Sheila Rohal talks about her success losing weight and healing her back pain with the personal trainers at Fitness Together Brecksville

Fitness Together Brecksville personal training client Sheila Rohal (Broadview Heights resident) talks about her success.  

As seen in Mimi Vanderhaven


A  litany of back conditions was exacerbated when Sheila Rohal, a resident of Broadview Heights, took a mid-winter tumble on her snowy driveway in 2010. The medical diagnosis was scoliosis, degenerative disc disease, sciatica, herniated discs, and anterolisthesis. In layman’s terms, her spine was twisted, bulging, deteriorating, and out of alignment, all of which caused her extreme pain.

“The first thing the doctors offered was to prescribe pain medication,” she recalls. “then they wanted to jump into surgery, neither of which I wanted to do.”

Another doctor recommended that intense physical therapy might slow the progression of the deterioration, so she began working with a therapist in Brecksville. “To continue improving my core strength, I started training at Fitness Together in Brecksville with Justin Traft,” she says. “He was patient and super motivating in planning my program. All the movements were based on what I could and could not do. I’ve been training with him since 2010 and wouldn’t miss a session. The exercises he takes me through have slowed the spinal deterioration thanks to building a strong and supportive core. And, I don’t take so much as an Advil.”

Another nice benefit of her training at FT is that, gradually, over the past few years, Sheila has shed 30 pounds from her petite frame. “Without necessarily dieting, I’ve been able to get back into my skinny jeans and am in the best shape of my life,” she says. “The trainers work around my busy schedule to make sure I can get in three times a week, which is nice.”

Fitness Together owner and personal trainer Sean Sullivan says that Sheila’s across-the-board improvement in muscle tone and core strength is pretty much the norm at his fitness studio, and so is the length of time clients faithfully stay with their prescribed programs. “It’s all about accountability and results,” he says. “Once people see the big difference muscle-group-specific, one-on-one training makes in their lives, they enjoy sticking with us.”

In addition to Sean and Justin, the other nationally certified trainers at the studio are Jessie Regula, Steven Madden, Lisa Clark, Adam Teplitz, Joshua Teplitz, Kelly Bailey, and Monika Cotter. Each of the private training suites is outfitted with the latest equipment, from cardio machines to TRX suspension bands, medicine and stability balls, and weights geared to both individual and small group “pack” sessions. “We offer an elite level of training, but with personable customer service,” says Sean. “No matter who you train with, everybody knows your name here. And clients are greeted at the door each visit with a towel and water bottle.”

Always Adding Amenities 
Sean reports the studio recently underwent a mini-renovation, adding a shower so clients can leave the studio and go back to work (or play) following their workouts. “We also laid a new rubberized flooring that’s better suited to what we do here,” he mentions. “Whenever a client makes a suggestion, we listen and try to act on it. Our client-centered philosophy has us constantly looking for ways to make their workout experience better.”

He also says that once someone starts training at Fitness Together, usually that person’s spouse and/or children start training, too. “Great results are a big motivator,” he says. “Once people start seeing their fitness levels turn around, that makes them role models to others in their families.” Sean notes that they also train children, as well as area high school and college athletes to help them perform at their peak.

Fitness Together is located at 8521 Chippewa Road in the back of the Heinen’s Plaza in Brecksville. Hours are Monday through Friday, 5:00 a.m.-9:30 p.m.; Saturday, 6:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.; and closed on Sunday. For more information, call 440-5504862, or visit the website at FitnessTogether. com/Brecksville.

Conquering Crohn's Disease with Fitness! Fitness Together Brecksville client Mike Berlin talks about his success

Mike Berlin, Brecksville Resident

Article as seen in Mimi Vanderhaven
Published: 11/12/2014
by Patricia Nugent

For the more than 700,000 Americans suffering from Crohn’s disease, each day provides a set of challenges regarding chronic symptoms of abdominal cramping, irregularity, weight loss, and fatigue.
In Mike Berlin’s case, his symptoms had become progressively worse over a 20-year period, which ultimately lead to a nine-hour surgery in 2011 to remove half of his intestines and to fix other related issues. Mike had three abdominal surgeries spread out over a year-and-a-half, he spent over six weeks in the hospital, and he spent numerous months recovering at home in an adjustable bed.

“Needless to say, all of these surgeries had their affects on my abdominal, and overall, strength and conditioning,” The 45-year-old Brecksville resident says. “I wanted to get back into shape and a neighbor of mine had achieved success with the trainers at Fitness Together, so I gave it a shot.”

Mike started couple’s training with his wife, Fabi. The trainers’ workouts included core training for both of them. After a year, Mike reports he is in better shape than when he was in his 20s. “I am capable of doing things that I never thought possible, like the push-ups that I am doing for this photo shoot along with planks,” he says. “I have even managed to add all of the distance back to my golf game.”*



“Today, I am living with Crohn’s without taking any medication, which is pretty unusual,*” he says. “I credit the exercise regimen at Fitness Together, the taking of probiotics, and having a positive attitude. I look forward to my weekly workouts with the team at Fitness Together.”*

Sean Sullivan, owner of Fitness Together, says that Mike’s across-the-board improvement in endurance, muscle tone, and core strength is pretty much the norm at his fitness studio,* and so is the length of time clients faithfully stay with their prescribed programs.

“It’s all about accountability and results,” he says. “Once people see the difference customized training makes in their lives, they enjoy sticking with us.”

In addition to Sean, the other nationally certified trainers at the studio are Lisa Clark, Taynee Pearson, Monika Cotter, Steven Madden, Bronson Rotaru, and Adam Teplitz. Each of the private training suites is outfitted with the latest equipment, from cardio machines to TRX suspension bands, medicine and stability balls, and weights geared to both individual and small-group “pack” sessions.

“We offer an elite level of training, but with down-to-earth customer service,” says Sean. “No matter who you train with, everybody knows your name here. And clients are greeted at the door each visit with a towel and water bottle.”

In addition to exercise, Fitness Together also provides the Nutrition Together counseling program to encourage people to eat smarter and avoid unhealthy behaviors.

Sean says his clientele is evenly split down the middle in terms of gender, with all ages of the spectrum represented. But he does confess to having a favorite client…his 56-year-old mom, who is in remarkable shape.