Amanda Cain

"I started Pilates classes with Emma March 2019 following months of lower back pain. Within 4 weeks I no longer needed painkillers and soon after the pain completely disappeared. I attend 2 classes per week and can honestly say I love it! Small groups which allows Emma to give 1-1 instruction if necessary. If you have pain related to posture then I would really recommend you give it a try."

Clare Robson

"I started Pilates with Emma 18 months ago when I had already tried different options over the years  for my back pain with no success.  I was taking pain killers daily for low back pain. I felt miserable. After the 4 th Pilates class I felt a difference.  Fast forward 18 months. I feel more toned. My aches and pains have gone. I feel great. I can’t remember the last time I took pain killers. My posture and general well being has improved and I never seem to catch a cold now. Pilates it’s not a quick fix it’s a way of life. I was worried when the class had to stop due to the covid 19 crisis but Emma put on online Pilates classes for free. I loved this as my daughter joined in so I loved being able to do an activity together. Thank you Emma."

Chris Stempien

"Following a discectomy in 2009 my surgeon suggested Pilates as part of my rehab. It changed my life! Pilates makes you so aware of your posture, not just whilst you are doing it, but all the time. I have only recently discovered Emma and her classes and I'm so glad I did. She is amazing. Her classes are well structured, fully explained and adjustments are offered if you're not quite doing it right. The yoga with Susan, incorporating lots of stretching, is fabulous too. It helps to keep my back and my mind healthy. You should try it!"

Katherine

"I love being outdoors! Running, walking any excuse to be out with my best friend Bob!
However, all of this fun can often cause a lot of stiffness, tightness and sometimes little injuries that can leave me feeling really frustrated. 
I have learnt a big lesson, getting a good balance in physical activity is so crucial to staying healthy! 
I love Pilates and Yoga studio Whickham, I attend Pilates and yoga and have attended a range of classes with different instructors and they are all superb.  Not only do I feel much better physically in terms of strength, balance and flexibility, I always leave feeling calm, relaxed and positive. The instructors are incredibly professional and caring.  For anyone who is looking for some self-care, or to be part of a lovely supportive studio I can’t recommend it enough."

Linda Halbert

"Having been diagnosed with osteoarthritis in my knees and hips a number of years ago  I was beginning to suffer from quite debilitating mobility problems. This was exacerbated by a herniated disc in 2016 resulting in spinal surgery. As a result my weight increased significantly, adding to the pain and further affecting my mobility. I had tried a number of types of exercise over the years never finding something I enjoyed doing. My sister introduced me to Emma in October 2020 and I began to do a Pilates class at least three times a week. I very quickly saw an improvement in the pain in my back when walking. This was followed by a significant improvement in mobility in my hips and knees. Doing regular exercise really motivated me to begin a weight loss programme. As I began to lose weight I increased the number of classes I did to five a week. Having bought a lively puppy in October 2020 that was also coupled with walks in the surrounding countryside. From November 2020 to July 2021 I have lost five stone. Pilates has really helped tone up my body. Emma’s classes are fun. She explains the purpose behind every exercise so I know exactly how it is helping my body to be strong and stable.   She explains how each exercise should feel so I know if I am doing it properly.  Her classes are aimed at all levels of fitness and ability.  She adds additional challenges for those who want to take the exercise to the next level. Being part of this Pilates community on line has improved my physical and mental well-being and well as significantly contributing to my weight loss and motivation to improve my overall health. Emma is a fantastic teacher and I really appreciate the number and range of classes she runs, as well as the opportunity to attend via zoom from a more rural location. From being a person who rarely participated in exercise I can’t see a time when Pilates, and Emma’s classes won’t be an integral part of my life."

Gill

"I have been attending Emma's Pilates class for 18 months having never tried Pilates before. 
I suffer from a chronic neck and shoulder problem which usually requires physio or chiropractic input when it flares up. 
Since attending Pilates class the number of flare ups has drastically reduced and I have only needed to see the chiropractor once for 1 session!
Pilates has also helped me with my running, improving my posture and helping me to enjoy exercise and moving around. 
I especially enjoy the relaxation part of the session :)
Emma is available for advice and support and sends tips and clips to help with certain exercises and issues." 

Chris CLark

"I just want to begin by saying I've done some Pilates in the past but fell out of it because the class I used to attend didn't fit with having a kid. 

So, my missus, as a birthday gift got me a 4week course with Emma. I say gift...
Booking is easy and if you're not following her on social, definitely give Emma a follow for more hints and tips.

The first thing I learned was that Pilates was invented by a man. Joseph Pilates. I honestly thought Emma was having me on. Turns out it's true

I spend 8 or 9 hrs of the day sitting behind my desk working, and after that there's nothing better than Emma's Pilates sessions to stretch out my bones. I definitely don't have so much pain in my lower back at the end of the day. And, the other day I was walking through the house and thought to myself 'My bones feel very long', which if you've never experienced it is actually quite a pleasant feeling.

