Emily Fobben: Building Community Through Fitness and Motherhood
When Emily Fobben felt overlooked in traditional fitness spaces during pregnancy, she created the supportive environment she wished existed—turning her struggle into a business that empowers women throughout their wellness journey.
Emily Fobben’s path to opening Emerge Fitness on Main Street Manayunk wasn’t just about launching another gym—it was about filling a critical gap she experienced firsthand as a pregnant woman seeking safe, supportive fitness guidance. As owner and head trainer of this specialized studio serving Philadelphia County, Emily has built a community where women navigate strength training with confidence while forming lasting connections that extend far beyond workout sessions.
Emily Fobben is a 2025 Philadelphia Family Women of Influence Award Winner
Philadelphia Family’s Women of Influence Awards celebrate exceptional women making significant impacts in our community. Emily was nominated by a client—now a friend—and selected based on her achievements and dedication to creating meaningful change. Each Women of Influence Award Winner has committed to support Family Focus Media’s core values. Together, we are committed to foster a sense of belonging and empowerment for all for all families. All backgrounds, races, genders, and sexual orientations are welcome and safe with us.
Beyond the awards, our Women of Influence Luncheons and Speed Networking Night attendees come together as our Women of Influence Network, a community fostering connections, collaboration, and mutual support.
From Personal Struggle to Professional Purpose
Emily’s journey back to the fitness industry came during her 2023 pregnancy, eight years after she first began personal training. She had stepped away from hands-on training around 2020 and was working remotely for a fitness software company when pregnancy changed everything.
“I was going to fitness classes and felt like nobody was giving me modifications,” Emily recalls. “I kind of felt ignored by fitness instructors out of fear—nobody wants to touch the pregnant woman because nobody wants to hurt her or tell her the wrong thing. There’s a lot of resources out there, but when it comes to in-person training, it’s hard to feel safe and confident.”
That experience of feeling unseen sparked her return to personal training. When her husband brought up the dog training facility he owned, Emily saw an opportunity. “I was like, I think this is a great opportunity to kind of jump in and use his space to train women,” she says. She aimed to create a welcoming space where women, especially moms, could prioritize their fitness and well-being.
The Power of Small Group Training
What sets Emerge Fitness apart is Emily’s intentional approach to small group training, capping sessions at just five women. This intimate setting allows her to provide the individualized attention she felt was missing in her own pregnancy fitness experience.
“We focus on the benefits of training during pregnancy, not just physically but mentally,” Emily explains. “If there’s something that might be considered safe, but they’re like ‘I don’t know about this,’ then we’re going to modify because it comes down to what they feel comfortable doing.”
Her client Yael exemplifies the transformation Emily witnesses regularly. Yael was Emily’s first member when she launched at the dog training facility, joining one year postpartum after her third son. “She had a huge transformation, not only physically, but mentally,” Emily shares. “She actually just recently wrote a whole story about Emerge and how it gave her the power to fold her clothes and put them away and the positive effects of the community on her.”
From Shared Space to Main Street Success
Emily’s business growth reflects the real need she saw in the community. Starting out in her husband’s dog training facility—with uneven floors and a tough landlord—she kept her eye on a vacant space on Main Street. When the initial lease fell through, Emily realized just how much she wanted that location.
“That’s honestly the point where I really knew that this is the spot I wanted to be in and that I was ready to move on to my own place,” she reflects. “When you get rejected or told no, you’re like ‘oh I really wanted that.'” Two months later, the space became available again, and Emily opened her doors on January 20th—perfect timing for New Year fitness resolutions.
“Ever since moving to this spot, it’s attracted a lot more people. We have our own big window and people don’t walk in and say ‘Where are the dogs?'” Emily laughs.
Building Community Beyond Fitness
Anthony describes his mother’s approach to life’s challenges with admiration: “What amazes me most is her mindset. No matter how overwhelming life gets, she remains positive, grounded, and incredibly Emily’s vision extends beyond individual workouts – she’s creating genuine community connections. She partners with local women-owned businesses, bringing in physical therapists for movement screenings and massage therapists for special events. “I love to share my network with other women who are great at what they do,” she explains.
This community aspect addresses what Emily sees as a critical need, especially post-COVID. “People come in and they’re like ‘I have no routine. I work from home. I don’t interact with anyone,’ which is so detrimental to our mental health,” she observes. “If you have one hour a few times a week where you can come in and spend time with other women, it’s a huge boost for mental health outside of the physical aspects.”
Balancing Entrepreneurship and Motherhood
Running a business while raising 20-month-old Leah requires careful orchestration. Emily starts her day at 6 a.m., runs home to say good morning to Leah, returns for late morning sessions, works during naptime, and coordinates evening coverage with her other coach. She and her husband tag-team childcare, avoiding daycare so far.
“The biggest aha moment becoming a mom and a business owner is time—what are we doing with our time and time is so precious,” Emily reflects. “The time that you do have to work on the business when you’re not with your kid—how are you spending that time?”
Her advice to new moms considering entrepreneurship is direct: “Go for it because you already did the hardest thing that you can do and that is have a child.” She stresses delegation and asking for help. “I always think if I was 23 opening a gym, I would be here 12 hours a day and it’s probably a blessing that I can’t be because you’re forced into some kind of balance.”
Educating About Pre- and Postnatal Fitness
One of Emily’s missions is to challenge misconceptions about pregnancy and postpartum fitness. She notes that traditional personal training certifications often only devote “maybe two pages under special populations” to pregnant clients, leaving many instructors unprepared.
“The truth is, you don’t have to do a ton of modifications when you’re pregnant. Most exercises are safe, but women aren’t taught that,” she explains. Conversely, she emphasizes that postpartum requires much more attention than most people realize. “The postpartum period actually has a lot more modifications needed than during pregnancy. This concept that you’re cleared after six weeks is very wrong—it can take up to a year plus for all of your tissues to heal.”
Looking Ahead
Emily’s five-year vision includes expanding to a larger space that could offer childcare—”such a block for moms to be able to do anything for themselves.” She envisions baby circles, workshops, and expanded partnerships with local businesses.
“I’ve always wanted to do baby circles here and different workshops,” she shares. “Really just growing on that for the next five years would be big.”
For now, Emily continues building her community one workout at a time, guided by the inspiration that started it all. “The biggest part is my daughter Leah—opening really because of her, not just because of the inspiration that pregnancy gave me to open the studio, but also trying to find the way to balance motherhood and working. I wouldn’t have done any of this without her.”
Emily’s story demonstrates how personal challenges can spark powerful community change. Through Emerge Fitness, she’s created more than a business—she’s built a space where women emerge stronger, more connected, and more confident in their bodies and themselves.
