Tina Bhattacharyya, a Birmingham mother who endured a decade of chronic pain from undiagnosed endometriosis and underwent 10 rounds of IVF before giving birth to a 'miracle baby,' has opened her own Pilates studio in Moseley. The studio, named Feal Pilates, aims to support women facing similar health and fertility challenges.
Struggle with Endometriosis and Misdiagnosis
Throughout her 20s, Tina experienced debilitating pain that doctors dismissed as exhaustion from her job as a primary school teacher. 'I kept going to the GP but endometriosis wasn't on anyone's radar,' she said. She was finally diagnosed with stage four endometriosis in 2019 at age 33. Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside it, often causing severe pain, inflammation, and scar tissue that can impair fertility.
IVF Journey and the Role of Pilates
The diagnosis revealed that the condition had left her infertile. Tina and her husband Andi, a cinematographer, embarked on IVF treatment, undergoing 10 rounds. Throughout this process, Pilates became a crucial coping mechanism. 'You're told to stop exercising when you have IVF but rather than being sedentary, I found Pilates helped to keep me focused,' she explained. 'It calms your central nervous system. When you're doing an hour of Pilates, you're not concentrating on anything else.'
Her 'miracle baby,' daughter Nyra, was born in 2022. Tina later began attending postnatal mother and baby Pilates classes, which inspired her to qualify as an instructor in 2015.
From London Retreats to Moseley Studio
After qualifying, Tina taught group classes in London and started Endo Flo day retreats, offering holistic support for women with endometriosis. 'Many said doctors were putting them on waiting lists for surgery and onto the pill or the coil then just leaving them for a year,' she said. 'These retreats were to say to women there are things you can do to help yourself, giving them a self help tool kit.'
In November 2025, Tina gave birth to twin girls, Leela and Reya, using a frozen embryo. 'We feel so blessed to be a family of five with three wonderful daughters. I never thought this was even possible,' she said. During her pregnancy, the family decided to move back to Birmingham, where Tina grew up in Moseley.
Feal Pilates: A Safe Space for Community
The Feal studio, located in the former Deolali Indian restaurant on Saint Mary's Row, spans 4,000 square feet. It features treatment rooms, mat rooms, a lounge, a multi-use room, and a play area for children. 'It's a wonderful space... Inside, there's a beautiful contrast between the old wooden beams and the contemporary styling,' Tina said.
She aims to create a community hub where women can find support and connection. 'In London, it became something social as well as Pilates, people coming together for various different reasons and becoming a community. That's what I want to do here,' she added.
Looking Forward
Now 40, Tina is excited about the future. 'I spent my 20s in pain, my 30s doing IVF. Now I'm 40, I want to finally do something for myself. And that's to pour my heart into helping others by creating a business I'm proud of.' More information and class bookings are available via the Feal Pilates website.
