I create space for women to navigate the beautiful transformation of motherhood.
HEY I’M PIA — HOLISTIC HEALTH COACH, PILATES INSTRUCTOR, MATRESCENCE GUIDE & MOTHER
I had always spoken through my body. As a musical theatre actress, movement and voice were my natural language – my way of showing the world who I was.
MY STORY
But when I became a mother, everything shifted. I felt like a stranger in my own body. I didn’t know how to move anymore, and more than that, I felt exhausted, stretched thin, and disconnected from myself – from my core, my emotions, even my sense of identity. Everywhere I turned there were rules, endless do’s and don’ts, and with each new piece of advice, my self-doubt grew. Deep down, I knew I had changed forever. But how could I feel at home again in this new version of myself?
I searched for support, tried different practices, but nothing really resonated… until I rediscovered Pilates. The moment I stepped onto the mat again, something shifted. My strength returned – not just physically, but emotionally.
I felt alive again, reconnected to my body, and reminded of what it was like to trust myself.
The real turning point came when I learned what truly works for women’s bodies. I let go of outdated rules and myths about what women could or couldn’t do before, during, and after pregnancy. I saw how many mothers were frozen by fear, told what not to do until they didn’t dare move at all.
Experiencing this firsthand changed everything – how I approach movement, and how I guide women as a Pilates instructor. I teach what actually works, grounded in research rather than fear.
Then I discovered Matrescence - the hidden, often unspoken, profound transformation that motherhood brings.
Suddenly, everything made sense. The confusion, exhaustion, the pull between who I was and who I was becoming – it finally had a name.
I realised I was going through a deep, identity-shifting transition. I felt stretched in every direction, grieving the version of myself I once knew, struggling to find rhythm in this new life.
First came relief – the quiet recognition that I wasn’t broken. Then rage – at not being told, at a culture that sidelines mothers. Then grief – mourning my old life, my body, and my self. But after the storm, something remarkable happened: I felt seen. For the first time in years, I felt at home in myself.
Mother-becoming is not just an event – it’s a transformation. Between who we were and who we are becoming lies a vast in-between space, full of uncertainty, emotion, and growth. That’s the space I hold for mothers.
Matrescence (noun)
Matrescence is a developmental phase on multiple levels. Culturally, we tend to focus on pregnancy, birth preparation, and maybe the early postpartum period – everyone prepares for the physical and emotional changes. But what often gets overlooked is the shift in identity itself, the deeper transformation that begins long before and continues well beyond those early stages. This is the essence of Matrescence.
I help women reconnect with their bodies, uncover inner strength, and discover who they are in this new chapter of life.
Many mothers come to me feeling disconnected, self-critical, and unsure what matters now. They’re drained by endless expectations and a culture that prizes selflessness over themselves. When they realise this transition – Matrescence – is normal, that their bodies are capable, and that their needs matter, everything shifts. They reconnect with themselves, reclaim strength, and rediscover joy and presence in everyday life.
I do this work because I wish I’d had it when I became a mother: support, honest conversations, science-based guidance, and movement that builds confidence, not fear. I create that space so mothers don’t have to navigate this transformation alone.
It’s time for something different: a world where Matrescence is understood, transformation honoured, and mothers feel at home in their bodies, lives, and selves. When mothers feel seen and supported, it doesn’t just change individual lives – it can transform our culture.
My values
-
Creating spaces where mothers can be real, without masks or pressure.
-
To self, body, community, and culture.
-
Staying curious, listening deeply, and welcoming different experiences.
-
Meeting every mother where she is, with empathy and care.
-
Honoring both softness and resilience in body, mind, and spirit.
-
Experiencing life as an ongoing journey of becoming and unfolding.
A walk down memory lane
At the beginning of the year, we welcomed our second child in Berlin, and I had the chance to experience a second, somewhat gentler journey into motherhood. Toward the end of the year, I launched my own business as a Holistic Health Coach and Pilates instructor – an exciting step between motherhood and career – and a reminder that everything unfolds in its own time.
Fully immersed in mom-life and my own matrescence, I embarked on a new path: a year-long training at the internationally respected Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN), earning my Holistic Health Coach certification.After years performing in musical theatre, I said goodbye to the stage and stepped into motherhood for the first time.
2019
2020
2021
2022
Building on my almost a decade of experience as a classical Mat Pilates instructor, I completed the Australian evidence-based Mat & Reformer certification with Breathe Education. Through this training, I not only deepened my understanding of the original Pilates repertoire (“Contrology”), teaching methodology, and anatomy, but also dispelled many myths – for example, those surrounding abdominal training with diastasis recti. Since then, my teaching has become more creative, allowing me to meet each participant exactly where she is and inspire her to move with greater confidence and courage.We emigrated to Sweden, unsure how long we’d stay. I taught Pilates at some of Stockholm’s most renowned studios (AYÄM, Yogashakti, Hotel J, and more) and ran an online Summer Wellness Challenge blending Pilates, wellbeing tools, and coaching. That year, I also trained as a Women’s Circle Facilitator, falling in love with somatic practices.2023
We moved to Munich and began building a new life. I joined the 6-month matrescence apprenticeship program ‘The Village,’ receiving personal mentorship from doula, author, and coach Jessie Harrold (‘Mothershift’). I carried most of the year without childcare but was thankfully supported by family here in Munich.I completed the Motherhood Coach & Guide training ‘Seasons of Matrescence®’ by Nikki McCahon - a revolutionary approach to supporting mothers through matrescence, or as I call it, MOTHERLUTION. Motherlution was officially born. I also became a dog-mum again to our sweet, bossy cockerpoo, Selma.
2024
2025
Now
I’m excited for the next chapter. I’m a constant roamer at heart, still finding the place to truly put down roots with my family - but Munich feels like home for now. I’m thrilled to welcome new mothers into my classes and programs, supporting them as they navigate this transformative journey.
Education, Training & Certificates
2007–2010 Training as a Musical Performer in Hamburg, Germany & Pennsylvania, USA
2010-2019 Actress/Singer/Dancer in Musical Theatre Productions
2014 Classical Mat Pilates Teacher Training with Simone Hörster, CorePilates Berlin
2015-2023 ongoing advanced Pilates Teacher Training (e.g. pre-& postnatal) & continuing education
2020 Integrative Nutrition Health Coach IIN Institute for Integrative Nutrition (1 year)
2022 Women’s Circle Facilitator Womben Wellness with Usha Anandi
2023 Master Classes Pilates with Nancy Castiglioni, Gloria Gasperi
2023 Evidence-based Pilates Mat & Reformer Teacher Training (incl. pre-and postnatal), Breathe Education
2024 Matrescence Coach and Guide, Seasons of Matrescence© with Nikki McCahon
Since 2025 personally mentored and taking part in 6-month matrescence apprenticeship program ‚The Village‘ by coach, doula + author (‘Mothershift’) Jessie Harrold