Who we are
Founded by Laura Hanlon in 2025, L’esprit du Corps has been years in the making. After over a decade of teaching and growing the Pilates industry in New York City and numerous trips sharing her work abroad, Laura decided to uproot her life and move to Switzerland, thus L’esprit du Corps, The Spirit of the Body, was born.
Laura Hanlon
Laura Hanlon is a third generation Pilates instructor with over 20 years experience in the industry. After completing Studio du Corps’ Full Comprehensive Pilates Teacher Training Program, she sought out additional certifications from the Pilates Method Alliance and Pre/PostNatal training. She has vast experience teaching Pilates and numerous forms of Group Fitness across the globe and is a featured instructor on Pilates Anytime.
Laura graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance, danced professionally on the national tour of “Dancing with Your Stars,” was a featured dancer on the hit Bravo series, “Odd Mom Out” and performed in numerous showcases throughout New York State. As an avid runner, she has traveled the world to partake in half and full marathon races. Due to her athletic nature, Laura suffered from and overcame numerous injuries including arthroscopic hip surgery. These experiences have influenced and inspired her teaching style, allowing her to better understand the physical and emotional changes of the body, mind and spirit.
She has held the title of Pilates Manager, Teacher Trainer and Senior Instructor for numerous Equinox Clubs, and is still a proud part of their Group Fitness team. She worked with The Well’s Mindful Movement department on expanding their Pilates and Barre program and has consulted for various boutique Pilates and fitness studios worldwide. Laura is a proud partner of the family business, Studio du Corps, Inc. originally founded by her mother, Master Teacher, Diane Diefenderfer, in 1987, and directs their Teacher Training and Continuing Education Workshops.
After dedicating the last decade to pursuing her passion for teaching in New York City and Southern California, Laura is excited for her next business venture in Zurich, Switzerland. Upon visiting Switzerland to host a workshop in partnership with Pro Pilates Zurich years ago, she fell in love with the country and feels it is her calling to share her expertise with clients in the surrounding areas.
Contact us
Interested in working together? Please reach out to learn more about our studio offerings. We look forward to hearing from you!