Dalynn Emokpae on Movement, Strength, and Empower Her

July 28th, 2026

At this year's Empower Her, an annual tennis-based initiative designed to uplift and support girls and women through sport, 100 girls walked away with a yoga mat and a deeper understanding of movement, thanks in part to a free pilates session led by Dalynn Emokpae, a certified personal trainer, pilates instructor, and yoga instructor.

Dalynn's love of feeling strong in her body dates back to her teenage years, when she enjoyed arm wrestling and push-up competitions. She grew up as a gymnast — an individually focused sport, like tennis, where what you put in is what you get out.

As she got older, she moved into social work and began focusing more on her own health. Movement became an emotional outlet, creating an energy shift that helped her release the anxious and negative energy she absorbed from seeing so many young people suffering. Her love for movement ultimately inspired her to make a career change to the fitness industry, where she began by focusing on strength work with women, aiming to empower them physically. She first earned her personal training certification, followed by her pilates certification about ten years later, which sharpened her sense of intention in movement and deepened her understanding of the body. She later completed her yoga teacher certification as well.

At 40, when her mom was diagnosed with cancer, Dalynn was driven to create the healthiest environment she could for herself and those around her. This meant surrounding herself with, and building a community around, people who shared those values. Authentic connection is what matters most to her: she sees people for who they are and wants the best for them.

As a studio instructor, creating a judgment-free space is essential, since she welcomes new, often nervous clients every week. Her message, repeated in every class, is to work with your body as it is today, be thankful for it, and take small steps forward from there. Dalynn believes self-judgment and rigid thinking hold people back most. See yourself as the person you want to become, and you will get there; see yourself as someone who cannot move or eat well, and you will stay stuck. That is why she values teaching young girls to break these negative thought patterns early, an opportunity she and her generation never had growing up. 

That philosophy is why Dalynn was eager to get involved the moment Karina told her about Empower Her, since empowering young girls and women is exactly the kind of service she wants to offer. In the workshop, she focused on teaching the girls to find engagement through their center, and introduced different types of movement to build strength through pilates. One moment that stuck with her was watching the girls answer questions on the microphone: how keen they were to share, how well they could express themselves, and how brave they were to raise their hands and articulate what empowerment means to them. It made her happy to see these young women embracing their bodies instead of punishing them, and resisting diet culture in favor of becoming the strongest versions of themselves.

“Everybody's body is different. We can't attain someone else's look. The goal is embracing what you have and building the most strength possible with it, creating the physical “home” you want for yourself.”

—       Dalynn Emokpae, Certified Personal Trainer, Pilates & Yoga Instructor

Outside of coaching, Dalynn loves natures walks and practicing yoga on her own, ways of putting energy back into herself after giving so much to others. She says she has never felt better than she does now, in her 50s. Looking ahead, Dalynn is focused on continuing to build the community she has grown at Yogalife Studios, and on finding new ways, through workshops and otherwise, to help young women and women her own age believe in themselves.

For more on nourishing your body and mind, follow Dalynn on TikTok and Instagram @SimplyNourishedwithDalynn.

Click this link for a free class of your choice at Yogalife Studios.