Meet The Team
Tanisha Ekerberg
Tanisha has been practicing Pilates since 2016. She became interested in Pilates after struggling for many years with lower back pain. Nothing seemed to work until she found Pilates. Within months the pain had faded and she had a new lease on life! After doing Pilates as a student for a couple of years, she decided to make the switch to instructing and hasn’t looked back.
Tanisha went to college for psychology, following after her mother, a well known and successful therapist. After several years, she found that being a therapist didn’t interest her that much and changed career paths. Finding that Pilates, like therapy, allows her to help people, was a great moment for her in life.
Tanisha took BASI Pilates training with Forest. She loved the comprehensive nature of BASI training and applies their whole body approach to Pilates. She recommends everyone learn, early in life, about their body and how it works.
She started work with Concord Pilates in 2021 and has enjoyed working with the team. She strives to make every session with clients fun but productive.
What motivates me:
Staying healthy is key in life. After having seen people struggle with maintaining basic fitness, resulting in physical and mental heath issues, I am a big believer that physical health = a good life!
My top fitness tips:
Consistency is key. Practicing fitness in spurts of exercise accomplishes nothing. It’s your life you are working with, so fitness should be one of the most important things you do, so put as much attention and effort as you do for your job or family.Develop a routine - it’s easier to reach your fitness goals. Engage your core in daily activities.
My fitness inspiration is:
Former Concord Pilates instructor Sarah Vespermann, who introduced me to Pilates, was a mentor to me. She guided and advised me through my training and my first client, and I owe her a ton for doing so!
My biggest challenge is:
I have injured my shoulder several times which makes doing some arm exercises difficult, but I still do them to get better!
My personal fitness achievement is:
Maintain my fitness level as I get older and the injuries of life mount up, while also trying to keep up with my son.
When I am not at work:
You will find me spending time with my family and golden retriever, taking walks, and going on adventures in the woods around my house.
Forest Konefal
Instructor/Owner
Forest discovered Pilates after suffering with neck and back issues for most of his life. Eventually he decided to try and get in shape regardless of his issues, but needed to find a safe way to do it. Enter, Pilates! Forest quickly discovered that most of his health issues were due to EDS with extreme hyper-mobility in every joint in his body.
He has since become something of a specialist in dealing with neck, back, and joint issues due to his own issues. He has spent many hours learning about the various health conditions the body can develop in order to be able to help himself and others live with lifelong conditions. While many of them can’t be cured, most, if not all, can be mitigated and lived with!
Taking BASI Pilates Teacher Training to enhance his own practice seemed natural. Since becoming an instructor, he has discovered he really enjoys helping people learn Pilates and get their health back!
What motivates me: The knowledge that if you have a physical/health problem, being out of shape, will only make it worse!
My top fitness tips: Each person is different in what they are able to do and what they need for exercise. Figuring out what exercise you can do, and then sticking with it, is key to living a healthier happier life.
My fitness inspiration is: Everyone I meet, who has a condition that causes problems in their life, but despite the issues is still out there living their life!
My mission in every session is: To ensure that clients have a safe productive session, and leave feeling better then when they came in!
My biggest challenge is:
Flexibility! Hyper-mobility can be a real issue taken to extremes. It causes many issues and pain, but giving up on fitness doesn’t work!
My personal fitness achievement is: Trying to live as normal a life as possible while dealing with a major health condition and the resulting struggles!
When I’m not at work I am:
Reading books, playing with my cat, writing, or watching detective shows!
My Top Fitness Tip:
Eat less and exercise more to lose weight! It’s that simple, if you can stick to it!