How A Pilates Instructor Overcame Major Health Setbacks To Become Stronger Than Ever—here’s Her Weekly Workout Routine

TL;DR

Before you orderOffer from Amazon

Get comfort and recovery gear delivered free with Prime

• Fast, free delivery on millions of items
• Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
• Member-only deals all year

Start your free Prime trial →Free trial for eligible customers · Cancel anytime

As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.Hide

Pilates instructor Georgia Testa says Pilates helped her reconnect with her body and rebuild strength after skin cancer in 2018 and a complicated C-section birth three years later. In a Fit&Well workout diary, she describes a routine built around at least three weekly sessions, with Pilates, strength work and functional fitness among her activities.

Pilates instructor Georgia Testa says the practice helped her rebuild strength after skin cancer and a complicated C-section birth, and she has shared the weekly routine she uses to stay active. In a Fit&Well Workout Diaries report, the founder of Studio 281 describes prioritizing consistency and long-term strength over pushing herself to train as often as possible.

Testa told Fit&Well that she had skin cancer in 2018, at age 22. Three years later, she experienced a complicated C-section birth. She said it took her about three years after the birth to feel she had properly rebuilt herself. The report does not provide further medical details about either health event.

She said Pilates was central to her postpartum recovery, helping her slow down, reconnect with her body and rebuild strength from the foundations rather than trying to return quickly to her previous fitness. Testa now describes feeling stronger than ever, while defining fitness less as working as hard as possible and more as building a body that is strong, capable and healthy over the long term.

Her reported week includes a walk or treadmill session on Monday, a Hyrox or functional fitness workout on Tuesday, 30 minutes of boxing on Wednesday and strength training on Thursday. Friday and Sunday are rest days, while Saturday is set aside for Hyrox training. She says she aims for at least three sessions per week, each lasting 20 to 45 minutes; five sessions would be a particularly good week, not a requirement.

A Routine Built Around Sustainable Strength

Testa’s account offers a personal example of how exercise priorities can shift after significant health and recovery experiences. Rather than presenting a rapid return to training as the goal, she describes taking time to rebuild and choosing a schedule she considers manageable. Her story is not evidence that the same approach or recovery timeline will work for everyone.

Her practical message is to make movement regular and adaptable. Testa recommends beginning with two or three achievable sessions, even if they last only 20 or 30 minutes, and increasing activity gradually if it remains realistic. She also points to social connection, variety and personal motivation as factors that help her maintain a routine.

From Postpartum Recovery to Weekly Training

The account appears in Fit&Well’s Workout Diaries, a series asking trainers to describe their exercise routines. Testa is identified as a Pilates instructor and founder of Studio 281. The article presents her experience and advice; it is not a clinical report or an independently documented account of her medical care.

Testa’s schedule combines different forms of movement rather than relying on one activity. She says Pilates, on both Reformer and mat, remains a major part of her training, alongside strength training, running and functional fitness, including Hyrox-style sessions. The source does not specify whether every activity appears in every week or how the schedule changes over time.

“It took me around three years [after the birth] to feel as though I had properly rebuilt myself.”

— Georgia Testa, speaking to Fit&Well

Details the Report Does Not Provide

Fit&Well’s report does not give details about Testa’s cancer diagnosis, treatment or current health status, nor does it describe the medical circumstances of her C-section. It also does not state when the interview was conducted or provide independent verification of her personal account. Her routine and recovery experience should be understood as her own account, not individualized medical or exercise guidance for others.

Her Routine Remains Personal

The source describes Testa’s current approach but does not announce a new program, event or upcoming change to her schedule. She says she intends to maintain a regular mix of training and recovery, with three weekly sessions as her baseline and additional sessions as optional. Readers considering exercise after cancer treatment, childbirth or another health setback should seek guidance from an appropriate health professional about what is suitable for their circumstances.

Key Questions

Who is Georgia Testa?

Georgia Testa is a Pilates instructor and founder of Studio 281, according to the Fit&Well report.

What health setbacks did Testa describe?

Testa told Fit&Well she had skin cancer in 2018, when she was 22, and a complicated C-section birth three years later. The report does not provide further medical details.

How often does Testa work out?

She says she aims for at least three sessions a week, usually lasting 20 to 45 minutes. She considers five sessions a particularly good week, not a required target.

What activities feature in her weekly routine?

Her schedule includes walking or treadmill exercise, functional fitness or Hyrox, boxing and strength training, with two rest days listed. She also says Pilates, running and functional fitness are part of her broader training.

What advice does Testa give to people starting a routine?

She recommends starting with two or three achievable sessions a week, choosing movement that is enjoyable and building gradually rather than immediately committing to a demanding schedule.

Source: rss