Empower Personalized Fitness

Fantastic experience: If you are looking for a trainer look no further! I've been working out at Empower Personal Training for 7 years and my experience has been superb. The trainers are very well educated which is very important to me - you won't get hurt at Empower b/c the trainers know what they are doing. The trainers keep the work-outs fresh by using all sorts of different equipment as training tools. The atmosphere is warm and inviting and the facility is always nice and clean. Best of all, you can park at the front door so access to the studio is easy. Empower recently started a group fitness classes which I highly reccommend. Empower has everything you need to stay fit-mentally and physically. This is hands down the best fitness studio in Durham!

Fantastic experience: I moved to Empower from a conventional gym environment and have been very impressed by the higher level of service found at Empower. The members of the staff are friendly, upbeat and professional. The facility is well equipped with the most up-to-date exercise "toys" as well as with conventional machines. I work out three times a week with an experienced and effective personal trainer, Kelly McLaughlin, and couldn't ask for a better experience. I highly recommend Empower.

Fantastic experience: I have been working out at Empower for almost a year now and absolutely love it! As a law school student with limited free time to spend exercising, I sought help from a personal trainer to keep me fit and doing exercises that had results. My personal trainer is Chris and I couldn't ask for a better trainer. Fun, energetic, and motivating, he not only pushes me further in my fitness goals but makes the time enjoyable. Empower has provided me a comfortable and relaxed environment to try new things and push my physical limits. Working out two days a week under the student package is one of the best investments I have ever made!

Fantastic experience: Empower Personalized Fitness does a great job of helping their clients meet their fitness goals. It also provides a warm and supportive community which I have come to value as much as I value the high level training they provide. The trainers are all excellent. Each brings great energy to their sessions with each client, and the workouts are carefully tailored to each client's goals and needs. I have particularly benefitted from working with Amanda Fontaine and Blaine Warren. They both combine a great sense of humor with their demanding workouts, so I always feel that I have been pushed (in a good way) but that it was somehow pretty fun! I highly recommend them both and feel grateful to have them on my "team"!

Fantastic experience: This is my 3rd summer working out at Empower, and I could not say enough good things about my experience there! Each summer I have done the "Fit Club" package (awesome deal!), so I've been able to work personally with a trainer (Tom=amazing!), do their classes, and use their gym. The classes are wonderful, and the trainers are super patient when you are new and make you feel really comfortable right away...not to mention, they try to make it as fun as possible! Doing the personal training sessions are awesome, too, and I feel like they do a great job trying to individualize your workout according to what you need or what results you are looking for! And, the gym itself, and equipment is great (and will be even better, I'm sure, with the expansion!). Everyone that works there is so friendly and welcoming, and I can honestly say that I've had at least 2 other staff members that I've never worked with before greet me by name, which I think says a lot about the way that they value their clients...even the ones they don't personally work with! I can't say that I've actually "enjoyed" working out and going to the gym until I started coming to Empower!

Fantastic experience: Being a lifetime fitness lover and having just moved back to Durham, Empower Fitness has exceeded my expectations for a wonderful facility, clean and well taken care of equipment, to my Trainer, *Patty Shoaf* who somehow makes the saying “no pain no gain” into much looked forward to workouts of the week!! All of the staff is wonderful and encouraging! Highly recommend and can’t say enough great things!!

Fantastic experience: My wife and I come to empower every time we visit Durham. Blaine is the best trainer around and the rest of the team is amazing and extremely friendly. I’d highly recommend going

Fantastic experience: I chose this place on a whim and I am so glad I did. All the trainers in the gym were so sweet and encouraging, making sure they took the time to get to know you regardless of if you were their client. Cierra Dunston--my personal trainer--was perfect! She knew exactly how to build functional fitness while also helping you attain your personal goals. I was able to overcome a lot of my fears about heavy weights and push myself more than I ever thought I could. I highly recommend her as your personal trainer and this gym as your gym of choice!

Fantastic experience: I've been working out at Empower for 10 years now. It is a great environment with great trainers. I believe working out here has helped me become more successful with my business.

Fantastic experience: I have been going to Empower Fitness for a little over 3 months and i absolutely love it! The environment is friendly and full energy - you feel it the moment you walk in the door. I work with Cierra, whom I love. She is professional but personable. Cierra is always challenging me to work harder and is encouraging and consistent! I would highly recommend Empower Fitness and Cierra

Fantastic experience: Each week I marvel at how my trainer Telese comes up with workout combos that are strengthening and appropriate for my nearly 79-year-old body. Our sessions are short -- only 30 minutes over Zoom -- but she pays attention to all areas of my body and checks in with me regularly about whether I'm feeling any discomfort, then corrects my posture or technique or modifies the exercise to alleviate undue strain. Telese's tips stick with me throughout the week. I hear her voice in my head, reminding me to squat or tighten my core as I pick up items or make certain moves. I appreciate her attention to detail and her friendly, caring manner. It's great to have Telese in my corner, encouraging me to be my best physical self.

