In an internet age awash with fitness bloggers, it is a surprising thing to encounter a voice that not only talks authoritatively, but actually with empathy. Michaella, who has 19,000 fans on Instagram at @itsmitell, is one such voice, a Pilates instructor whose emphasis on biomechanics, clinical attention, and empathetic concern is revolutionizing the way women interact with their bodies.
With 634 posts and a loyal following, Michaella has created more than a brand. She’s created a movement based on conscious power. Her purpose? “Helping women move better, feel stronger, and cope with pain.” And it’s one that’s echoed far and wide.
Michaella’s style is one of a kind in its combination of science and sensibility. With a Biomechanics & Clinical Pilates Diploma, she works between physical therapy and conscious movement. As a Pre/PostNatal Specialist, she’s assisted hundreds of women through the complicated process of pregnancy and postpartum healing, often when conventional fitness culture drops them off the map.
“There’s a huge disparity in how we nurture women’s bodies through processes such as pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause,” she says. “When taught with both anatomical knowledge and emotional sensitivity, Pilates becomes a powerful form of healing.”
She continues, “It’s not about being a certain way – it’s about feeling safe and powerful in your own skin. That’s the message I attempt to impart every day.”
Guided by this philosophy, Dwina Michaella established Pilates Mind Academy the first and only evidence-based Pilates education system in Indonesia. As its founder and lead educator, she is committed to developing a new standard of instructor training, where professionals are taught not only how to teach effectively, but also to understand the scientific rationale behind each movement and client outcome.
From Pain to Purpose
Michaella’s introduction to Pilates wasn’t driven by trend, but by necessity. “I was introduced to Pilates after suffering from chronic back pain and finding that traditional exercise simply didn’t alleviate the issue,” she says. “Clinical Pilates helped me retrain my movement patterns and fundamentally change how I lived in my body.”
It was such a profoundly personal change that it made her want to become a teacher. But more than that, it influenced how she would teach: not for aesthetics, but for agency. Her Instagram feed is a subtle act of defiance against ‘snapback culture’, rather than celebrating the bounce-backs and burnouts, she shares gentle reminders to listen inward, to proceed slowly, to value healing over hustle.
“Women need to hear that their bodies are not broken — they’re just saying something different,” Michaella explains. “Pain is the body’s way of telling us we need to come back to awareness.”
Her followers tend to parrot this message. One recent post says, “Your posts helped me through postpartum depression. I felt heard and protected.” Another states, “Thanks for reminding us strength doesn’t have to hurt.”
These are not compliments. They’re affidavits.
Teaching the Teachers
What makes Michaella unique compared to many in the wellness world is her commitment to learning. Pilates Mind Academy is where she trains an expanding group of instructors looking to develop a deeper understanding of the body beyond superficial certifications.
“I wanted to provide a space where teachers were able to ask tough questions: about trauma, about postpartum recovery, about chronic pain, and not be dismissed,” she describes. “We can’t just teach movements. We have to become familiar with the stories stored in people’s bodies.”
She goes on, “When I’m training teachers, I say: your cueing is crucial, but your listening is more crucial. You’re not just correcting posture; you’re holding space.”
The academy’s curriculum, similar to Michaella’s social content, focuses on accuracy, compassion, and a reverence for the natural intelligence of the body. It’s a welcome departure from the hyper-commercialized model-based training that plagues so much of the fitness world these days.
Visit her academy’s mission in more depth at Pilates Mind Academy.
A Feature Worthy of America Inspire Magazine
It’s no wonder Michaella has been chosen for a feature in America Inspire magazine. Her work embodies the very principles the magazine supports: authenticity, innovation, and impact.
The feature explores her role in not only defining the practice of Pilates, but how it is viewed. “Pilates isn’t about perfection,” Michaella says in the interview. “It’s about reconnection – to breath, to balance, and to our bodies.”
And reconnection is precisely what her work encourages. In a world where bodies are female objects of scrutiny, Michaella provides a sanctuary that is rare: a space in which strength is silent, slow, and intensely personal.
The Book on the Horizon?
Despite that she hasn’t put out a book yet – whispers in the wellness community indicate that one could be on the horizon. If so, fans can look for something more than another fitness guide. Knowing Michaella, it would probably be part memoir, part movement guide – a textured, emotional exploration of the interplay between mind and body.
“I believe there’s such power in storytelling,” she considers. “It would be an opportunity to share not only exercises, but the emotional terrain women travel when they’re taking back their bodies.”
In the meantime, her Instagram is a living journal of ideas, prompts, and practices. Check out her work and announcements at @itsmitell.
“I’m not here to fix people,” she says. “I’m here to remind them they’re already whole.”
For those seeking a guide who values depth over drama, education over ego, and healing over hustle, Michaella may just be the voice your body has been waiting for.
