These retreats combine structured Pilates practice, mindful movement, and the restorative qualities of nature, offering participants an immersive experience that supports both physical strength and mental clarity.
A Global, Integrative Approach to Pilates
From the laboratory to the Pilates studio, and across Europe, Asia, and North America, Marie‑Laure’s journey reflects a lifelong commitment to learning, movement, and transformation. Through her teaching—online, in person, and in retreat settings—she helps clients move with intention, build lasting strength, and reconnect with their bodies in a meaningful way.
Marie‑Laure Freshard is a Geneva‑based Certified Reformer Pilates Instructor offering live online mat and reformer Pilates classes and Reformer Pilates retreats in Ibiza.