Fantastic experience: I am new to town and was looking for a new gym community. I’ve been working with Jay Foggs for about six months now and he’s amazing. He’s creative in his programming and has helped with some injuries. He’s also just an all around good human. These trainers aren’t 22 year olds with an online certificate. They have depth in their understanding of the body and injury rehabilitation and prevention. I cannot talk enough about the community. When I walk in (half asleep) all the trainers know my name and we spend time doing squats while laughing and taking about whatever. It’s the perfect start to my day and I feel stronger and leaner. I’m so grateful for Empower!

Fantastic experience: Telese has been working remotely with me for a few months and it’s been a great experience. She’s taken the time to get to know me and has created a very challenging, rigorous and beneficial workout program. She keeps an ear on my work schedule and my family, my eating habits and my ailments and is always supportive, encouraging and good counsel. I really enjoy our time together even though I can barely breathe when we’re done!

Fantastic experience: I’ve been a multi-year participant at Empower. Had several great years working with my buddy Nestor. When Nestor opted to move on I wondered about what was next. Jess took the time to understand my goals, needs, and (now at my age, something new) limitations. She paired me up with Marques. He’s been great! The transition was seamless. He’s prepared, creative, no-nonsense. A great addition to the team! I enthusiastically endorse him. This all serves to remind me of the 100% professional approach Empower takes to this business. And we get to benefit from it. It also reminds us of the challenge of change but, more importantly, the benefit of that change.

Fantastic experience: This place is life changing! I work long hours on my feet and I was starting to have back pain all the time. Since working out at Empower I have learned so much about how to use my body properly. Back pain is gone, feeling strong and yes definitely empowered! I work out with Brooke and she's been wonderful and so supportive. I highly recommend giving Empower a try!

Fantastic experience: I cannot recommend EMPOWER Personalized Fitness enough. All the trainers are fantastic and the facility is top notch. I have been training with Brooke for about two months and she has been able to help me gain strength as I recover from a tennis injury. So glad I am now with EMPOWER!!

Fantastic experience: Love this place, great equipment, trainers, and atmosphere. I have gotten so much stronger in my time at empower. I have been going to empower constantly for around a year now and it never gets old the feeling of walking out after a great workout.

Fantastic experience: I am 77 years old with back and balance problems. Would never have considered a personal trainer (PT) unless encouraged by a friend whose wife had similar problems. Blaine has bee excellent as a PT for going on three months now. My back pain is much improved, I am gaining, albeit slowly, core body strength which in turn will help with my balance. I never thought I could get back to golf but now the Spring looks much brighter for returning to the links. Dan

Fantastic experience: My on-line training with Telese is challenging and rewarding. Telese is an excellent trainer and fun to be with! I've been training with Telese at Empower Fitness for over a year. Telese is the most knowledgeable trainer I've ever worked with. She creates workouts that are varied, effective, and challenging. Transitioning to virtual sessions was easy, from setting up zoom to her creative and accessible suggestions for home equipment. The quality of my training hasn't suffered a bit as a result of meeting virtually. On top of her skills as a trainer, Telese is an extraordinary person and brings kindness, humor, and encouragement to every session.

Fantastic experience: I’ve been working out at Empower for about 3-4 months now. I’ve never felt stronger. Prior to this experience I imagined personal training as a trainer keeping me motivated and accountable. My experience has been so much more than that. I had several muscle injuries prior to working out here. My trainer has identified areas where I am weaker and focused on building strength. I’m already having less pain and attribute this to fixing muscle imbalances. She’s kept me interested and challenged by the variety of the work outs. Everyone at the gym is encouraging and supportive. I’ve started a meditation class at the gym which has already been wonderful. I can’t say enough good things about this experience. I would recommend this to anyone!

Fantastic experience: As a client since 2013, two times time a week for Strength and Conditioning, I can attest that Empower Personalized Fitness provides everything I want and need. My personal goals of remaining strong and active, and competitive in sports endeavors, has been well-supported over the years. Trainers, clients, and staff all provide a comfortable environment with a wide variety of abilities, ages and interests.

