Jacqui Kingswell on Motherhood & Business
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For this issue of the journal, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Jacqui Kingswell, co-founder of The Pilates Class. Jacqui, who welcomed her baby, Thea, last year, graciously opened up about on balancing new motherhood with running a business. We dove into her experiences, advice for new mums, and her plans for Mother’s Day.
What do you love the most about being a mum?
There is so much I love about being a mum, it’s a privilege and one I’m so grateful for. I’ve been so lucky to be able to breastfeed, and for me I find that to be one of the most beautiful bonding moments between Thea and I. With all the beautiful chaos that comes with motherhood, I love those moments throughout the day where I find a quiet space to feed my daughter, watch her nourish and relax. I find so much joy in it.
What has been the hardest period of motherhood for you and how did you deal with it?
From week 3-10 Thea would cry for 5-8 hours a day! To this day I still don’t know why?! We saw so many specialists that suggested different possible reasons as to what was causing it. I think maybe it was just her getting use to the world, my milk and/or her way of communicating needing to be close to me for those first weeks?! I cried everyday for those 7 weeks, it was the hardest period of my life, but I now look back and am grateful for that time. I think if it was a little simpler back then I would have returned back to work earlier and so I’m grateful that I got to be really present with Theadora during that time and fully give her my undivided attention. I also learnt in those early weeks that everything is a phase - at times I wished it would pass, but I soon realised that I would never get those moments back. So I learnt to embrace it… all of it, the hard and happy times.
How do you, as both a mother and a business owner, manage to maintain a healthy balance between your personal and professional life? Any advice you can share?
With my online company, The Pilates Class, I share so much of my personal life and wellness tips and tricks with our global community. This is something I embody and practice daily. Of course I’m still trying to find the balance between returning to work and motherhood but as I tell our TPC community, my best piece of advice is; balance is key!
Find a workout you love and look forward to. If the movement doesn’t nourish you, it’s not for you. There’s no use in thrashing your body because it’s what you think you need to do. Find a workout you genuinely love and look forward to, one that’s sustainable that you can practice for the rest of your life.
Try to eat a whole food diet as best you can. Ask yourself, is this nourishing my mind, body or my soul??? I eat chocolate, pizza and pasta every now and then. Of course it doesn’t serve my body as well as some other foods do but those are the foods that serve my soul! Take the pressure off yourself but tune into your energy levels after you sit down for a meal. Has it energised you and made you feel good?
Have a morning and nighttime routine where you’re away from your phone and technology and you’re doing something for you; whether that be a morning walk or Pilates class, a nighttime bath or cup of tea with a book etc.
Put practices in place to switch off from work or go through your to do list at least 1.5 hours before bedtime.
Be kind to yourself and take off the pressure and expectations! When you find healthy habits you enjoy, you’re going to stick to them. Find a workout you love, find a balanced diet that fuels your body and nourishes your soul.
Jacqui is co-founder of The Pilates Class
Has your approach to business changed since having kids?
It has, I feel more motivated than ever. I hope our daughter is inspired by the way myself and my husband work. I hope she sees how hard we work and aspires to do so one day too.
How will you be celebrating Mother’s Day this year?
Each year, we spend half of our time in Sydney and half in Los Angeles for work, so I’ll be in LA this year. Luckily my sister lives there, and she has just had a baby girl too. My parents are also coming to visit, so this year will be spent with them which is a pretty special first Mother’s Day.
Who are the women in your life that inspire you?
My mum and sister have always been two women I look up to. They both share qualities that I have taken onboard as a young mum and as a woman. I have sooo many women in my life that inspire me in different ways, both professionally and personally. I think it’s so important to surround yourself with women who uplift you and want the best for you, and I am so lucky to have so many women who do that.
