COME WORK OUT WITH US!

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We are a group of fun, energetic, like-minded health and fitness professionals with one goal – to get you moving and begging for more! We love spreading the Slow Resistance Training movement in the Philippines!

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Our Instructors go through 200+ hours of training, practice classes, and community classes before becoming an Elev8 Instructor.

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Our Instructors have been collectively teaching for over 26 years! They participate in advanced training every year to ensure you are always offered the safest and most advanced workout!

MEET OUR TEAM!

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Janie Buelow

Elev8 Founder, Co-Owner, & Lead Instructor

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Janie turned to Slow Resistance Training when she wasn’t getting the results she wanted from her marathon training. She began taking classes in Los Angeles and realized she found her true fitness love. She began teaching in San Francisco with the goal to open her own studio someday.

She has excelled as an instructor, training all over the world and teaching globally in countries such as the United States, Australia, Lebanon, and Brunei. Janie is certified in Slow Resistance Training (SRT), Advance SRT, Lagree Fitness™, Schwinn Cycling™, Aquaspin™, and American Council on Exercise (ACE) Personal Training and Fitness Nutrition Specialist. She couples her positive, infectious energy with a mentality of if it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you. Get ready to step out of your comfort zone!

Schedule

  • BGC
    • Thursday: Full Body (6:30am, 4pm)
    • Saturday: Full Body (8am)
  • Podium
    • Sunday: Pre-Natal (8am)

 

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Mel Torre

Lead Instructor

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Mel is a true fitness success story. After a family member fell ill, her and her family shifted their lifestyles and began focusing on their health. She swapped out fried foods for fitness, lost 80 pounds, and pursued a career in the health and wellness industry.

She fell head-over-grip-socks in love with Elev8 when she discovered how intense it was and how it’s modifiable for people of all fitness levels. She also teaches barre3 and Yoga. Mel is certified in Slow Resistance Training (SRT), Advance SRT, Lagree FitnessTM.

In her spare time, Mel loves to run, bike long distance and sing in the rain. She is the alto of Baihana – an awesome jazz vocal trio – and is one of the vocalists of the Blue Rats, the country’s longest-running blues band.

Come experience Mel’s energy and heart for fitness!

Schedule

  • BGC
    • Monday: Pre-Natal (8am) and Full Body (9am, 10am, 11am)
  • Podium
    • Wednesday: Full Body (9am)

 

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Mel Siytan

Lead Instructor

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Growing up, Mel was always active in sports, including swimming, tennis, and squash, but it was yoga that she really fell in love with. In 2009, after three years of consistent practice, she decided to complete the Bikram yoga training. In 2014, she did training in power yoga with Bryan Kest. As her practice deepened, she started seeing yoga as more than just a workout and looked for another medium to turn to for her exercise. It was during this time that she joined Manila’s first indoor cycling studio as an instructor. Mel is certified in Slow Resistance Training (SRT), Advance SRT, Lagree FitnessTM.

Mel is very open minded about trying out different fitness concepts and was eager to learn the Elev8 Method. During her very first Elev8 class, she didn’t know what was going on but the feeling afterwards kept her coming back for more! She is very happy and grateful to be part of this amazing team and is looking forward to growing with the rest of the Elev8 community.

Schedule

  • BGC
    • Thursday: Full Body (10am,11am,12pm)
  • Podium
    • Tuesday: Pre-Natal (9am) and Full Body (10am, 11am, 12pm)

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Bern Osias

Senior Instructor

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Bern started dancing at the age of five and graduated from Santa Clara University in California with degrees in both business and dance. After moving back to the Philippines, she spent 10 years in the corporate world. Since then, Bern has taught ballet, Barre, rowing, and is certified in Slow Resistance Training (SRT), Advanced SRT, Lagree FitnessTM, Piloxing SSP, and is a Certified Personal Trainer (CPT)  through the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA). Bern also served as a choreographer for several corporate events.

Whether guiding her young ballet students or leading her group fitness classes, Bern always tries to make each session both challenging and fun. She is excited to be a part of the Elev8 community and hopes that her passion and enthusiasm for the Elev8 Method will transform the mind and bodies of everyone she has the opportunity to teach!

Schedule

  • BGC
    • Tuesday: Full Body (6:30am, 10am, 11am, 12pm)
  • Podium
    • Sunday: Full Body (9am, 10am, 11am)

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Amanda Zabat

Instructor

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Amanda started her fitness journey after graduating from college. Yoga was her gateway in discovering the transformative power of movement and the many benefits it has on everyday life. Since then, she has explored different modalities and is certified in Slow Resistance Training, 200-Hour YogaWorks Teacher Training, Animal Flow, Functional Range Conditioning, and NeuroKinetic Therapy. She is always on the quest to learn more to help her students move, feel, and live better.

