This article is written by Lyne Binette, movement pedagogue, and dance teacher, certified in Pilates (STOTT), Pilates on Reformer apparatus (AMP) and the FRANKLIN® method.
Lyne has been teaching dance since 1985 and Pilate since 2004, and on machines since 2019. To her extensive teaching background, she added certifications for the Franklin® Movement Educator Method - Level 1 and 2 and Fascia Trainer for the Hip, Leg & Foot in July 2024.
Convinced of the possibilities that can be opened up by working with the body, I focus on proprioception and understanding movement. My goal is to help each individual achieve greater physical awareness through functional anatomy. Here, I am deeply influenced by the Franklin® Method, which focuses on fostering a better understanding of how the body works to integrate movement more effectively and reap greater benefits—the very definition of efficiency: doing more with less!
Trained in both mat work and equipment-based Pilates, I am deeply committed to preserving the essence of this practice. When I hear, “Pilates is hard!” I think, no—and yes—it’s demanding! Demanding because it requires both physical and mental engagement at the same time, i.e., doing it with focus. Mental effort guides physical effort. Quality takes precedence over quantity. Your brain works just as hard as your body, requiring you to apply precise and accurate coordination. In the present moment, your mind cannot wander to other thoughts, which guarantees the effectiveness of your efforts!
Yes, Pilates goes far beyond repetitive exercise. It’s an approach, a way of understanding how to use your body functionally. Progression and the level of difficulty are then adapted to your abilities and goals. Let’s not forget the principle of safe and healthy physical practice, which has always been a cornerstone of my career as an instructor!
These words come to mind: mobility, stability, endurance, and the body's dynamic alignment. Pilates encourages you to effectively engage your deep stabilizing muscles—this is the foundation of the body's dynamic alignment. It develops both through movement and by fostering overall stability.
You move because your body is articulated. Each of your joints is designed for movement. Pilates helps you honour this design by promoting fluid, controlled, and functional motion that enhances both mobility and stability, creating a harmonious balance within your body.
For example, to move, your body organizes itself, and a multitude of joints are mobilized in synchronicity and balance: feet, ankles, knees, hips, spine, shoulders, arms, and neck. A joint that stops moving degrades and freezes. This is sedentary living.
The result is loss of ease. What we're talking about is preserving mobility in movement. It's from this mobility that it's possible to stabilize and develop fine, efficient muscular coordination.
To achieve this, several tools and accessories are used: floor work, standing work, the PILATES table called REFORMER, balls, rollers, elastic bands, and even on a chair as required. It's essential here to create different contexts to challenge mobility, stability, and endurance, just as you do every day in your activities. Maintaining interest keeps people motivated to become more aware of and take charge of their overall well-being and to make choices to keep their bodies healthy, supple, and happy.
The Pilates-Reformer-Dance Studio was born from deep reflection, with the pandemic serving as a catalyst. After a flourishing career teaching dance at a high level, the need to simplify and define even redefine the essence of my teaching became undeniable. Returning to the basics was even more so. That’s how L’Atelier in Victoriaville came to life.
Now in its 4th year of operation, L’Atelier has firmly established itself. PILATES is omnipresent, as is the FRANKLIN® approach. This somatic combination is suitable for everyone, regardless of age. The common denominator is the individual—their needs and goals. The tools we use adapt accordingly.
When launching this ambitious project as a new entrepreneur, surrounding myself with competent people and reliable tools was essential. I was already familiar with GOrendezvous through various services I used, such as acupuncture and osteopathy. As a user, I was captivated by the simplicity and user-friendliness of GOrendezvous. I quickly turned to them in my second year of operation.
With GOrendezvous, I found the listening ear, expertise, support, and guidance I needed. For me and for L’Atelier, it’s an essential investment, far from being just an expense!
L’Atelier: A Space for Safe and Healthy Physical Practice
L’Atelier is a place where safe and healthy physical practice is a core value. Its mission is to positively enhance each individual’s physical experience, engage the entire body in active movement, and promote overall well-being and physical integrity. It’s about helping individuals build—or rebuild—confidence in their physical abilities while fostering autonomy.
It’s about awakening or reawakening the pure joy of moving with awareness and confidence and, most importantly, giving people the freedom to choose. Ultimately, it’s also about preserving the quality of their daily activities, sports, and artistic pursuits.
L’Atelier offers a selection of group classes, both in-person and online, in collaboration with exceptional partners. Thematic workshops can also be organized upon request.
L’Atelier is intentionally small by design. Quality is the priority. Most classes are conducted privately or semi-privately, with a maximum of two participants at a time. This approach allows me to tailor each session to individual needs, providing personalized guidance with care and precision.