I'm 36 and I suffer from very clicky hips (Google it if you've never heard of it) and often get awful cramp in that area too when sitting on the floor playing with my 3year old. You can imagine her face when Daddy has to jump up off the floor screaming in pain and having to stretch his leg before building another Duplo tower. A lot of the focus in Emma's sessions is on stretching out your hips. She tells me hips are used to contracting but not stretching, so it's challenging but I'm definitely developing more flexibility in my hips. Good news for my 3year old and the nightclubs of Newcastle, because y'know, hips don't lie.

I'm a keen runner too and I've definitely noticed a difference in my form (technical term for something or other) since starting these sessions. I feel more steady and able to keep a good posture which improves running efficiency and can help prevent injury. 

The benefits don't stop there either. After one of Emma's sessions I always feel calmer and mentally refreshed, sometimes for up to a day afterwards. It's almost a form of meditation or mindfulness, you're focussing on your breathing and movements in your body throughout. And, at the end of each session Emma does a guided visualisation (in her poshest Geordie voice) which can almost make you want to drift off to sleep there and then.

Emma makes every session different but also challenging, and even though they're virtual, she will tell if your technique isn't right. Personally I like that because the perfectionist in me wants to do it properly.

Plus, Emma's always willing to give you pointers if there's something you're not sure of or want to know more about.

The group is also great, and as the session is virtual, people join from across the globe. I'd never met anyone from Mexico before this. Now I know someone from Acapulco (queue the song). That blows my mind but shows just how good Emma is.

To sum up, if you're a dude and you think Pilates is for girls. It's not. It was created by a dude and has huge benefits for dudes like you, mentally and physically.

I would 100% recommend Emma's Pilates classes. Every session is different and challenging, but at the same time leaves you feeling amazing afterwards. What could be better?"

CHristina Hamilton

"I've been having Pilates classes with Emma for a few months now. I have an office job and sitting at a computer for most of the day has giving me some back pain and stiff joints. Since having regular Pilates sessions, my back and joints feel a lot better. These sessions also help me feel more relaxed. 

Emma is a fantastic instructor, she's very knowledgeable but she is also a lovely person, she always pays attention to each person and is professional, yet also very welcoming and friendly. She is always happy to give advice too if your having trouble with certain areas. 

I would definitely recommend these sessions."

Laura Wardle

"I’m a 47yr old mum of two and joined Emma’s Pilates class in January 2020 attending just one class per week. I’d had classes about 5yrs previous but only for about 6 months once every two wks. I’d been wanting to go back and stick to it ever since then. I was born with spina bifida which has left me with one leg shorter than the other and with no feeling at all in my right foot and a lot of my right leg and bottom so as you can imagine, Pilates isn’t always easy but boy it is good for me.

I want to be that woman in her older age who is toned, flexible, strong and confident and Pilates is one way of me working towards that. During lock-down Emma put on free classes live on zoom and I joined in 5 classes a week! I can’t thank her enough for that. It has made me feel so good and proud of myself for doing it. I already feel stronger and it’s hard to explain but I can feel my core for the first time in for ever. Something that I didn’t even think of happening though, is that my right leg which has no feeling actually feels like it’s getting stronger too!

​I’ve even joined in with the strength and balance class aimed at the over 50’s which Emma takes on a Thursday now and my 10 yrs old daughter has joined in too which is lovely. Emma’s a lovely, friendly and very knowledgable teacher and I’m so glad I finally went and joined."

Pat McShane

"I have been doing Mat Pilates with Emma weekly now for approx two years. It has helped enormously with hip and back movement as well as posture. The mobility it has given to these joints in particular, as well as all others, has improved dramatically. Emma’s classes, since moving into her own studio, are not too large thereby allowing her to give attention to each and every class member and ensuring they are doing correct movements. A very relaxed class as well as the usual weekly catch up with other participants."

Sue Renforth

"Just want to thank Emma at Pilates and Yoga Studio for her Pilates classes. As someone who has had lower back and hip pain for a number of years, doing Pilates regularly has definitely improved my symptoms. I have also found an improvement in menopausal symptoms of hot flushes and aching joints. I tried lots of different exercise classes and dropped out after a few sessions. However Pilates is something I have stuck with. The online Zoom sessions have been amazing during lock-down. Thank you."

Liz Story

"I’ve been attending Emma’s Pilates classes at her Whickham studio since she opened in February 2019. I’d never done Pilates before, but I was was interested in the benefits of increased muscle and bone strength. From day one I loved it and I also love the way Emma teaches her class. She doesn’t just show you an exercise then leave you to do it, she tells you why you’re doing each movement and explains exactly what it’s doing for your body. 
I always leave Emma’s classes feeling so much more mobile and 2 inches taller after having really stretched out my spine. The classes always start spot on time and the hour always goes so quickly."

Ross Moffat 

"I stumbled across Emma's Zoom Pilates classes looking for something to do during lockdown and hopefully help a long running shoulder issue from tennis. As a man in his (very) early 30s, and never having done Pilates before I didn't know what to expect but Emma's incredibly friendly demeanour and simple clear instructions makes everything fun and easy to follow. I'm amazed how much advice and support she can provide over the internet and you really feel part of a class. The weekly class has been an absolute staple across the year and something I really look forward to. Can't recommend the class highly enough. Incredible value for money too!"