When I posted that I support Ukraine, a few days ago, I received comments that surprised me. Some people strongly disagreed. And that’s okay, everyone has their own perspective, shaped by their own experiences. But for me, my stance is not about politics, nor is it about taking a side in some ideological war. My support is for the people. The Pilates teachers, the dancers, the families whose lives have been torn apart.
I’ve spent years working in both Ukraine and Russia. I worked in Russia for a while, worked with the Bolshoi dancers, who gave their hearts and souls to their craft. I’ve trained Pilates teachers across Russia, many of whom have now left their country, starting new lives in places they never imagined they'd be. And I’ve done the same in Ukraine, visiting Kyiv many times, working with teachers who are now scattered across Europe, unable to return home.
That’s why this war feels so deeply personal.
The Hard Truths About This War
There is no question that Russia invaded Ukraine. In February 2022, troops crossed the border in what was called a “special military operation,” but the reality was war. We’ve seen cities destroyed, people displaced, and soldiers, many of them just young men, forced to the front lines on both sides. Ukraine has fought fiercely to defend its land, its sovereignty, and its people. Russia, under Putin’s leadership, has justified the war with claims of reclaiming lost territories and restoring the power of the Soviet Union. But at what cost?
Tens of thousands have died. Families have been torn apart. And for what? In 2025, how is this still happening?
Supporting Pilates People, Not Politics
I support Ukraine because I’ve seen the direct impact of this war on my friends, colleagues, and the Pilates teachers who now have no home to return to. But I also support my Russian friends who have had to leave their country, who didn’t want this war, who have lost everything because of it. Some left because they refused to fight. Some left because they couldn’t bear the repression. Many have no idea when, or if, they will ever return.
This isn’t about saying one side is good and the other is evil. It’s about recognising that people, ordinary people, are the ones who suffer in wars fought by politicians.
Why Speak Out?
As a Pilates method teacher, I’ve always believed in staying in my lane focusing on movement, on helping people feel strong and balanced in their bodies. Pilates teachers, like many professionals, often shy away from speaking about global issues. But when I saw my esteemed colleague Alycea Ungaro post about this, I knew I couldn’t stay silent.
Like actors, musicians, and public figures who step away from their craft to make a statement about something bigger than themselves, I felt compelled to do the same. Pilates is my profession, but humanity is what connects us all. And right now, too many people on both sides are suffering.
A Call for Peace
I don’t claim to know everything about the history or the politics. But I do know this: war destroys lives. And if supporting Ukraine means standing with the people who have lost everything, then I will do that. If supporting my Russian friends means recognising their struggles too, then I will do that as well.
What I want, above all, is peace. I want the people I care about—whether they are Ukrainian or Russian to have their lives back. To be able to teach, dance, live, and dream again without fear.
That, to me, is what really matters.
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