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• About Us

Donna Brooks
Owner / Managing Director

Donna Brooks, sole proprietor of High Level Fitness, has over a dozen years
of experience as a personal strength trainer. Initially, Brooks was a client at
Maxercise Sports Fitness, long Philadelphia’s most innovative personal
training facility. As she saw how even a limited time devoted to fitness can
greatly enhance every area of ones life, Donna studied to become a personal trainer
herself, and was among the first group of trainers to receive certification from Super
Slow® founder, Ken Hutchins.

In time, Brooks left Philadelphia, moved to the Main Line with her husband Eric, beginning a family, and cultivating roots in the community. But after having two children, she found that she could not leave fitness. She co-established High Level Fitness in 2004.

High Level Fitness continues to grow and re-invent itself, expanding to include a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu program in which Brooks herself is a student, and a number of new training modalities and protocols. Brooks’ on-site guidance and management insures that High Level Fitness maintains her own personal standard of service, and stays true to her vision of fitness and it’s contribution to life.

Kelly McCauley
Assistant Director

As Assistant Director at High Level Fitness, Kelly is responsible for the
management of client relationships. Kelly began training at HLF in 2004 and
started working there six months later. She focuses on the development of
both the personal training and Jiu-Jitsu programs. Kelly has also helped instruct
several of HLF's women's self-defense classes. Kelly is married with three children:
her husband is also a client of HLF and her oldest son is a three year Jiu-Jitsu student.
Kelly's commitment to HLF is rooted in her personal success as a client of HLF's
training methods and as a student of Jiu-Jitsu.

Michael Vasiliades
Senior Personal Trainer

Residing in Willistown Township for the past 14 years, Michael Vasiliades
graduated with a BS in Finance and an MBA in Marketing from
Drexel University. Growing up in the restaurant business, Vasiliades went on to
own and operate two restaurants through the years 1989 through 2004.
In being his own boss the better part of 15 years, he learned many lessons but,
advises the most valuable to date is “you get out of life what you put into it.”

Vasiliades’s days in the restaurant business came to an end due to what he phrases a life-changing experience. Both an inspiration and influence, his cousin Tom was diagnosed with cancer several years ago. Although his cousin beat the cancer and remains in remission to this day, Vasiliades says it taught him one very simply lesson…life is short. “Before my cousin’s diagnosis,” he adds, “I was working 100 hours a week and had little time for play.” For this reason, he says, “I am no longer in the business.”

Vasiliades’s hobbies include running, biking, soccer, karate and Jiu-Jitsu. In fact, he has attained an “A” license from the National Soccer Coaches Athletic Association (NSCAA) - youngest ever at the time - allowing him to coach soccer at the Division I College Level. In addition, he is a 3rd degree black belt in American Kenpo Karate under the instruction of 9th degree black belt Dennis Nackord, and trained, competed and completed his first sprint triathlon in 2004.

Also inspirations and strong role models for Vasiliades are his parents. “They’ve been guiding me since the day I was born,” Michael smiles. “My success is a direct result of their philosophy of life to be the best person I can be and to lead by example.” Married for 14 years to his wife Kristin, Michael is ready to pass that valuable philosophy on to his two recently adopted children.

As a result, Vasiliades’s future aspiration is to be the best person and personal trainer he can be and to ... eventually have his own martial arts school. “After being in the restaurant business for most of my life, I felt I needed a change and wanted to do something I really enjoyed - something that helped people better... themselves.” Vasiliades came to the realization that he not only enjoys weight training, running, biking and participating in martial arts himself, but enjoys educating and helping friends and family members train as well. “From there,” he says, “I found my way to High Level Fitness… and the rest is history.”

Carol Katin
Personal Trainer

Carol Katin joined the High Level Fitness team as a personal trainer
in May of 2006, bringing over 13 years of knowledge and experience in personal
training and group, youth, and senior fitness. Holding certifications from the
Aerobics and Fitness Association of America and The American Council on
Exercise, Carol is also an instructor of Pilates and a specialist in post-rehabilitation
and senior fitness.

