17 questions for... Aleksandra Szymańska, CEO of Pilates Studio Online

For me, work life balance is... the basis for functioning in life. I worked on it for a long time to understand what it means to me - consent to rest, doing nothing, and the awareness that professional and private life are fully connected. You can't be a different person in your professional and private life.

My 3 most important daily health habits are…

• Sleep – I make sure to sleep 7-8 hours a day.
• Physical activity – getting on the mat or going for a short walk does me good.
• Hydration – this is my Achilles heel, but I'm constantly working on it.

The sport I practice regularly is... apart from pilates, it's dancing. I have been dancing since I was a child and it is a movement that gives me great joy and develops my motor skills at every level. In the winter season I go skiing or snowboarding. I also recently signed up for padel, which is the national sport in Spain.

I devote myself to physical activity every week... depending on how many other activities I have. My must have is 3 times for 45 minutes, but only for my physical activity not related to work. It is very important for me to have time for my training. If we add my physical activity and that of my students, it will amount to about 14 hours a week.

My motivation for movement is... the awareness that it cannot be replaced by anything. Sport regulates us as people on many levels: it affects our hormonal balance, our physical health, energy management and metabolism. Sport is a very profitable investment in health, which has been one of my values ​​for many years.

I meditate, but... I can't say I do it regularly. I like walking meditation, during which I can observe what is inside me and focus on my breathing.

My eating habits are... very good and I know I was very lucky because I had them at home. I am a flexitarian, I eat meat very occasionally, maximum 1-2 times a month. I don't eat processed products. I make sure to include plenty of anti-inflammatory ingredients in my diet, and there are always plenty of vegetables and fruits in my home. I studied food and nutrition, so healthy choices come naturally to me.

Eating habits in the place where I live are... treating food as a time to rest during the day and spend nice time in company.

I end the day with... a warm shower and aromatherapy. I'm a big fan of fragrances and this time is always just for me. Then I look through the newspaper or read a chapter of a book.

I spend… 7-8 hours a day sleeping.

The thing I do only for myself is... weekend trips to new places and learning French. I do it completely casually, without any purpose. I go to these classes to have a good time and (in the unspecified future) to learn to read in French.

My little sin is... that my phone still sleeps with me in the bedroom.

For me, happiness is... a state of peace that allows you to develop and gives you space to realize yourself.

For me, luxury is... comfort, i.e. a state in which I can make decisions from a hedonistic point of view.

My small daily steps in taking care of the planet are…

• I don't buy bottled water, I just use a filter.
• I don't eat meat, which for me is closely related to taking care of the planet.
• I don't drink cow's milk - I choose oat milk.
• I separate garbage, which has been a habit for me for years.

The advice I would give myself if I were 20 again is... don't think too far ahead. 

The book and podcast I recommend is… I'm a big fan of the “At Twilight” podcast. I like to start my weekends with a podcast. As for the book, I recommend "Release Technique. A Handbook for Developing Consciousness” by David R. Hawkins.

I chose pilates because... as a child, I struggled with severe spine and back pain. I went to rehabilitation camps to strengthen me. So, regular exercise has accompanied me for years. At some stage, an orthopedic corset was used in the treatment and as a child I did not fully agree to it. I didn't know why they were doing this to me, since I already do a lot. Then I was motivated to graduate from the Academy of Physical Education and gain knowledge that I hadn't received an answer to for years. This was my deep motivation. When I was 21, I went to Spain, where my adventure with pilates began, which is inclusive, not exclusive.

My goal was to create a Pilates Studio on the coast and only the pandemic made me open an online training platform. Ultimately, it makes me very happy because I can reach people who are able to be cared for and who can establish a relationship with the body. Such activity is supposed to support them, and not be stress, a sense of obligation and another item on the "To Do" list.

Pilates taught me... concentration, a state of focus and peace - both in the body and the head. As for my Pilates Studio Online training platform, it has changed my approach to the fact that I can help people on a much larger scale than I thought.