b'Stories from UkraineEditors Note: In July of 2022, we asked our Ukrainian Pilates community to tell us their stories after the invasion took place. Although events have changed, their stories at the time have not. Special thanks to Katherine Ryzhova for assisting with translations.Anastasiia VeikuaWhen I packed my things on the first day of War, I knew I wouldnt return for a while. I had no doubt that this War was going to last long. We went to my live with my parents in Lviv. I gave myself time to grieve before deciding what to do next. Every day I had a time for grieving in my schedule. I was sayingIt took me almost a month and a half to get all of the goodbye to all the things I knew - crying, doingnecessary documents. All that time asking myself bodywork and trying to sing my sadness out. Thatam I doing the right thing? And you dont know. In gave me strength to be where I am now. the War, there are so many life-changing decisions To feel less helpless, every day I asked myself amade every day. So, I stuck to my decisionI was question what can I really do today? I noticed thatgoing to Canada. Thats it.the Pilates community was not very active. I alsoMy husband supported me in every way he could. wanted to shake the community up a bit. So, whenWe both knew challenges awaited us. How do you the annual March-Matness challenge started, Ikeep a close relationship while being away, with a came up with the idea to post a picture of me doingtime difference of 10 hours and never knowing when the hundred in the bomb shelter. And Im so gratefulwill we see each other again?to everyone who made it go viral. People offered support, help and connections. Teachers organizedTo feel less helpless, every dayfundraisers and started sharing fact-checked information about what was going on. I asked myself a question whatWhen the first missile attack happened in Lviv, Ican I really do today?started thinking about how I could get out of there. Later that month, I saw a Telegram (see link at right)Its now been two months since I started at TWC post by Linda Mallard that she was hiring in BritishPilates in Canada. Every day I am surrounded Columbia. As luck would have it, she had just reachedby compassion and love. One client of the TWC out to the Pilates community to find out if there isstudio hosted me. Everybody else gifted me with any Ukrainian whod like to come to Canada. We hadeverything I needed. And they keep taking good a call and it clicked, and we started the process ofcare of me. At the same time, Im living an uneasy getting me to British Columbia. double life because the Russian War in Ukraine continues.26'