Fantastic experience: I have known Jessica for over 20 years and have worked out on and off with her during that time. Most recently, she is helping this new mama get leaner and stronger postpartum. Not only is she super knowledgeable about functional training, including in the PP period, but she is a joy to workout with. We have Zoom sessions twice a week and my 4 month old, Henry, is always part of it. We started baby wearing and doing exercises that he could handle in the carrier and have progressed to letting him chill and watch from his bouncer. Not only have I seen amazing gains in my strength and weight loss in this period, but Jessica has taught me how to balance caring for Henry with getting my workouts in. She is always patient, even on the fussy days, and I wouldn’t work out with anyone else!

Fantastic experience: After 15 years of refusing to work out, and a pandemic year (a daily consumption of a pint of Ben and Jerry's included) I realized that I should probably do something about my physical state. Honestly, I did not believe that anything would stick, but I decided to give it a try. In Empower i met Raham, my personal trainer, who was more optimistic than I was, and pushed me to start and to take it seriously. Raham does a tremendous job. He built me a training program that struck the fine line between constantly pushing me forward but not breaking my body or spirit in the process. We met regularly - three times a week - for half a year. It was not long before I felt the difference: my body feels better, i sleep better, I am more energetic, and I move completely differently. Raham kept encouraging me. Pushed me to do more and better while reminding me the improvement I made in the process. The gym itself is also top notch. Tons of different kinds of equipment that make life more interesting. The people are very friendly. I highly recommend Empower and Raham. Unfortunately I am moving out of town, otherwise I would have definitely stayed there.

Fantastic experience: I've been a runner for a number of years, and I also periodically have running associated injuries. I started having weekly group zoom sessions with Empower towards the start of the covid pandemic, so almost a year now. Its been great! We always have new exercises that feel very well balanced. I can tell when I run that my form has improved substantially. I feel strong when I run, I'm faster, and I haven't had an injury in quite a while! Plus, the zoom sessions are always lots of fun :). Highly recommend!

Fantastic experience: Positive: Communication , Professionalism , Quality I have been working with Brooke for about a month and I am so happy. I have always felt intimidated when going to the gym, but I have not felt that at all at Empower. Everyone is so nice and encouraging. The gym is very clean and spacious, which is a must during Covid-19.

Fantastic experience: Positive: Communication , Professionalism , Quality been going for over 5 years now, Iman is not only a good friend but a life coach at this point. she also helped me lose weight for my wedding in a way that was supremely supportive. she also tailors my work outs in a way that makes me feel totally good about myself while also challenging. empower is definitely a family!

Fantastic experience: Working with Empower was my first experience with personal training and it has been amazing. The gym has all the right things. The trainers are SUPER friendly. and the coordination around my schedule has been seemless. Highly recommend trying this place out. Group rates are also great. Trainer Telese is helping me get into the best shape of my life and I love it.

Fantastic experience: I have been going to this studio for 5 months and it has been one of the best decisions that I have ever made. Over that time, I have seen and felt the changes that the workouts have done to my body. Iman, my trainer, challenges me to get out of my exercise comfort zone so I can see what I'm capable of doing. Besides Iman, the other trainers are friendly and encouraging which just makes the experience so much better.

Fantastic experience: I’ve been working out with Brooke for all of 2021 and she’s been a great trainer, well prepared, and super easy to get along with! Everyone I’ve met at Empower Fitness has been so helpful and friendly. They have great Covid protocols to help people feel safe. Working 1:1 with Brooke and Empower Fitness has been a great way to keep me motivated to workout!

Fantastic experience: Empower makes me feel comfortable, encouraged, and stronger in life. I work with Chuck Cox and felt supported from day one by the way he listened to me & met me exactly where I was starting out. He consistently celebrates my progress, encourages me towards my goals, creates inspiring workouts, and makes me laugh along the way too. The atmosphere is very positive and friendly. So far it has been a fantastic experience, and I am already getting comments on my body tightening up too. I am very grateful and highly recommend Empower and Chuck!

Fantastic experience: I have been a client of Empower for 2.5 years. With a spotty fitness history, and a milestone birthday coming up in 2019, I KNEW I needed to be stronger in order to prevent injury and stay active during the second 50 years of my life. ;p My trainer met me right where I was--she accommodated modifications I needed, and yet pushed me, too. About eight months in, I was diagnosed with cancer and went through surgery, chemo, and radiation in 2020. My trainer was right beside me, checking in, and on days I felt up to it, we would do activities to maintain core strength and stretches to increase range-of-motion that had been impacted by my treatments. My regular workouts were *key* to feeling like my body was my own again. The whole team at Empower showed so much care and support. I never knew I would feel this way about my "fitness family." Highly recommended, no matter where you are on your fitness journey.

