A local fitness coach who has spent over 15 years bringing people together through community exercise has been named 'Female Fitness Instructor of the year at the 2026 'Heart & Soul Fitness Awards.'

Emma Wilkinson, who runs community fitness classes across the Crewe and Nantwich area, received the award this summer in recognition of her work within the fitness industry.

Now, following a summer break, Emma is returning with her full timetable of classes this September, saying the award has given her even more determination to continue making fitness accessible, welcoming and, most importantly, enjoyable.

Emma began her fitness journey as a participant in a Zumba class before training as an instructor herself.

Initially teaching alongside her job in the NHS, Emma quickly realised that her passion lay in community fitness and eventually made it her full-time career.

Over 15 years later, her classes have developed into communities in their own right.

Emma told Nub News: "Winning the award was a complete shock. For years I've just quietly got on with teaching my classes, turning up week after week and trying to give people somewhere they can exercise, laugh and feel like they belong.

"I genuinely believe community fitness offers something very special.

"Yes, people come to move their bodies, but they also come for friendship, connection, support and sometimes just to have an hour where they can forget everything else that's going on.

"The award might have my name on it, but the community we've created is because of the incredible people who turn up to my classes and welcome each other with open arms."

Emma's classes are deliberately a little different from the traditional gym experience.

Her aim is to make exercise feel less intimidating and to encourage people who may never normally consider joining a gym or traditional fitness class to get moving.

Emma added: "I've always felt that exercise doesn't have to be serious to be effective.

"If people leave sweaty but they've also laughed, sung badly, made a friend and forgotten they were exercising for a while, I feel like I've done my job.

"After taking a bit of a break over the summer, I'm really excited to have the full timetable back.

"Winning this award has made me reflect on how far we've come, but mostly it's made me excited about what we can do next."

Emma's community fitness classes take place across the Crewe and Nantwich area, with the autumn timetable now returning.

For details of classes, times and locations, visit Emma Wilkinson Fitness on Facebook or email Emma at [email protected].

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