From Fitness to the Embrace of Pilates – An Interview with Basia and Ola from the Medilates Studio in Gliwice

In today’s episode, we are visiting Medilates – a beautiful studio in Gliwice, equipped, of course, with Balanced Body equipment. Iza Wiśniewska from Balanced Body Polska talks with Basia Diduszko and Ola Mikuła – two instructors whose commitment and professionalism inspire in Silesia. From beginnings in fitness, through a fascination with yoga, to a complete immersion in Pilates – their stories are a testament to continuous development and the pursuit of mastery. You will learn why Pilates is particularly recommended for pregnant women, discover myths about physical activity during this period, and understand why body awareness and safety are fundamental in the instructor’s work.

[Iza Wiśniewska from Balanced Body Polska] Hello. Today we are talking to Basia Diduszko and Ola Mikuła – experienced instructors of Pilates and fitness, who passionately and dedicatedly lead classes in Silesia. Thank you very much for agreeing to this interview. We are glad to meet in your workplace, in this beautiful studio in Gliwice – Medilates, equipped with Balanced Body equipment. Basia, to start, tell us how your adventure with Pilates began. What captivated you about it?

[Barbara Diduszko] You know, I started with fitness. After fitness, of course, there was also Pilates in between, but just a little bit tiny. I was just starting out. Later, yoga appeared, and after yoga came Pilates, and this Pilates simply consumed my mind, my body, my everything. And I am still involved in it all the time. I am constantly educating myself, reading, analyzing, exercising, practicing. And I am satisfied because I am like a student of a great comprehensive course in Katowice. It is very challenging. I am happy because it is a challenge for me. I have to dedicate a lot of work, because I am still in the learning phase. So I was simply captivated, everything captivated me. Everything. But you just have to feel it, you have to practice. And you have to live in it all the time, and that is exactly how I am.

[Aleksandra Mikuła] I am similar to my colleague.

[Iza] And we know that this is what you live for because we met at the fitness congress Eu4ya by Tiguar in Łódź not long ago, and you mentioned there that you also conduct classes for pregnant women, right?

[Basia] Yes, a group has gathered. We already have 5 girls in a blessed state, each in a slightly different trimester, at a different moment in their pregnancy journey. We conduct classes once a week every Thursday at 5:00 PM – you’re welcome to join. Yes, and it’s going well, the group is growing. It turned out that we are apparently the only ones in Silesia, so it’s nice because the girls come from various neighboring cities, not just from Gliwice.

[Iza] That’s great! And tell me, why is Pilates specifically recommended during this special time for women?

[Basia] You know what, it’s good that you ask. First of all, for strengthening the deep muscles, the pelvic floor muscles, which actually support the entire reproductive organ that will soon need to open to bring a new baby into the world. It is primarily recommended by doctors because it is an obvious strengthening of weakened backs, strengthening of the entire back, front, and side lines. The whole spiral line, because many girls who come to classes already have diastasis recti, and Pilates exercises actually close that whole space, and it’s a great thing that we benefit from it.

[Iza] And tell me, have you heard any myths regarding physical activity for pregnant women that you would particularly like to debunk?

[Basia] Well, there are a lot of myths. First of all, that pregnancy is an illness, you have to lie down, do nothing. There are also myths like, don’t raise your hands up, because something might happen, you’ll give birth soon, right? So there are many such things, even girls come with information: Oh my God, we can’t raise our hands! There are also many such messages from family – don’t do this, don’t do that. There are many myths, we could really sit all day and talk about them. Here, my friend is also post-pregnancy, we are already old moms. But yes, the biggest myth is that girls are simply afraid. They are afraid to exercise, they are afraid of movement when they come here. The girls who come to us are already active, meaning they were doing something before pregnancy, they were very active and know that they need to be active during pregnancy too. So it’s not like they come in feeling lost and don’t know what to do. Because they know well that if they exercise, they will be healthy moms, they will have a nice birth. They will have a quick birth and will quickly come back to us to exercise again, simply. To exercise, how to put it…

[Ola] Regularly.

[Basia] Regularly, yes! Because it’s mainly about that regularity. Because it gives, it provides, as I learned from Eu4ya, regularity delivers us endorphins. Not endorphins, but dopamine! And the more a person is in regular training, the more dopamine is released, so I invite you for some dopamine.

[Iza] We are debunking these myths, and we warmly invite even pregnant women to Pilates. Ola, I also know that you started your career in fitness. Tell me what made you decide to turn towards Pilates and find yourself here at Medilates.