Fantastic experience: I love the flexibility of working out from home but with the attention and care of a personal trainer. My husband, daughter and myself all work out with Chuck Cox. We each have different fitness goals - my daughter is training as a college athlete, my husband and I both want to be stronger and have different areas we want to improve (I'm a runner so strength and flexibility are key). Chuck is able to personalize each of our fitness plans to help us reach our goals.

Fantastic experience: I joined empower three years ago after my total knee replacement. I had also had other physical issues surrounding my breast cancer treatment and recovery process. My trainer, Blaine Warren helped return me to a physical status I doubted I’d ever be able to achieve again. I continue to see him twice a week and am amazed by the professional and friendliness of all the staff . They have a very strong and loyal following of clients ,who like myself , continue to refer friends . Maureen

Fantastic experience: Positive: Communication , Professionalism , Quality My personal trainer is Jay and he's AMAZING!!!!!!!! He works with me to make sure I'm seeing the results that I want. He also gives me the motivation I need while making the workout enjoyable. Highly recommend checking this gym out.

Fantastic experience: I've been working with one of the trainers from Empower, Telese, for a couple years now, and she has been absolutely wonderful. She provides great, interesting workouts and really knows how to adjust sessions as needed (I've had a few injuries that she's helped me through). For a long time I had personal training sessions with Telese, then when COVID hit, my partner and I started to work out with her over zoom. She still provides workouts that are challenging for both of us, even though we don't have much official equipment at home and have very different strength levels. I can't recommend her or the family at Empower enough!

Fantastic experience: I’ve been working out with Amanda at Empower for a few years now, and it’s been a life-changer. I used to think about exercise with dread, but because of Empower, I no longer have that mindset. Amanda makes training FUN and every session is different. She challenges you to go beyond what you thought you were capable of and encourages you all along the way. I was able to complete my first 5k because of her and fellow superstar trainer, Nestor. Everyone at Empower is caring, generous, and always has your best interests in mind. You too can become empowered at Empower!

Fantastic experience: Blaine is an engaging, knowledgeable, and inspirational personal trainer. He varies my workout regimens and is great at creating personal fitness plans built on my strengths as well as my limitations- he is empathic and professional. I love the peaceful but fun atmosphere of the gym and feel welcomed every time I step in the door. I highly recommend Empower, all their trainers, and especially Blaine as true gems in our community.

Fantastic experience: I've been working with Blaine for over five years. He always takes the time to individualize my workouts to my specific interests, weaknesses, and strengths, while also forming a personal connection with all of his clients. He's made sure that the transition to virtual sessions was smooth, and he does a great job planning engaging and challenging workout with only the equipment I have at home. I would highly recommend Empower and Blaine!

Fantastic experience: Empower is the premiere personal training studio. I moved from NC to DC 5 years ago, and the Empower community was something I desperately missed as someone who spent several days per work working out in the studio for both personal training and group fitness classes. But now, with COVID-19, I’m back engaged with the Empower studio, and it’s better than ever! I’m working out with a trainer weekly via Zoom, and I’m taking the recorded fitness classes posted on Facebook. The Empower team of trained professionals create customized workouts for your fitness level, injuries or issues and home equipment. I’m thrilled with how creative my trainer has been, considering my limited equipment and limited mobility due to injuries. I’m getting great workouts and feeling like part of the Empower community again. Empower is awesome!

Fantastic experience: I’ve been training at Empower for two years with Iman twice weekly and have thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Having a personal trainer has helped me keep consistently active, increased my overall muscle tone and endurance. My workouts are circuits tailored to my goals and change every session — consistently working out different parts of my body without overworking any muscle group. During quarantine, Iman easily pivoted to training via video call, using what I had at home and lots of body weight exercises. She is so much fun to work out with, a combination of serious and fun. I would highly recommend Empower — they are very professional, it is very convenient to schedule (all online), you get text reminders of your session, and all the trainers are exceedingly positive! Thanks for the great experience!

Fantastic experience: Absolutely solid people, spirit and tremendous help with setting/working to personal goals for anybody. You don't have to be a gifted young athlete; you can just be yourself. When COVID set in, switching to Zoom sessions was no problem. I'm no great athlete but have the lofty goals (for me) of just wanting to walk/stand without pain since severe back and other problems set in. I deal with Chuck and he's great, always interested, encouraging, on-time and he's helped remarkably at increasing my flexibility, mobility and regaining strength, while working along with my physical therapist. "You need a personal trainer", my doctor said. I found Chuck, the folks at Empower .... and I'm so glad. The whole concept of personal trainer was foreign to me, but not any more. Empower and its people are a class act.

