Samantha Clayton is a fitness professional and movement educator fully certified through the Pilates Method Alliance (PMA), the only standardized certification body in all of North America. She is sought out for her highly animated classes, plucky playlists, diverse modifications, and improviser’s spirit.

Ms. Clayton possesses over 20 years in the field of health & wellness, education, and the performing arts. She completed her training of “The Original Method” (Classical Pilates) in upstate New York in early 2000. Samantha is trained in both Modern and West African dance forms as well as voice.  She is a singer-songwriter with several recordings to her name.  Her enduring involvement in the arts, together with her studies in/and passion for anatomy, both enhance & inform her various teachings in Pilates, Barre, rehabilitation, dance, and movement education.  

Samantha just opened a second business entitled, Samantha’s Garden  a vegan skincare line handcrafted from natural ingredients.

Having received her Pink Ribbon Certification 14 years ago, Samantha continues to teach individuals challenged by a variety of conditions, predominantly those living with breast cancer and auto-immune diseases. As a Breast Cancer Exercise Specialist (BCES), Samantha’s focus lies in assisting her clients in the post-surgery phase of treatment where emphasis is placed on improving range of motion, restoring posture and carefully rebuilding strength & confidence.

Samantha has taught both dance and creative movement in the Montessori school system and Early Years Centres. She was commissioned to create a teacher-training Pilates mat program for the North York YMCA several years ago. Furthermore, her concern for the aging demographic led her to design one of the first “Osteopilates” classes in Toronto at a women’s only facility.

She considers movement in all its forms to be an honest teacher, where each participant – no matter her ability – is proactively participating in a journey of self-discovery & healing.

Pilates has been a great mentor in Samantha’s life teaching her that breath is the naissance of motion and in turn, favouring the quality of movement over its quantity. Pilates – or any authentic movement experience, for that matter – provides each individual a medium in which to experience fluidity, balance, strength, and ultimately joy.
 
Currently, Ms. Clayton is pursuing a three-year course in Advanced Herbalism through the Herbal Academy (US).  An avid gardener, Samantha is passionate about plants and their healing capacities. 

Samantha has experience working with the following populations and conditions:

  • Knee and hip replacement
  • Hypermobility
  • Sports related injuries
  • Pre/post natal 
  • Breast cancer (post-operative)
  • Mechanical low back pain 
  • Repetitive strain injuries 
  • Stenosis
  • Plantar fasciitis
  • Arthritis

Ms. Clayton received a Certificate in Human Anatomy through the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College (CMCC) after completing two comprehensive cadaver dissection courses.  She continues to build her knowledge of the body through specialty courses and holds Continuing Education Credits (CECs) in the following: Postural Analysis, Pre & Post Natal Pilates, Pilates  & Scoliosis, Pilates for Special Needs, the Neurophysiology of Pilates, Stroke (Post-Rehab) and Hip Replacements.

Formal Education:

  • BA French Studies, York University. 2019
  • Interpreter Program, George Brown College. 2007
  • ASL Pre-Interpreter Certificate, George Brown College. 2004

Training:

  • Movement Science, Kingston, New York. Steve Giordano. 2001
  • Pilates of New Paltz, New Paltz, New York. Elise Bacon. 2000
  • MOVITA Dance Co., Kingston, NY. Andrea Pastorella. 1999

Continued Education:

