Hello, I'm Emma-Kate
I'm a former psychologist turned personal trainer. I help women in midlife get stronger, and work out what they'd love to do next.
I coach online, and in person from my garden studio in Liphook, Hampshire.
My Story
Where it started
I spent years as an educational psychologist, supporting amazing children and families, as well as serving as a clinical supervisor for other psychologists. I loved that work. But I was so busy looking after everyone else that I stopped looking after myself.
Then came perimenopause, burnout, and the health issues that followed.
Finding my way back
Yoga and breathwork helped me to feel grounded again. Over time, my nervous system was much more regulated, I had learnt a huge amount about myself, and I was living in a way that felt manageable.
But I was also lonely...and bored. I realised I had inadvertently created a life that was much smaller and devoid of challenge.
Finding strength
At 46, I picked up a barbell for the first time. Strength training gave me a way to connect with other people and explore something new and challenging in my life.
Gradually, I got stronger and began seeing myself differently. I started to have new evidence that I was capable of doing difficult things. That opened a door I had previously kept shut.
Eventually I took part in a fitness competition called The Butterfly Effect. Before strength training, I would never have considered it. I remember thinking it was for other people, definitely not women like me.
I trained for it, showed up and discovered something that has stayed with me ever since:
If I can do this, what else can I do?
So I kept going. I deadlifted double my bodyweight. I hiked terrain I never thought I could manage. I ran a half marathon. I launched my first retreat in the Lake District. I took professional risks I'd been too scared to take before.
All of it changed the way I think about confidence. It's now at the heart of how I work with women through strength training.
Where Seeds Started
Positive psychology has fascinated me for years. At its heart is a simple idea: we can live fully, meaningfully, and thrive. Not just get by.
That's why I created Seeds. I wanted an alternative to the "push harder, no pain no gain" mentality in fitness. I don't believe it serves women in midlife.
I wanted Seeds to be a place where you're challenged and looked after, and where each step builds evidence of what you can do. For me, the goal is a life where we feel we're thriving physically, mentally and emotionally.
What Matters to Me
Kindness
Kindness is one of the things I value most, in life and in my work. It's how I try to treat everyone I meet. When we work together, you'll feel it in how I listen and how I encourage you.
Growth
I love to learn and try new things, and I've never stopped. Growth is something I value deeply, at any stage of life. It's a big part of why I do this work.
Connection
I value real connection, with friends, family and the people I work with. It's what drew me to strength training in the first place. And it's a big part of how I coach, whether we work online or in person.
My Credentials
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Certified Personal Trainer (Level 3, CIMSPA Registered)
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Menopause Coaching Specialist Certification (Girls Gone Strong)
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Masters in Psychology (MPsych, Ed & Dev)
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Health & Life Coach (Fully Qualified & Insured)
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Yoga Teacher (Yoga Alliance Registered)
I do my best to live what I teach.
I'm human and don't have a perfect system, but I still strength train regularly and love to run in the woods near my house when I can. I practise yoga to keep my nervous system steady. And I hike whenever I can, especially in the mountains.
I love to travel. I sign up for challenges that scare me a little. I try new things, not to prove anything, but to honour my value of curiosity.
For me, adventure is about saying yes before I'm sure I can do something, and then finding out that I can. That's the feeling I'd love every woman I work with to experience.