Tess Coniglio Pilates + Movement

Never limit your teaching ability, as facilitators we do not need to be able to physically perform the things we teach. But we can explore what makes it challenging in our bodies to help those that come our way, it’s what makes us relatable.

We are all human 🖤

As a movement teacher, it can be easy to find yourself comparing your skills to your peers. I’ve been there, it can make you doubt your own abilities and even dig at your confidence.

But can you imagine if we were all the same? We all did the same exercises and said all the same things?? How could we possibly support everyone in their movement practice.

Just as you’re not friends with everyone you come across, not everyone who comes to your class might like you. And that’s OK, in fact that’s great — because rather then trying to please everyone, you’ve worked towards finding your authentic voice as a teacher.

In the wise words of “at the end of the day, we’re all spicy, unique unicorns spreading the movement joy” 💫

You’re allowed to eat Easter eggs and hot cross buns with butter and not have to feel guilt to go burn it off at the gym.

I’m seeing a lot of posts today that instills guilt towards food consumption post Easter.

Why would you want to promote exercise through fear, there are so many positive ways to motivate people to move their body.

Here’s a few:
— To feel good
— Have more energy throughout the day
— To live longer
— To get stronger or more flexible
— Focus better
— Sleep better

Guilt tripping people because of what they ate over the weekend is wrong, it creates poor relationships with food. It’s 2022 people, I don’t have the patience for this.

DO BETTER

“Acknowledging what I can’t do yet but teaching it anyway” — Hailey

An incredibly important message, why should we limit the potential of others just because we aren’t there yet. So what I can’t do a certain movement, does that limit my ability to teach it? F**k no.
Nor does it limit my ability to try it out, and explore ways that could be more manageable.

That’s what allows me to give people space to try. That’s how movement becomes more collaborative.

📸
For

You’re allowed to say no to things that no longer serve you.

As humans we have evolved, as a movement teacher, my teaching evolves. As a mover, my practice evolves.

Move in ways that serve you, give you joy and are valuable to you. These things can change as you change yourself, enjoy the journey ✨

Some useful tips if you're wanting to build strength and how this can be applied in a Pilates class.

1. Lift around 80% of your 1RM
2. Thats a load you can push/pull around 5-10 reps
3. Do multiple sets each week
4. Stop 2-3 reps before failure

What you might get from a Pilates class is a low load, high rep experience. One way i like to add a strength component to my class is by allocating a block of time towards it, just like you might have an arm series or leg series as part of your flow.

Rather then completing 3-4 different arm exercises that could run for 1-2min each. Choose 1 push/pull arm exercise and repeat it 3-4 times.

Use the first set for clients to figure out the move, the reps and what load they start with. I like to ask them at the end, could you have done more then 15 reps? If the answer is yes, they can add more load for their second set.

Use the rest time to work on something else, you can still create a flow-like experience in between your sets.

You'll be able to notice when your clients are almost at failure, their tempo will decrease and maybe they start grunting (i know i do).

Get your clients familiar with the idea of near failure, its that juicy sweet spot where you know you gave it all you got — and you can still come back to class the next day (chances are, they will have a new teacher and do different moves).

If you see familiar clients on a weekly basis, this is the perfect way to measure their strength over a period of time.

Sundays are for lounging in your fave set ❤️

The other day I got asked by a student, when should I be breathing?

It stunned me at first but I thought about the countless classes I’ve done where the teacher has managed the breath pattern for the entirety of the class.

I believe breath work can be a powerful tool but when it’s being used to micro-manage the entire class to the point where a student is doubting their own intuition on how to breathe — it’s not ideal.

If you give movement options in class to accommodate everybody in front of you, why is it we aren’t giving options on how you can use your breath (if you are telling people how to breathe)

There is no wrong way, let the student breathe naturally in order to complete the task at hand. Use breathe as part of your toolbox to make a movement more complicated or feel more relaxed. It works in different ways for different people — we can’t assume that it works the same for everyone.

If you stopped cueing breath, would your students stop breathing altogether? — absolutely not.

I’ve said this before — Use breath as a tool, not as a rule.

We know from research that low impact exercise is not better for your joints, however the opposite seems to be marketed especially in the Pilates industry.

Joints need load, they also adapt to progressively adding load as well as working at full range of movement which not only gets your muscles and ligaments stronger, but hydrates the area around the joints.

Humans are robust anti-fragile beings which means we don’t easily break, we adapt to stress (load) and it makes us stronger.

So I encourage you to:
— Progressively add load
— Jump bigger, land harder
— Add more springs on the Reformer
— Push the carriage out quicker

For these reasons it’s important to give spring options in classes, your movement experience is for you, not your teacher. Be comfortable in your decision to add load and change it if it doesn’t serve you on a particular day.

A reminder that a new year doesn’t constitute a time to restrict, go on a diet or create unnecessary lifestyle changes that don’t support you.

Rest is important, Enjoy it.
And if you come across a post telling you, you need to shed that holiday weight, unfollow and RUN the other way.

— Latest photoshoot for .aus

HNY! ✨

It’s been an absolute pleasure to share this platform with you all. I’ve taken some time off to recharge and enjoy the end of the year with family and friends. I wish you love, joy and sparkle as we welcome 2022.

Big things happening next year, let’s go!