  • The Shoulder, Retrofit Bodyworks. Dinah Hampson. Toronto. 2005
  • Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) Patterns and their Potential for Enhancing Dance Training, Toronto Dance Theatre (TDT). Irene Dowd. June 5, 2005
  • Postural Analysis, Body Harmonics. Toronto. Nov 12, 2005
  • Pre/Post Natal Pilates, Body Harmonics.  Toronto. Nov 27, 2005
  • Pilates and Scoliosis, Body Harmonics.  Toronto. Spring 2006
  • Pilates and Spinal Conditions, Body Harmonics. Spring 2006
  • Pilates and Osteoporosis, Body Harmonics. Toronto. Spring 2006
  • Pilates and Special Needs, Body Harmonics.  Toronto. June 23-25, 2006
  • Human Anatomy (Cadaver course), 105 hours. Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College. Toronto. June, 2006
  • The Pilates Mat Series (10 day workshop), Toronto Dance Theatre. Diane Miller. 2006
  • PMA Exam Preparation Workshop, Metro Movement. Diane Miller. Toronto. 2007
  • PMA Certification, Toronto. Sept 17, 2007
  • The Reformer, Karen Carlson. Toronto. Sept 28, 2007
  • Post Rehabilitative Post-Breast Cancer Exercise Specialist, April 5-6, 2008
  • Exercise for Knee and Hip Replacement, American Council on Exercise (ACE). Oct 15, 2008
    Shoulder Girdle Stabilization, ACE. Oct 15, 2008
  • PNF: Stretching Principles and Methods of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation, ACE. Oct 15, 2008 
  • Exercise and Arthritis, ACE. November 19, 2008
  • Irene Dowd’s “Visceral Spheres”, Metro Movement. Toronto. Eileen Birks. 2008
  • Moving Toward Balance: An Innovative Approach to Scoliosis, Susan Greskevitch Pilates. Toronto. March  2009
  • The Neurophysiology of Pilates, Body Harmonics. Toronto. Feb 26-27, 2010
  • Clinical Anatomy Review (Cadaver course), Canadian Chiropractic College (Module I: Back & Module II: Upper limb).Dr. Myra Kumka. Toronto. Feb 2012
  • The Pelvic Core, Dr. Suzanne Martin. (online). 2012
  • Breast Cancer Survivor’s Guide, Dr. Suzanne Martin.  (online). 2012
  • Hip Replacements, Body Harmonics. Margot McKinnon. Toronto. Feb 2016
  • Stroke Post-Rehabilitation in a Pilates Environment, Dr. Suzanne Martin. (online). Feb 2016
  • Post Natal Restoration, Dr. Suzanne Martin. (online). Feb 2016
  • CPR/AED renewal, City CPR. Toronto. June 2017
  • The Mighty Psoas, Inhabit Pilates. Morten Dithmer. Toronto. June 2017
  • Deconstructing Computer Posture, Fusion Pilates. Casey Marie Herdt. (online). Dec 2017
  • Feet & Hands Influence the Spine, Fusion Pilates. Madeline Black. (online). March 2018
  • CPR/AED Child & Infant,  Toronto Yoga Mamas. Oakville CPR. June 1, 2019
  • Knee & Hip Replacement, Fusion Pilates EDU. (online). June 11, 2019
  • Animal Body: The Insect, Fusion Pilates EDU. (online). July 2019
  • Animal Body: The Fish, Fusion Pilates EDU. (online). August 2019
  • Pilates Health Science Essentials (PHSE): Applied Anatomy & Physiology and Pathology. London College of Osteopathy and Health Sciences. (online). 2022

Testimonial

At my first workout class at a new gym where Samantha was teaching, I – like many times before – had dragged myself out the door begrudgingly to go do a workout that I’d probably hate. To my complete surprise and my heart’s complete excitement, I had just walked into the class of an AMAZING teacher: Samantha.

For over a year I went every Wednesday to her classes, looking forward to them all week. I felt sore regularly, strong always, and LOVED how I felt and looked! Samantha’s teaching style is inclusive. She cares about you, and (best of all for me!) actually expresses how hard some moves are.

I’d always thought workout teachers just somehow loved working out all the time, or just never felt sore. But somehow hearing Samantha be on your side throughout the whole workout made me start to be drawn to how tough the workouts were, and to how great I’d feel right after!

She’s an amazing teacher. Her classes are tough, but I think you’ll learn with her that you’re even more tough, and capable. I am beyond excited that she’s now teaching some of her classes online. And if you’re up for them, I might just see you in there!

Thank you Samantha, for being so honest, so inspiring, for keeping all of your classes just enough different from the last that you know what to expect (that awesome muscle burn) but still new at the same time.

Nathalie Norris, Nutrionist