hi, I'm Carman
a second-generation Chinese-Canadian contemporary movement facilitator + educator based in Toronto
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Born and raised in Toronto, Carman is a second-generation Chinese-Canadian contemporary movement facilitator, educator and mentor with 25+ years of profound movement experience.
As a former dance artist with a BFA in dance and a variety of comprehensive Pilates, yoga + barre certifications, Carman's passion + relationship with the moving body feels alive, ever-evolving and deeply embodied.
Dance was Carman's first love. From the age of 5, she trained in ballet + traditional Chinese folk dance and continued to pursue more through the Arts York Dance program at Unionville High School, followed by a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Performance Dance at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly known as Ryerson University). At both institutions, she studied functional movement + human anatomy while training daily in ballet, modern, jazz + contemporary dance.
From 2015-2020, she continued developing her craft through intensive trainings + workshops, while co-creative directing + choreographing for a grassroots dance company, performing, competing, and co-producing full-length danceworks. As she moved through those final years, she felt a call to transition away from dance and to investigate movement from another lens.
In 2016, Carman decided to pursue a barre certification at Barreworks under the direction of Leni Calosing and completed two trainings in pre/postnatal care. Soon after, she launched into teaching group fitness and working privately with clients while supporting the growth + development of the studio as a manager.
From there, Carman knew that she had only scratched the surface. Her desire and commitment to learn more about the body and different movement methods inspired her to continue her education through a comprehensive mat Pilates training at Mindful Movement Centre under the direction of Leslie Parker; a 200-hour vinyasa yoga teacher training at Downward Dog Centre under the direction of Karen Parucha, Margot Stokreef + Shehla Khan; a 60-hour yin yoga, restorative yoga + meditation training with Shawna Turner; a yoga teacher mentorship program with Soulga Yoga; a 185-hour reformer Pilates training at Muse Movement under the direction of Keri O'Meara + Leslie Hopkins; and a 65-hour Pilates chair training + a 40-hour ladder barrel + arcs training at Mindful Movement with Georgia Burns.
Besides training in various movement modalities, Carman is also committed to expanding her learning + leadership through a trauma-informed, anti-racist + anti-oppressive lens. Workshops that she's completed include: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for Wellness Professionals by Chrissy King; Sharing Privilege by Robin Lacambra of Good Body Feel; The Anti-Oppressive Wellness workshop by Nya Daley of Soulga Yoga; C-Section and Traumatic Birth Recovery by Georgia Burns of Mindful Movement Centre; and Size Inclusive Pilates by Lindsey Leaf of Fat Body Pilates.
In 2024, Carman opened up her home studio in Parkdale to offer personalized movement care, and most recently in 2025, has transitioned into a teacher mentor and lead facilitator of comprehensive mat + reformer Pilates teacher training programs at Nice Day Pilates alongside Jennifer Winter + Caitlin Burns. To learn more about Carman's offerings, click here.