I was a very active gardener for about 55 years, then had to move to Raleigh nearly 6 years ago to a lifecare retirement community. I went to the twice weekly group exercise for a couple of years, walked 2 miles/day with a friend for a time. I quit walking when my friend moved and quit exercise class when my sister became ill. After about a year of inactivity, a good friend suggested a personal trainer, and Corey entered my life. At first I was skeptical, but Corey’s professionalism, dedication, expertise, and encouragement proved me wrong. He had me identify my goals: ability to rise from a chair without using my hands, better posture, better balance, and overall strength improvement. I loathe exercise and am below beginner level, have bad knees, stiff hips, limp muscles, and arthritis everywhere. Corey modified standard routines and created new ones to fit my limitations. Whether you’re a physical wreck (such as I), old (I’m 89), in good shape but need tweaking, need help with injury recovery, or any other reason, you need Corey. He learns what you are capable of, pushes you to your limit, and is ever alert to the possibility of injury. We have been training for about 10 months, and I feel that I have improved. I don’t like the work, but I do like seeing Corey 3 times a week. He is upbeat, cheerful, funny, disciplined, caring, kind, and an expert in his field. He even tolerates a minor amount of whining. He is an inspiration and a new friend.

Corey is an outstanding trainer, and working with him was one of the best decisions I’ve made for my long-term health. As a physician, I know how essential muscle mass and strength become in our 30s, 40s, and beyond—for metabolic health, injury prevention, and longevity. When I decided to take strength training seriously, Corey was my very first trainer, and he was exactly the guide I needed. From day one, he taught me the fundamentals of weightlifting with a focus on technique, safety, and sustainable strength building. My biggest concern was avoiding injury, and I always felt completely safe with him—his understanding of biomechanics and movement is exceptional. Anytime I felt something “off” or uncomfortable, Corey immediately identified what was happening and optimized my technique to eliminate the discomfort. He was endlessly patient—especially as I struggled to even find my left latissimus. He taught me how to build a true mind–muscle connection, how to recruit the correct muscles and fibers, and how to breathe properly through each lift. The progress I made with Corey was rapid, noticeable, and life-changing. He helped lay the foundation for a strength and health journey that I’m still on today, and I am deeply grateful. If I still lived in North Carolina, I would absolutely be training at Fitspire. If you’re looking for a trainer who prioritizes strength, longevity, proper mechanics, and safety, Corey is the coach you want in your corner. He is truly the best.

When I moved to Raleigh just over a year ago both my fitness and balance left something to be desired. I was fortunate indeed to find Corey Nielsen as my personal trainer. Working out with him has always been a pleasure and has provided a steady, continuing boost to my wellbeing. He swiftly identified my strengths and weaknesses and adapted a wide range of exercises to fit my complex needs and abilities. I have never worked out with a better personal trainer. I recommend Corey wholeheartedly.

As a middle-aged, professional woman with a busy job and an even busier teenager, my physical fitness and health became less of a priority than I would have liked. Add in a recent hip injury and surgery, plus a new shoulder injury and upcoming surgery, and I had gained weight and lost muscle. Personal training is not cheap, but my husband and I felt this was an investment in me and my future. It’s not that I couldn’t do it on my own, it’s more that I just knew I wouldn’t. Plus, I needed to be careful with my shoulder pre-surgery, and extra careful post-surgery. I needed a true professional; someone who understood anatomy and injuries and wouldn’t either over or under do it. I also needed someone who would make weight lifting FUN! Enter Corey. He checks all the boxes for what I wanted as well as what I needed. Pre-shoulder surgery, he helped get my shoulder strong (the surgeon was happy and impressed!). Post-surgery (after physical therapy), Corey was careful about what we did and how. He is truly knowledgeable, and while I THOUGHT I knew how to strength train correctly, he really focused on form and I learned a ton. I also learned I could safely push myself more than I thought I could. And I had so much fun with Corey during each session! Beyond all of that, Corey also understands a woman’s body is different than a man’s. He understands how things like hormone changes can impact a woman and how aging affects those hormones. If you’re in need of an excellent personal trainer, give Fitspire and Corey a try! If you’re on the fence, jump off and call Fitspire! And while this review is written by a woman, I have no doubt Corey would be a phenomenal trainer for any gender.

I’ve worked with Corey for over a year and can’t say enough good things! He’s smart, fun and makes everything easy to understand. I started out with lots of knee pain, having not worked out in years and now I enjoy going to the gym and am back playing tennis.

Corey was my personal trainer for about a year and a half and I can't say enough good things about him. I've had a previous neck injury along with hip issues and Corey always listened when a movement or exercise did not feel right. Corey created a program that was safe for me while pushing me in the process. My overall goals were to gain strength and stay injury free which Corey helped me do! His sense of humor and supportive demeanor made our tough workouts so much more enjoyable. Our sessions were some of the highlights of my week! I would recommend Corey as a trainer to anyone. He will meet you wherever you are in your fitness journey and help you reach your goals.