TL;DR
Pilates instructor and Studio 281 founder Georgia Testa says exercise became an important part of rebuilding strength after skin cancer in 2018 and a complicated C-section birth in 2021. In an interview with Fit&Well, she described a flexible weekly routine and said she prioritizes sustainable training over pushing herself to exercise every day.
Pilates instructor Georgia Testa says it took her about three years after a complicated C-section birth to feel she had rebuilt her strength, after she had also been treated for skin cancer in 2018. In a Fit&Well interview, the Studio 281 founder described how Pilates and a varied exercise schedule became part of her recovery, while emphasizing consistent, sustainable training rather than an attempt to exercise as hard as possible.
Testa was 22 when she had skin cancer, according to Fit&Well. Three years later, she had a complicated C-section birth. She told the publication that feeling properly rebuilt after the birth took around three years. The report does not provide further medical details about either experience.
She said Pilates helped her slow down, reconnect with her body and rebuild strength from the foundations rather than rush back to her earlier level of fitness. Her current aim, she said, is to build a body that is strong, capable and healthy over the long term, a change from defining fitness as pushing herself as hard as possible.
Testa told Fit&Well she aims for at least three workouts a week, usually lasting 20 to 45 minutes. Her described week includes walking or treadmill exercise on Monday, a Hyrox or functional fitness session on Tuesday, 30 minutes of boxing on Wednesday and strength training on Thursday. Friday and Sunday are rest days, with Hyrox training on Saturday. She said reaching five sessions would be a good week, but she does not require herself to train that often.
A Routine Built Around Long-Term Strength
Testa’s account offers a specific example of how one instructor adapted exercise after significant health and childbirth experiences. Rather than presenting recovery as a quick return to a previous routine, she describes taking around three years to feel rebuilt after giving birth and using Pilates to restore strength gradually.
Her approach also makes room for rest and different forms of movement, including strength training, boxing, walking and functional fitness. She told Fit&Well that her goals include staying strong, mobile and capable for as long as possible. These are her personal priorities, not a medical prescription or evidence that the same schedule will suit every person recovering from illness or childbirth.
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From Pilates to a Varied Week
Fit&Well presented Testa’s routine as part of its Workout Diaries series, which asks trainers to describe a typical week of exercise. Testa is identified in the report as a Pilates instructor and founder of Studio 281. Her schedule combines Pilates, which she says remains central to her training, with other forms of exercise.
She described community and routine as aids to consistency. Testa said she tries to treat a scheduled workout like a work meeting, and that exercising with people she enjoys can make training something to look forward to. She also said her daughter motivates her to maintain energy and to model looking after oneself. These are Testa’s reported reasons for exercising, rather than claims about what motivates everyone.
“It took me around three years [after the birth] to feel as though I had properly rebuilt myself.”
— Georgia Testa, speaking to Fit&Well
Medical Details Not Reported
The Fit&Well report does not say what treatment Testa received for skin cancer, what complications arose during or after her C-section, or whether she received specific medical or rehabilitation guidance. It also does not give a date for the interview or a measured comparison of her current strength with her earlier fitness. Her description of feeling stronger than ever is a personal assessment, not a clinical finding.
The weekly schedule is presented as an average routine, not a fixed plan for every week. The report does not establish that the same activities or progression are appropriate for people with different health histories, postpartum recovery needs or fitness levels.
Gradual Training, Not a Fixed Target
Testa’s advice in the interview is to begin with two or three achievable sessions each week and build from there, rather than abruptly committing to five or six workouts. She said people should choose movement they enjoy, seek out supportive company if possible and focus on consistency over perfection. She also said sessions of 20 or 30 minutes count.
Fit&Well did not report a forthcoming event or a planned change to Testa’s routine. The practical next step in her account is to keep training varied and sustainable, with rest days included. Anyone returning to exercise after cancer treatment, surgery or childbirth may need individualized advice from a qualified health professional.
Key Questions
Who is Georgia Testa?
Georgia Testa is a Pilates instructor and founder of Studio 281, according to her Fit&Well interview.
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.
What does her typical workout week include?
Her reported schedule includes walking or treadmill exercise, Hyrox or functional fitness, boxing and strength training, with two rest days. She said she generally aims for at least three workouts a week, lasting 20 to 45 minutes.
How does Testa recommend building an exercise routine?
She advises starting with two or three manageable sessions per week, choosing movement that is enjoyable and increasing activity gradually. Her advice reflects her personal experience and is not a substitute for individualized medical guidance.
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