Three Ukrainian refugees have joined a Pilates studio in Perth.
Australian-born Joakim Valsinger runs Bälans Pilates, at Perth Airport and works internationally.
He has contacts all over the world and was already in touch with Ukrainian studio owner Katya Smirnova in Kyiv before the war started.
Katya had visited Perth in better times to run previous Bälans Pilates students through their final exams.
She let teacher Joakim know about 35 staff members who were fleeing the humanitarian disaster and while he wasn’t able to host them himself, Joakim was able to offer jobs to three of them.
Kira Bilokon is a Ukrainian osteopath and massage therapist who came from Zaporizhzhia. She left temporary housing in the Czech Republic to come to Perthshire.
“We have started the process of getting Kira’s osteopathy qualifications accredited for UK practice, so in the meantime she is offering massage therapies,” explained Joakim.
Kira’s daughter Maria Lozovska came to Perthshire with her. The two women had been sheltering in western Ukraine before coming to Scotland. They had just one suitcase each.
Maria is a graphic designer from Kyiv who works for an American firm and can thankfully work from anywhere in the world. She's going to lend a hand with the studio's graphic design image.
She communicates five times a day with her husband Max who is prohibited from leaving Ukraine.
Now Joakim has opened a crowdfunding appeal for them, attempting to raise £1750 to get their lives started again.
“With just a suitcase of stuff to their name, you can imagine all the things they do not have with them at the moment.”
The third new start is Luda Gylova from Kyiv, a certified Pilates teacher who has undergone the same teacher training which is offered at Bälans.
Luda offers one-to-one Pilates sessions and upcoming group classes.
Luda’s visa was ‘lost in the system’ for three weeks and it required vigorous intervention from Perth and North Perthshire MP Pete Wishart and Perthshire North MSP John Swinney to get the application sorted.
“At one point I got messages back from these politicians’ offices saying ‘stop emailing us!’ because I was on to them so frequently desperately trying to speed things up,” said Joakim.
The problem was he was only offering the women work, he was not their hosting sponsors so was prevented from doing the paperwork.
“There were many, many hurdles. I’m not stupid, but that visa process was painfully complicated,” he admitted. “A cynical person would say the British Government was trying to keep people out.”
In contrast, Joakim had high praise for authorities in Perthshire: “As soon as they got here, Perth and Kinross Council were phenomenal. It was the antidote to the distinctly unfavourable visa application process.
“By pure luck one of my clients had a two-bedroom rental flat that was just vacant. PKC swooped in and furnished it out completely. They got everything so Kira and Maria could move in without a hitch.
“Then Perth College was welcoming, enrolling the three for English lessons.”
Joakim explained they are planning a Pilates class for Ukrainians now living in Perthshire as soon as enough people were on the list.
The chance to work is key to recovery in Joakim’s opinion.
“We cannot help everyone in need, but if we take care of these three individuals, then that gives strength to the whole Ukrainian nation, and this can be an easy way for us to fight Putin and his inhumane and illegal war.
“These women were trained to do something specific and they are getting to do exactly that thing. It’s satisfying for them to be celebrated for their skills.
“And I’m happy to say, this is not an opportunity for me to get cheap labour. These are highly qualified professionals in their field.
“Luda and Kira are independent contractors and they are on a rate of pay equal to the rest of my team.”
Joakim said booking their services helped in three positive ways: The person getting a massage or a Pilates session feels better, the business helps an independent Perthshire company that has struggled through COVID and 15 per cent on top of the session fee is contributed by Joakim to directly help a Ukrainian charity.
To book a massage or a one-to-one Pilates session or try a free Pilates taster class, contact info@balanspilates.com
A link to donate to the JustGiving page helping these refugee can be found at: https://tinyurl.com/mryh32r2
