SHINE Stories: Emma K’s Journey to Finding Strength, Community, and Herself
Content warning: This episode contains open discussion of body image, mental health, and disordered eating.
In this episode of SHINE Stories, Jess sits down with Emma K (she/her), a SHINE FIT member who shares her incredible transformation — from using the stairmaster as punishment to commuting hours by GO Train just to attend a 45-minute SHINE class that made her feel alive again.
Emma opens up about her past struggles with mental health, her history with food and exercise, and how she spent years stuck in a cycle of guilt, avoidance, and pretending she was “fine.” It wasn’t until a birthday class hosted by her best friend (and SHINE coach!) Naomi that Emma discovered something different — joyful movement, a supportive community, and the first real spark of motivation she’d felt in years.
From that one class, everything changed. Within two months, Emma moved to Toronto, joined the SHINE Energy Exchange team, and found a fitness routine she could actually stick to. A year later, SHINE is no longer just a workout — it’s her anchor, her happy place, and the reason she finally feels at home in her body and in her life.
Highlights of this episode:
💙 Rebuilding a relationship with fitness after injury and burnout
💙 Why Emma commuted over 2 hours to attend SHINE classes
💙 Moving to a new city and finding community through movement
💙 The surprising moment that made her realize: “This is the best thing I’ve done for myself”
💙 What she’d tell her younger self now — and what’s next in her story
Connect with Emma on Instagram: @ekalverda