[Ola] Well, regarding my beginnings, Pilates was somewhat evenly going, so to speak in quotes, with fitness, but I must admit that it was only later that I became more fascinated with Pilates and started to develop in that direction. Because, after all, I noticed the benefits of Pilates. When it comes to well-being, health primarily, because I truly admit that with heavy workouts like crossfit, circuit training, fitness, and so on, I believe it is a great complement. It balances out super well when we introduce Pilates. I also admit that, as Basia said, it has totally absorbed me now. I am fascinated by Pilates. Above all, the development in Poland, because, after all, this development regarding equipment can be observed over the last 2-3 years. Earlier, there were studios available with Pilates equipment, of course, but it wasn’t as abundant as it is now. And you can indeed observe that the Polish market is developing in this direction, and I think it will continue to develop just like in Spain, Portugal, or in the States and England, where it is already a normal thing, so to speak, to go to a Pilates studio. And it’s not unusual that there are 20 reformers standing next to each other and where even 20 people are exercising.

[Iza] Listen, what would you advise people who are just considering whether to become a Pilates instructor, whether to go into Pilates or not? What should they particularly pay attention to at the beginning?

[Ola] Means for me a starting point, that there should primarily be some general knowledge in this area, so to speak. Maybe not fitness, because we are not limiting ourselves only to fitness, but generally physical activity, yes. So everything depends on what kind of base someone has. Because if, I mean, I don’t want to limit myself, because if someone has graduated from physical education, then they already have some base prepared. But I believe that the basics should be there, so of course Pilates courses also offer that base. However, I look at it from my perspective. I started from fitness, then later, of course, personal training. Ultimately, I also dabbled in yoga, but I didn’t go in that direction, I completely admit. And it ended up with Pilates. So, all forms of that activity, but primarily some starting base. Because that is important. There are people who start with Pilates itself and become Pilates instructors. I don’t think that’s bad, because it also depends on what course someone takes. Because let’s not hide it, those courses look different and we can have a course that actually gives us something. But unfortunately, we can end up with a course that…

[Iza] That just gives a certificate.

[Ola] That just gives a certificate, nothing more. So, above all, knowledge, knowledge. And here my colleague mentioned earlier, Basia, practice, practice, once again practice. Because that is the most important. And above all, working with the client, yes, because clients are different, and based on our work with the client, we are able to determine what we can apply, how. Well, I think that’s basically it, yes. Because the client is the most important, right? In this case.

[Iza] And since you already mentioned the client, what aspects of Pilates are the most important to you in working with the client? What do you emphasize the most during classes?

[Basia] Clear communication above all.

[Ola] That’s right!

[Basia] So that they know what we are talking about. Because sometimes it happens that we say something, and the person doesn’t feel it either in their body or in their mind. And this is also a preparation for that, so let me interrupt you. They need to be prepared that this is a training that is also a bit mental. Here, apart from the body, we need to activate the brain, so this area of cognition.

[Ola] Yes, yes.

[Basia] And everything is connected.

[Ola] Body awareness above all, yes.

[Basia] Not that the music is blasting, we go with the beat, hey, no. [laughter]. Well, no, listen, but I also talked about it with sense, right?

[Ola] But also dysfunctions, I won’t hide that it makes me very happy when I hear from a client that after a month they notice a difference, that they are more stretched, opened up, that they actually see a change, and that is beautiful. It is beautiful when we get this feedback, in the sense that the client feels better, that there is progress, there is this advancement. And I think that is the most beautiful thing about all of this, when I hear that things are different.

[Basia] Yes. Many doctors recommend Pilates. If your back hurts – go to Pilates. They don’t say, I don’t know, go to fitness, go to yoga. Go to Pilates, because there is strengthening of those muscles, right? Stabilization. Coordination. What is crucial, whether you are sitting or even standing, is key, no matter what.

[Ola] Fundamental.

[Iza] So Pilates is simply a type of class for everyday movement, for everyday life, for everyone.

[Ola] Yes, yes.

[Iza] Listen, I wouldn’t be myself if I didn’t ask you about the equipment. How do you find working with Balanced Body equipment?

[Basia] You know what, I work very well with it. It is primarily modern equipment. We also come from a bit, I mean, we learn this classical school. From my perspective: it is great because it is safe. It primarily adapts to the dimensions of the person, right? Someone comes in, we have a Mr. Henry – greetings to him – he is very tall and this bed, thanks to that, it simply adjusts, yes, we can pull it along, rearrange something. So it is nice that it is a bit of a mobile bed. I mean mobile in the sense that it adapts to us and not we to it. Well, safe, all such, it is very well made. Nothing happens to it. In maintenance, in upkeep, no complaints. Overall, I think we have one of the better pieces of equipment in our studio that is on the market.

[Ola] On the market, yes.

[Basia] You can exercise primarily safely. And there are certifications – there are, the equipment is tested, verified, and simply safe. Because it is also very important, because now there are many companies. People make all sorts of reformers themselves, but let’s not hide the safety of the client is the most important, because here we work with springs. This is still the human body. Here the machine moves and that is, well, for me as a trainer, the safety of the client is key. We can do acrobatics, stand on our heads, but well, you know, no.