Carol's passion for fitness was ignited earlier on in life in her search to find activities other than the typical organized sports." I was never good at team sports," Carol recalls, "so I began searching and found other ways to be and stay active in the form of running, lifting weights, and group fitness classes."

Carol was eventually able to turn her experience and love of fitness into a career, becoming the Director of the Jewish Community Center group fitness program - creating many fitness programs including those designed specifically for children. Carol has also worked with the senior post-rehabilitation program at Kessler Rehabilitation and has taught senior fitness classes in many local senior centers; applying her experience in the rehabilitation of stroke and Parkinson's patients.

After working closely with Donna and studying HLF's training methods, Carol adapted her own training regime to great success. "I've seen significant results," says carol "Not only have I reduced the amount of cardio I do, but my shoulder and knee no longer bother me."In addition, Carol adds, "I am stronger and have more energy to enjoy all the aspects of my life."

Carol grew up and currently lives in Delaware County, residing in Havertown with her two children. "Joining the team at High Level Fitness has given me an even greater opportunity to enhance the quality of people's lives through physical fitness" states Carol. "I feel very lucky to be able to make a living doing what I love and enjoy most."

Gary Berenbroick
Personal Trainer/ Kettlebell Instructor

A resident of Ardmore, Gary attended Bergen Catholic High
School, Oradell ,NJ. Gary was introduced to Kettlebells in 2004 by a close
friend at a time when he was "smoking two-and-a-half packs of cigarettes
a day and could barely walk up a flight of stairs without losing my breath,
" he recalls. He took an instant liking to the unique system -of-training and hasn't looked back.
"I instantly fell in love with it and bought my own 16kg bells," he says. "Shortly
thereafter I quit smoking for good. "That was almost three years ago.

Gary went on to complete the Level I RKC certification and advises " because of my size, I've had to rely on technique to build strength so I am proficient at these exercises" and believes RKC certification was instrumental in teaching him how to pass that proficiency on to others.

As well as being HLF's group kettlebell instructor, Gary is also a personal trainer. He enjoys incorporating kettlebells into many of his client’s workouts. He plans on attending the Level II RKC certification in the future and would like to look further into the Z Health System attending future certification courses. "These certifications are important to me because I am sincerely grateful for what this exercise system has done for my life." says Gary. "I want to be able to help other people achieve their goals... I'm thrilled High Level Fitness has given me a venue to do this."

Anita Kraus, NCTMB, PDMT
Massage Therapist/Personal Trainer

Anita has worked as a personal trainer for the last ten years in the Main Line area.
In 2003, Anita became a Nationally Certified Massage Therapist graduating from the
Pennsylvania School of Muscle Therapy. Since that time she has worked in fitness centers,
spas and in her own practice. Anita found her true calling to Massage Therapy & Bodywork
after sustaining an injury and finding relief only from massage therapy. As a certified
Primmer® Deep Muscle Therapist, Anita has helped many clients find their own relief from
pain and other muscle related trauma.

Anita is excited to bring her massage practice to High Level Fitness; helping clients
regain and maintain health and well-being through Therapeutic Massage,
Corrective Bodywork and personal training.

Gina Birch
Mind/Body Instructor
Power Yoga ~ Vinyasa ~ Pilate’s Mat ~ Yoga Core

Gina has been a student of Power Yoga, Vinyasa and Pilates for over 7 years. She is certified in yoga and Pilate’s mat through the American Fitness Professionals Association and is currently completing 200 hours for Baptiste certification. She plans to continue her training reaching the 500 hr certification with Beryl Birch.

Gina began her study of Zen and Vajrayana training of the mind in 1994 with Lama Lobsang Samten, and enjoys bringing the practice of Universal spiritual laws of mindful living into her classes. Although most of Gina’s adult career was in the fine arts and graphic design field, her most important career is being a full time mom.