

Welcome to StartStrong Fitness CIC
We are a grant-funded parent and baby exercise community interest company, offering free exercise classes for pregnant women, new mums, and dads. Our classes provide a space for parents to work out while their babies relax and play—no need to worry about childcare. Just come along, get active, and connect with like-minded people.
Our mission is to ensure no parent navigates the journey of parenthood alone. We’re building a supportive community, using exercise as a way to bridge the gap, foster meaningful conversations, and have fun while getting a great workout!
Why choose StartStrong Fitness CIC
With years of experience, Emma is dedicated to creating a community where parents can work out without the stress of finding childcare. All of our instructors in Braintree, Colchester, and Ipswich are qualified experts in pre- and post-natal exercise. You can feel confident knowing that we have the skills to support your physical and mental health needs during pregnancy and parenthood. Trust us to guide you on your fitness journey while connecting with like-minded people!


My Story
"As a Personal Trainer, my main goal is to empower individuals both mentally and physically. I am proud to be a specialist in Mental Health and a Pre & Post Natal Specialist Coach. My passion for helping others stems from my own personal journey with Mental Health. I have overcome Anorexia Nervosa, a disorder that consumed my life for 10 years. My condition was so severe that I was hospitalized twice, and the doctors told me that I would never be able to develop a healthy relationship with exercise or food again. I was in a dark place, and many doubted my ability to recover. However, today, I have been recovered for Ten years, proving the naysayers wrong. The doctor's words have stayed with me, motivating me to share my story and help others through my own lived experiences.
Many individuals who struggle with similar conditions feel hopeless and unsure if recovery is even possible. That's where I come in. Now being a mum myself I realised there isn't enough out there to support parents through parenthood. That's why I set up my CIC business so I can offer exercise classes for free, allow parents to bring their babies along but also to build a community of parents to show them its okay to find things hard but don't suffer alone, I have made it my mission to now set up more classes across Essex & Suffolk to make sure no worry navigates parenthood alone!
- Emma Shaw
Founder of StartStrong Fitness CIC
