hi, i'm carman.
contemporary pilates teacher based in toronto
Hi, I'm Carman Chan (she/her) and I'm a second-generation Chinese-Canadian contemporary pilates teacher, studio manager, digital wellness community co-creator, former dance artist, wife + tuxedo cat mama based in Toronto, Canada. With 25+ years of embodied movement experience ranging from classical to contemporary dance, mat + reformer pilates, barre, and vinyasa + yin yoga, my relationship with movement feels alive, ever-evolving and deeply rooted.
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From the age of 5, I grew up training and performing in ballet + traditional Chinese folk dance until high school, where I decided to pursued dance more professionally. I attended an arts high school and university, graduating with a BFA in performance dance at Toronto Metropolitan University. Over those 8 years, I ventured into other dance styles like jazz, modern, contemporary, hip hop choreography and house, and deepened my understanding of anatomy, functional movement + body mechanics. Throughout (and after) my undergrad, I choreographed dance works, taught choreography, assisted in the creative direction of a dance team of 25+ members and produced full length dance works.​
​Post-graduation, I worked part-time as a receptionist at Barreworks, sinking my toes into a whole new culture of movement. In 2017, I became barre certified under the direction of Leni Calosing, completed two trainings in pre/postnatal care and moved deeper towards the path of teaching movement to groups and individuals.
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In 2018, I commenced my mat pilates training at Mindful Movement Centre under the direction of Leslie Parker and in 2022, I completed my 200-hr yoga teacher training at Downward Dog Centre under the direction of Margot Stokreef + Karen Parucha. I continued deepening my yoga practice with Shawna Turner and completed her 60-hr Deep Rest training (yin yoga, restorative yoga + meditation) and in 2023, completed my reformer pilates training at Muse Movement under the direction of Keri O'Meara + Leslie Hopkins.
In 2024, I co-launched a digital community called HOME WORK with Megan Alexander + Tash Francesca as an extension of Good Space, as the lead creator in the BODY WORK (movement) component.
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And soon after that, I launched my Home Studio in Parkdale, Toronto, equipped with a reformer + tower apparatus to continue offering 1:1 sessions.
Everything that I've learned shows up in my offerings and the way that I perceive, interpret + facilitate movement.
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Beyond movement, I am also a self-taught + peer-mentored photographer, video editor, digital designer + creative writer. To see some of my digital works, head over to my portfolio.