Before Jacqui Kingswell became one of the most influential names in global wellness, she was holding her own on stage behind Beyoncé, Kylie Minogue and Ricky Martin. It was professional dance that taught her discipline, and Pilates, practised since the age of 12, that taught her to listen. In 2020 she poured both into The Pilates Class, the digital platform that has since grown into a devoted worldwide community built on movement that supports rather than punishes.

It’s a philosophy that lands at exactly the right moment, as wellness culture turns away from burnout and toward longevity. Now, fresh from welcoming her second daughter and preparing to take the TPC Live 2026 World Tour into real rooms across Sydney, Los Angeles and London, Jacqui sits down with Style Machine for this edition of Taste Maker Chronicles to talk body awareness, motherhood, and protecting the relationship we have with our bodies.

You came from the world of professional dance, touring with artists like Beyoncé, Kylie Minogue and Ricky Martin. What did that world teach you about discipline, body awareness and the cost of pushing too hard?

“That world teaches you discipline very quickly. You’re expected to show up at a high level every single day, no matter how you’re feeling. It also gave me a really deep sense of body awareness; as a dancer your body is your livelihood so you need to nourish and maintain it. Knowing your limits to prevent you from burnout and injury is crucial which is why Pilates has been incredibly helpful in my life. Being a dancer taught me that strength isn’t just about how hard you can push, but how well you can listen.”

Pilates has been part of your life since you were 12. At what point did it shift from something you practised to something you knew you wanted to build a business around?

“Pilates was always something I paired with my dance training from a very young age. But it wasn’t until I started seeing how much it was changing not just my body, but how I felt day to day, that it clicked. There was a moment where I realised this wasn’t just something I wanted to do for myself, it was something I wanted to share. It felt sustainable, intelligent, and supportive in a way that I hadn’t experienced before, and that’s what led me to build something around it.”

The wellness conversation has changed so much. For years, fitness was sold through intensity, sweat and punishment. Why do you think people are now craving movement that feels more sustainable?

“I think people are starting to understand that burnout isn’t a badge of honour. That approach isn’t something you can maintain long term. There’s a real shift toward longevity. People want to feel good in their bodies, not just for a short period of time, but consistently. Movement that supports your nervous system, your hormones, your lifestyle, that’s what people are gravitating toward now. It’s less about extremes and more about balance.”

The Pilates Class has built a global audience, but the method still feels very personal. How do you keep intimacy, correction and connection inside a digital platform?

“That’s always been really important to me and before launching The Pilates Class in 2020 I asked my clients if my essence can come through the screen on a LIVE class I held. Once they confirmed it felt like they were in the studio with me I knew I could achieve the same results for my clients online. Even though it’s digital, the intention behind it is very personal. I focus a lot on cueing, really clear, detailed instruction so clients can understand exactly how something should feel in their body. It’s about creating that internal awareness rather than relying on external correction. And beyond that, it’s the way we communicate as a brand. We’re always speaking to the individual experience, not just delivering a workout. That’s what keeps the connection there.”

You recently welcomed your second daughter while growing the business and preparing for a global live tour. How has this chapter changed the way you think about strength?

“It completely redefined it. Strength isn’t just physical, it’s emotional, it’s mental, it’s about resilience and adaptability. This chapter has also taught me to soften in a lot of ways. To listen more, to give myself grace, and to understand that strength can look different day to day. It’s not always about doing more. Sometimes it’s about doing less, but with more intention.”

 

Postnatal wellness is still so often framed around “getting your body back”. What do you wish more women were told instead?

“I wish more women were told that there’s nothing to ‘get back’ to. Your body has done something incredible, and it deserves support, not pressure. It’s about rebuilding, reconnecting, and respecting where you are in that moment. The focus should be on how you feel, feeling supported, strong, and aligned, rather than chasing a previous version of yourself.”

There is a lot of noise around routines, supplements, workouts and optimisation. What does a genuinely healthy movement practice look like to you?

“It’s something that feels supportive, not stressful. It fits into your life rather than taking over it. A healthy practice is consistent, but also flexible. It allows for rest, it evolves with you, and it prioritises how you feel over how things look. It’s not about doing everything, it’s about doing what actually serves you.”

Your work sits at the intersection of fitness, wellness, motherhood and longevity. What do you think modern wellness is getting right, and where is it still getting it wrong?

“I think modern wellness is getting it right in terms of awareness. There’s more conversation around mental health, nervous system regulation, and longevity, which is really positive. Where it can still go wrong is in overcomplicating things. There’s so much information that it can become overwhelming, and people start to feel like they need to do everything perfectly. Wellness doesn’t need to be complicated, it’s often the simple, consistent habits that make the biggest difference.”

The TPC Live 2026 World Tour is taking The Pilates Class into real rooms across Sydney, Los Angeles and London. What changes when a digital community becomes a physical experience?

“There’s a completely different energy when you bring people into the same room. You can feel the connection of the community in a much deeper way. What’s really special is seeing a community that’s been built online come to life physically, people who already feel connected, sharing that experience together. It adds another layer to what we’ve created.”

Taste Maker Chronicles is about people shaping culture through instinct, expertise and point of view. What do you think your approach to movement is ultimately trying to protect?

“I think it’s trying to protect the relationship people have with their bodies. In a world that constantly tells you to do more, be more, push harder, I want to create a space where people can come back to themselves. Where movement feels supportive, not punishing. At its core, it’s about helping people feel at home in their bodies again, and that’s something I’ll always want to protect.”