My name is Maria João Carvalho. I am Portuguese and passionate about art and movement.

I grew up dancing and found Pilates after an injury that forced me to stop any kind of high-impact activity. I fell in love with the Pilates method, which brought me back the challenge from dancing while providing me with more peace of mind.

After four years as a regular practitioner, in 2021 I decided to begin my Pilates education with Authentic Classical Pilates, led by Luís Oliveira and Pedro Ferreira. After moving to the Netherlands, I enrolled in the Pilates Art Education programme in 2025, guided by Mariska Barnard and Javier Velasquez.

Alongside Pilates, I hold a bachelor's degree in Fine Arts from the University of Porto and a master's degree in Film and Photographic Studies from Leiden University, with a body of work centred on image and the body.

OAK is the translation of a family name that takes pride in good work and in keeping those around feeling good and healthy. As a studio, the goal is to feed this feeling by sharing great movement and a peaceful environment to explore it.