Rhonda Nicholson

BeFitLifestyle's fearless leader Rhonda trains, manages, operates and encourages everyone with an unbelievable amount of energy and enthusiasm. Her love of fitness and health is obvious in everything she does. Rhonda realized her desire to help others reach "untouchable" fitness goals as she coached a team of Accenture co-workers through their first ever half marathon. After 3 years with Accenture, Rhonda moved to San Diego in 2001 as an American Council on Exercise (ACE) Personal Trainer with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. Rhonda's knowledge and experience, combined with her endless support and encouragement, continues to empower people to change their lives! Rhonda believes, "Everyone has a spark inside them - I love to help light that spark and keep it burning with satisfaction and achievement." With that motto Rhonda opened the doors to BeFitLifestyle; she and her amazing staff have given hundreds of San Diegans the opportunity to find "their spark."

Karyn Tammaro

Karyn grew up in Ocean City, NJ where she played tennis, basketball and softball. In college she hit the weights hard and took to track and field events such as the hammer throw and her all time favorite, the javelin. Karyn has been with BeFitLifestyle since the doors opened in early 2004, bringing with her over 10 years of experience in the fitness industry. Karyn shares her "east coast" dedication to fitness with hard-working BeFitLifestyle clients of all ages ad abilities; whether it's empowering an elderly person to improve their strength to live independently or help a young, thriving athlete get to the top of their game. Above all, Karyn is a teacher. As an experienced ACE Personal Trainer and NSAM Sports Nutritionist, she educates her clients to make better choices so they can get the most of out of life!

Jen McAlpine

Jen grew up in Massachusetts and has been athletic since her youth, involved in tennis and track. She went to college in North Carolina where she studied chemistry and began to develop her endurance running skills by participating in local races. She pursued a PhD in biochemistry and moved to San Diego in 2001 to work as a research scientist at Pfizer. She found the beautiful San Diego weather to be quite conducive to her love of outdoor activities. She continued to train for marathons which eventually transitioned to triathlons. Jen completed her first Half Ironman triathlon last fall. Her interest in fitness prompted her to complete UCSD’s certification program in exercise science, along with becoming an ACE and ACSM certified personal trainer. She recently hung up her lab coat to pursue her passion for helping people reach their fitness goals. Jen enjoys sharing her love for sport and health with others, and is committed to motivate, educate and provide challenging and fun workouts for her clients.

Michael Banta

Originally born and raised in Southern California, Michael Banta had made his home in New Orleans, Louisiana for the past 14 years. However, come late summer 2005, Hurricane Katrina disrupted his and the lives countless others. Relocating back to his roots, San Diego has gained a valuable resource in the health and fitness industry.

Earning a degree in Exercise Science from the University of New Orleans, Michael brings with him a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm. Adding to his diversity, he also carries experience being a teacher of wellness for two years at a community college and a few hundred hours volunteering in a cardiac rehabilitation center and a physical therapy clinic.

Certified Personal Trainer by the American council on Exercise (ACE), Michael's education and expertise, coupled with his eagerness to share his passion and knowledge with others, has molded the fun and motivational trainer that he is today.

Michael's training methodology is focused on the individual and the promotion of exercise as a lifestyle, not a hobby. He believes a healthy body is achieved via a balance of mind, body, and spirit. Working with individuals and their own personal pursuit of wellness, he focuses on exercise, nutrition, commitment, and fun!

Rosanna Delurgio

Rosanna was born and raised in Santa Cruz where her love for swimming and being outdoors began. A competitive swimmer for over 13 years, Rosanna came to San Diego to swim for the UCSD Tritons where she earned a BA in Human Development. In her junior year she qualified for Olympic Trials in 2004 for the 100m breaststroke.

She took on the role of assistant swim coach at UCSD, but recently put her coaching career on hold to further pursue her own swimming career. She is currently training for the 2008 Olympic Trials. It is this lifelong passion for swimming and fitness that lead her to the fitness industry. It is her goal to make a long lasting impact in the lives of others by helping them to improve their quality of life by helping them to reach their health and fitness goals as efficiently and enjoyably as possible. She is a NSCA- Certified Personal Trainer and has been a personal trainer for over 2 1/2 years. Rosanna's training style focuses on creating a challenging, balanced, and functional fitness program for her client's specific strengths, weaknesses, and overall health.

Buffy Owens

For as long as Buffy can remember, she has been fascinated by the body-mind connection. Her commitment to the study of and care for the human being dates back nearly 15 years, when she first began her studies as a massage therapist. As she studied the anatomy and physiology of the human body, she simultaneously began to explore the spirit that moves the form.

She was introduced to Iyengar yoga, Bioenergetics, Rolfing and Feldenkrais and eventually traded in her massage table for more academic pursuits - graduating from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a degree in Kinesiology and a minor in Psychology. Honoring her academics, she became a Certified Personal Trainer through NASM with additional training in Prenatal Fitness. Honoring her practice, she became a Certified Yoga Instructor. And honoring her passion she became a Life Coach and continues to study Feldenkrais with Elizabeth Beringer.

Today her personal training sessions are mindful, challenging and inspiring. She playfully merges NASM's Optimum Performance Training (OPT) model with somatic movement, Pilates and Yoga to create an integrative style that ignites personal transformation.

As a fitness coach, somatic movement explorer and conscious creator, Buffy inspires her clients to success, fulfillment and to creating the life they have always dreamed of.

Robin Scher

Born and raised in New York City, Robin was always overweight, professing to have been on every diet in creation. At 21, she moved to progressive San Francisco and instead of concentrating on "weight and dieting", she focused on "health and fitness". With this new philosophy, eventually, Robin shed the pounds and has successfully maintained her healthy weight for 20 years!

Robin earned her B.A. in psychology and her M.S. in counseling at SF State University. She continued her studies to become licensed as a Marriage & Family Therapist. Over the past several years, Robin lead support groups for Kaiser Permanente where she worked closely with individuals who struggled with the issues of eating, food and weight. Robin recently relocated to San Diego, where she continues her efforts to connect and support people who struggle to take control of their lives. Her support groups focus on education and problem solving, leading to alterations in behavior and attitude - which often results in liberation and lifelong change!

Teaming up BeFitLifestyle, she will offer a casual "support group" element to the 2008 8 Week Challenge - you don't want to miss it!!

Brooke Joanna Benlifer

Brooke Joanna Benlifer, RD is a Registered Dietitian. A Cornell University graduate, she joined BeFitLifestyle's team of professionals in early 2006. Brooke also works at Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla, California and maintains a private consulting practice. Her enthusiasm for health and fitness, combined with her expertise in weight management, corporate wellness, post partum nutrition, diabetic and cardiac health and sports nutrition, Brooke will help you meet your healthy lifestyle goals!

Jack

Jack has been an integral part of BeFitLifestyle since our doors opened in January, 2004. He was only 6 months old, yet excitedly took to his expected roles of "welcoming committee" and "run group leader". He can be seen peeking though the studio door window (excitedly shaking) or perhaps more often running around the studio playing with his purple rope or ball. His bark can be a bit startling to passersby, but as a client of BeFitLifestyle, you'll soon learn he's a loving member of our BFL "family."