For Hanna Matvieieva, the journey toward a career in Pilates began with a personal challenge that changed her relationship with movement. An active lifestyle had always been an important part of her life, but a spinal compression fracture while preparing for a competition forced her to reconsider how she approached physical activity.
What initially felt like a setback became an opportunity to discover a different way of moving.
Pilates offered Hanna a path back to movement, introducing her to a method built on control, precision, alignment and body awareness. Over time, that personal experience developed into a professional calling, taking her from the fitness industry in Ukraine to Doha, where she continues to develop her work as an instructor and manager at Riaya Pilates.
Her journey reflects a wider understanding of fitness: meaningful progress is not simply about pushing the body harder, but learning to understand it better.
From Personal Recovery to Professional Purpose
Hanna’s introduction to Pilates was rooted in necessity. After suffering a compression fracture in her spine, she could no longer train in the way she had been accustomed to. For someone who had always been extremely active, the change was challenging both physically and mentally.
Pilates became an important part of her return to movement.
What captured her interest was the intelligence behind the method. Its emphasis on core strength, control, precision and alignment offered a different perspective on physical training. She was particularly drawn to the balance between challenge and elegance: an exercise could demand considerable strength and concentration while appearing almost effortless from the outside.
That combination resonated with her.
Pilates brought together the qualities she valued most in movement, while encouraging a deeper connection between the body and the mind. It was this blend of strength, awareness and precision that convinced her she had found the right professional direction.
Building a Career Across Borders
Hanna began her professional journey in Ukraine, where she developed her skills in fitness and started building her experience as a trainer.
Moving to Doha, however, meant rebuilding much of what she had established.
Even with professional experience, entering a new country presented a different set of challenges. People did not yet know her, and establishing trust required time, consistency and the ability to demonstrate the value of her work.
She also discovered that the clients she encountered in Doha often had different lifestyles, movement habits, expectations and physical needs from those she had worked with in Ukraine.
Rather than relying solely on what she already knew, Hanna used these differences as an opportunity to learn.
She continued studying, expanded her knowledge and adapted her approach to suit the individuals in front of her. The experience reinforced an important principle that continues to guide her work: effective training begins with understanding the person, not simply applying a method.
Her decision to move abroad was part of a broader desire for independence and personal growth. Leaving her comfort zone and building a life from the beginning taught her to trust herself, remain open to change and keep moving forward without needing to know exactly where every decision would lead.
The Importance of Individualised Movement
For Hanna, one of the most valuable lessons in her career is that no single approach works for everyone.
Knowledge and technical ability matter, but they are only part of the process. An instructor must also know how to listen, observe and recognise the needs of each individual.
That means paying attention not only to how a client moves, but also to their concerns, limitations, confidence and personal goals.
This perspective has shaped the way Hanna approaches her work at Riaya Pilates. Her focus extends beyond guiding clients through exercises. She wants them to develop a better understanding of their bodies, improve their movement and build confidence in what they can do.
Seeing a client move with less pain, improve their posture or become stronger is among the most rewarding parts of her work. These changes give her a tangible way to see the value of the knowledge and experience she has developed over the years.
For Hanna, progress is personal. It looks different for every client, and recognising that difference is central to good instruction.
Sharing Knowledge and Raising Standards
As Hanna’s experience has grown, so has her interest in helping other instructors develop.
She believes that many trainers enter the profession with genuine passion and a desire to help people, but practical experience takes time to build. Working with different bodies, needs and challenges teaches lessons that cannot always be learned through theory alone.
At this stage of her career, Hanna wants to share more of what she has learned.
Her ambitions extend beyond her own development to supporting instructors in becoming more confident, thoughtful and effective in their work. Through her role at Riaya Pilates, she also wants to contribute to a professional environment where the quality of teaching continues to improve.
As a manager, she sees leadership as more than organising daily operations. It involves creating a team culture in which people feel respected, motivated and clear about expectations. High standards, in her view, should go hand in hand with care and support.
By helping her team grow, she hopes to extend the impact of her experience beyond the clients she works with directly.
A Career Guided by Care and Consistency
When Hanna considers the impact she hopes to leave on the Pilates industry, she returns to two priorities: professional excellence and genuine care.
As an instructor, she wants people to understand their bodies better, move with greater freedom and develop a relationship with movement that feels supportive rather than intimidating.
As a manager, she wants to create an environment where colleagues can develop their abilities, take pride in their work and contribute to a shared standard of quality.
She hopes to be remembered for her consistency, attention to detail and values, as well as the way she treats both clients and colleagues. If people feel more confident in themselves or become better at what they do because they worked with her, she considers that a meaningful achievement.
Her perspective on success is therefore not limited to a title or a single career milestone. It is reflected in the practical difference she can make in other people’s lives and professional development.
Trusting the Journey
Looking back, Hanna’s path has been shaped by experiences that required her to adapt: recovering from an injury, building a career in a new country and learning to work with people whose needs differed from those she had encountered before.
Each stage gave her a reason to keep learning.
Her advice to her younger self reflects the perspective she has gained along the way. She would encourage herself to relax, enjoy the journey and accept that not everything needs to be figured out from the beginning. Taking opportunities that feel a little intimidating, learning from mistakes and being less critical of herself would all be part of that advice.
It is a lesson that mirrors her approach to Pilates itself. Progress requires patience, attention and a willingness to keep showing up.
For Hanna Matvieieva, the work is about more than movement. It is about helping people build strength, confidence and trust in their bodies, while creating an environment where both clients and instructors can continue to grow.
Follow Hanna on Instagram to discover more about her coaching journey, wellness work and connection with Riya Pilates and Honour Wholeness.
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