[Iza] So it’s worth paying attention when going to the studio, not only as an instructor, but also a client should be aware of what equipment they are exercising on, right?

[Ola] Yes, I think it’s very important because the market is now flooded with various types of equipment that do not necessarily fulfill their intended functions.

[Basia] And a lot of things come out in the meantime, right? Someone gets a strap, a spring, we know such situations. Maybe not from our experience, but in other studios, when there are different equipment, unfortunately, it looks a bit different. But let’s not hide that people also need to know that they are working on something that has its own brand, that is safe. We even know where it is produced. Well, it’s nice if it’s in Poland, but okay, if it’s in America, that’s tough, but I think that’s also important. Someone might ask: “Tell me, where is this from? Where is this company from?” Well, I know where it’s from. And that’s important for us because, while we may not be branding it, since we are working on something, it’s nice to know where it all comes from, right? Just like where Pilates comes from? I could give a whole lecture with my colleague right here because we know how to talk about it, but the equipment, as you are asking us here, is very important. Why, listen, this board, why are there these headrests? Are they adjustable? Why this, why that? Why do we have shorter straps? Why do we have thicker ones here? Can we, for example, do things with our hands on the longer ones and vice versa? It’s all nice, stable, strong. And it’s such that it will serve us for many, many years, right? We hope so, and nothing seems to be happening with that. We also know that people, for example, have equipment in their studios for 10-15 years, and with Balanced Body, nothing happens. And it’s great that we work on such equipment.

[Iza] We are very pleased. Listen, now a little about you. You are quite visible on Instagram, and how, in your opinion, do social media help in building awareness about Pilates and how do they help you reach new clients, girls?

[Basia] I mean, everything is happening online now. Everyone, everyone clicks. The first thing people may not go too much to the website, they primarily go to Instagram. So that’s quite a significant impact for an instructor, for a trainer, even for a studio. But besides the fact that everything is virtual, it also needs to have a basis in reality. So besides having beautiful photos, doing various things, it’s nice to be a real person. Ah, this is alive, what I show there, I am like that too. It shouldn’t be, in my opinion, a bit too exaggerated, but I think we should also pay attention to these media, which, unfortunately, we have to adapt to in this world now. It’s good that it exists. Many people do business exclusively online, selling their training sessions online, and that’s also great. We can also benefit from that, and we have the opportunity to participate in lessons with teachers from abroad online. That’s awesome! So in that regard, Instagram is great that you exist. But everything needs to be used wisely, right?

[Ola] Yes, exactly.

[Basia] Well, it’s like having a bit of a template, right? Aha, I know it might look like that, but surely when someone is doing it for the first time, it might not look like that, it can be dangerous. So here, for example, there are girls who come in: “I want to do this, this exercise!”, but your body and your mind are not ready for it yet, so you have to slow that person down a bit – this is only your second Pilates lesson, and you only came for the reformer, which is, I don’t know, maybe the prettiest and easiest, but you can see another form and you just need to prepare for that. But it’s good that Instagram exists, it’s good that it exists.

[Iza] So you as trainers are also a filter for clients who have seen something online?

[Basia] A bit, yes.

[Iza] To prevent them from injuring themselves, simply.

[Basia] Yes, you’re right, absolutely, right Ola? That someone shows something that seems easy, and for example someone says, shows, we do the exercise, chest expansion. “Oh my, how difficult this is!” And it seems like it’s just pulling the straps back, but people already feel everything here. And that’s the crux of it all, that they see something, but in reality, it’s much more difficult. It requires engaging more muscles or even turning some off to do it.

[Iza] Oh! And that’s why Pilates is said to make you feel muscles you didn’t know existed.

[Basia] Yes!

[Iza] And listen, with this summary, I wanted to thank you very much for this conversation and the time you dedicated. It was a great pleasure to host you here. If you were captivated by Basia and Ola’s story and want to experience professional classes on Balanced Body equipment, we warmly invite you here to Gliwice, to Medilates, to the girls – sign up, come in, reserve spots for classes, because it’s really worth it.

[Basia] We have classes from Monday to Sunday, so listen, there’s a choice – for every taste.

[Iza] We invite you!

The conversation with Basia Diduszko and Ola Mikuła is a true lesson in passion, professionalism, and a conscious approach to Pilates. Their experience, both in working with clients and in continuous personal development, shows that Pilates is not just a form of physical activity, but a holistic tool for building body awareness and improving quality of life.

The girls from Medilates, with their focus on safety and ability to adapt exercises to individual needs, are a model to follow. If you were captivated by their story and want to experience classes that “engage muscles you didn’t know existed,” we warmly invite you to Medilates in Gliwice – a place where professionalism meets genuine care for every client.

You can find Studio Medilates online:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/medilates_gliwice/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573653399716
TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@medilates_gliwice
WWW: https://medilates.pl/