Emma Brake is the best personal trainer I’ve ever had. From the start, her thorough assessment of my starting strength and ability reassured me that I was in good hands. I found I could trust Emma to help me gain muscle strength in a way that truly challenged me, pushing me to the limit sometimes, but never beyond what I was capable of.

My favourite thing about Emma is that even though she made sure I worked hard, the sessions were never unpleasant. Instead, training with her was always really enjoyable as well as effective.

Emma is so engaging, that even though I am not a particularly motivated person, I always looked forward to going to the gym for our sessions. She has a real gift for making the workouts feel easy so the time just flies.

Maria, IT Specialist, University of Otago.

Emma has been my personal trainer since February 2010. She has not only turned me into a person who exercises, but has ensured I have got into a routine and therefore do so regularly whether I want to or not!

I came to Emma after a gastric bypass. I was 48 years old, still very overweight and both nervous and embarrassed about the whole process of getting myself “normal”. I was also very resentful that I was going to have to do this. Emma was brilliant. She took it upon herself to learn about my operation and what I could/could not do at the various stages of recovery. She encouraged me always and cracked the whip when necessary. Still does in fact.

Emma plans programmes that keep me interested and follows up with me all the time to make sure I am not short-changing myseld. She continually checks that I have the correct technique and that I perform the correct number of reps and sets. I have discovered there are no shortcuts.

Emma has been critical to my transformation and I would not be where I am today without her. Her ability to read my mood and therefore adjust her handling of me to suit us both has been amazing. She understood from the start that I needed to have fun while doing this and has ensured I do. Her follow up after sessions is great. All these things played a very large part in keeping me motivated.

Lynda, Office Manager, Kordia, Dunedin

Emma has been my trainer for the past 18 months, we have trained three times a week over this time period. Emma is my fourth personal trainer and has been by far the best. She has shown genuine interest in my medical condition (Ankylosing Spondylitis) and has tailored programmes specifically to meet my needs and improve my quality of life. Emma is very professional, and shows great maturity. I would have no hesitation in recommending her as a personal trainer.

Craig, Otago Packaging Supplies Ltd, Dunedin

Emma is the first personal trainer I had ever been to and I couldn’t have wished for a better introduction to the world of training. I have struggled with my weight all my life and was very unsure if personal training goals could be either achievable or enjoyable.

Emma dealt sensitively with my insecurities, patiently with my difficulties, and compassionately with my reluctance when faced with what was, to me, just another challenge to prove that I was never going to be able to change. She led me through training at my own pace, adapted readily to my specific needs, and gave me new information as and when she knew it would be useful and able to be absorbed by me as I developed.

Emma essentially changed my life – she was the catalyst around which so many parts of my life began to change without my even trying. As I type this now, I am a dedicated attendee of personal training, an enthusiastic Zumba addict, a follower of nutritional well-being, and more mentally engaged in my daily activities than I have ever been. Her dedication to a holistic system of well being meant that as my body began to change, my mind changed with it, and my entire outlook on my health (physical, mental, and emotional) began to adapt and become more interconnected.

I can never thank Emma enough for everything that she has done for me. The best I can do is sing her praises in the hope that more people will discover this wonderful young woman and benefit from her extraordinary wisdom, compassion, and high level of expertise in her field.

Sarah, mezzo soprano, Queensland, Australia

I met Emma while she was working at Creative Conditioning Studio in Dunedin as a personal trainer. I started working with Emma after having a back operation and found her to be very personable, knowledgable, understanding and great to work with. Her sessions involved a lot of strength and rehabilitation exercises that were designed to help me get back to where I was before my injury.

Thanks to Emma’s hard work and dedication I am back to full fitness. My back is now stronger than before and I am pain free, the first time in five years. I would not hesitate in recommending Emma to anyone looking for a personal trainer.

Kelvin, McCormick Carrying Ltd, Dunedin