Fantastic experience: I've been working with Jess since I was cleared to exercise after giving birth. She has been amazing to work with! Jess has a wealth of knowledge about exercise physiology and the female body in particular. She tailored my workouts to fit my lifestyle and postpartum limitations as well as goals. She also gave me an at home program that I could do while on maternity leave since it's tough to make it to the gym with a baby at home. I really enjoy her as a person and as a trainer, and would highly recommend working with Jess or anyone on her staff for personal training.

Fantastic experience: I have been connected with Empower since 2005 as a trainer & instructor for them. I was immediately drawn to the owners Jessica & Ronda because they were breaking new ground with their business model and their standards for hiring were very high in an industry where anyone can be a trainer, they know how to select the best in the industry. I wanted to be a part of that and was so proud to tell everyone where I worked as a trainer/instructor. Fast forward, I have reached a point in my life where I need PT myself. I am the kind of person who needs to have an appointment to maintain consistency and reach goals. There is no shame in that, I love the trainer and client relationship and I should have hired them back when I was a trainer so I could understand the value and how life changing it truly is to have a coach invest in my health. I would urge anyone that has struggled with consistency to contact Empower and get started by doing 3 - 4 30 min sessions a week. I am amazed at how even during Covid our Zoom sessions are so fun and really push me! I train with Telese & Chuck and LOVE LOVE LOVE them. Telese is very focused and creative with her training programs. She is very keen on customization as she even had added movements to help the mobility of my left foot since it no longer moves like my right because of an injury. Her approach is therapeutic but never lacks in intensity. She is a vegan, and never pushed it on me, although I wish she had, Lol. I went vegan on my own after training with her for over a year. She is so inspiring and really knows her stuff, I feel fortunate to have been paired with her! Chuck is full of surprises as a human and a trainer. I feel like he is the male version of myself, and being able to get to know him in the last 6.5 months has been good for my soul. His athletic background as an elite swimmer & going to the Olympic trials is truly impressive. His ability to change a program on the fly because I express my issues before we begin is so appreciated. Chuck knows how to build a program that meets me where I am and push me to places I didn't know I had in me that day. His warmth and relaxed vibes are like working with your best friend that only wants the best for you. I am always excited to see him even if it is on Zoom. He is a huge blessing in my life.

Fantastic experience: I have been a client of Amanda's at Empower for over a year now, and couldn't be happier with my decision to do this for myself! Amanda prepares a fun and personalized workout for me each week that has really helped to build my strength and keeps me motivated to do more workouts on my own throughout the week! The Empower facility is well-stocked with equipment! Highly recommend Empower and Amanda!

Fantastic experience: After searching for a studio and trainer in Durham for over 3 years, I finally found the perfect fit! Working with Telese at Empower has been wonderful. She is always attentive to what I need and I started seeing the results I was looking for right away. Telese is also incredibly motivating (sometimes it is hard to get yourself to workout!) and it also helps that everyone who works at Empower is very friendly and the studio is pristine! Thank you!

Fantastic experience: I’ve worked with Telese for personal training for over 6 months. She has a very thorough understanding of body mechanics and physiology. She has stayed focused on my personal goals, worked around all the injuries and limitations of my over-50 body and insured I continue to make progress. I feel much more energized, flexible, strong and resilient as s result of working with her. She is always well prepared with a workout personalized to my goals and limitations. She provides a lot of variety in workouts which is good for the body and also keeps me from getting bored. She’s also got an easy-going manner and sense of humor that adds to the pleasure of working with her. I highly recommend.

Fantastic experience: I have been going to Empower for 3 months. My trainer Amanda Fontaine is amazing. She listens well and pays great attention to posture and injury prevention while working with you towards your goals. In this short time I have seen very measurable, certain progress towards my goals, and others have noticed it too. I am very glad with my decision to join. All the trainers seem very friendly and the environment is no pressure, with people of all ages, and fitness levels. My husband has started working with Amanda as well.

Fantastic experience: My experience teaching group fitness at Empower has been nothing but awesome. I look forward to interacting with all of my clients - they are welcoming to others, fun, hardworking and clearly love to work out as much as I do! Every class has been a great experience and I invite others to come check us out!

Fantastic experience: I love everything about Empower! The staff is awesome and super friendly. They focus on your fitness needs, while also getting to know you on a personal level. They dedicate time to plan personalized workouts that are challenging, goal-oriented, and fun! The group fitness classes are also a great workout!

Fantastic experience: I have been a personal trainer at Empower Personalized Fitness since January 2014. In that time I have had the opportunity to work with clients from a variety of backgrounds with a broad range of abilities, fitness levels, and health/fitness goals. The training staff is very professional and is always looking to get better. It is a great team with which to work. The clients are great and the studio has a positive energy and culture.