An advocate for mindful movement, she found the Elev8 method as a wonderful way to enhance anyone’s fitness journeys – from those who are just starting out to those looking to add more in their regimen. In each class, she encourages everyone to respect their bodies, to embrace the challenge and, of course, to have fun while doing it!

Schedule

  • BGC
    • Tuesday: Full Body (6pm, 7pm)
  • Podium
    • Friday: Full Body (8am, 9am, 10am, 11am)

B. Pags

B Pags

Instructor

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As a passionate and enthusiastic fitness instructor, Bianca brings a unique blend of expertise and energy to every workout session. With a background in ballet, cheerleading, and hip-hop, she is committed to helping individuals achieve their fitness goals while having fun and embracing their inner strength.

Bianca entered her first Elev8 class thinking it would be a walk in the park. First exercise in, she was already shaking her core off! She loved the burn of each exercise and how much it challenged her strength completely. Right after class, all she could think of was when could she book her next one! 

Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned fitness enthusiast, Bianca is dedicated to creating a positive and inclusive environment where everyone feels comfortable and motivated to achieve their fitness goals. Her infectious energy, combined with her diverse background, will inspire you to reach new heights and embrace the joy of movement.

Schedule

  • Podium
    • Wednesdays : Full Body (6pm, 7pm)

Billie

Billie Capistrano

Instructor

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A sportscaster since 2016, Billie has channeled her passion for communication into the dynamic world of fitness. In 2017, she started working as an indoor cycling instructor, which helped her discover her true passion for motivating individuals to unlock their full potential.

Always up for new challenges, she decided to try the Elev8 method and was immediately hooked. It provided the perfect combination of intensity and exhilaration that aligns with her fitness philosophy. So, when the opportunity to become an Elev8 instructor arose, she didn’t think twice about it.

In her class, expect more than just motivation for your goals; experience a positive atmosphere that mirrors her dedication to a fitness journey that’s both empowering and fun!

Schedule

  • BGC
    • Sundays: Tread + Tone (11:30am)
    • Thursdays: Full Body (6pm, 7pm)

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Bianca Floirendo

Instructor

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Growing up as a competitive gymnast, Bianca is no stranger to precise movements and rhythmic routines. She spent her college years as an economics major by day, and a workout enthusiast by night. Her passion for music, workouts, and the fitness community led to her becoming a cycling instructor straight out of college.

Bianca fell in love with the Elev8 method in her first class – a forearm plank to pike – thinking that there was no way she could get into this type of movement or find this feeling anywhere else. She walked out of class slightly shaking, feeling euphoric, and wanting more. When the team announced auditions, she jumped at the opportunity to teach Tread and continue to learn SRT.

In Bianca’s class, you’ll find yourself pushing further and hitting speeds you never realized you could in the only place where burnout is fun – the Elev8 space!

Schedule

  • BGC
    • Saturday: Tread + Tone (11:30am)
    • Saturday: Full Body (1pm, 2pm, 3pm)
  • Podium
    • Monday: Full Body (6pm, 7pm)

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Ericka Mejia

Instructor

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Ericka has been active in sports since elementary, including dance, gymnastics, flag football and cheerleading. An injury restricted her from high impact sports, but years later she discovered yoga and indoor cycling. She fell in love with teaching indoor cycling and soon after took the plunge to undergo her yoga teacher training. In 2017, she quit her full time job to pursue a career in fitness. This further deepened her appreciation for movement and the mind and body connection. When she heard about Elev8 offering one of the most challenging workouts you’ll ever do, Ericka was sold. After her first class, she knew it was something she needed to compliment her other activities and get even stronger in the process.

She is certified in Slow Resistance Training (SRT) and hopes to keep growing as an instructor, improve as an athlete, and share her love for shakes at Elev8.

Schedule

  • BGC
    • Wednesday: Pre-Natal (8am) and Full Body (9am, 10am, 11am)
  • Podium
    • Saturday: Full Body (8am, 9am, 10am, 11am, 12pm)

JB

JB Mendoza

Instructor

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JB grew up without any fitness background; his lifestyle revolved around his corporate job, video games, and sedentary routine. Motivated to change for the better, JB embarked on a personal fitness journey. He began exploring various forms of exercise, experimenting with different workouts, and gradually building his strength and endurance. Eventually, his workouts went beyond physical benefits and more about passion and lifestyle. JB pursued teaching indoor cycling and climbing cardio classes.

When JB attended his first Elev8 class, he discovered that there were more ways for him to get even stronger, aside from the typical cardio classes. That grueling Mermaid Crunch on the Megaformer made him realize that this is a workout he just can’t miss out on.

Change and the lack of familiarity can be scary, but JB’s story is a reminder that it is never too late to embrace a healthier lifestyle.

Schedule

  • Podium
    • Saturday: Tread Class (10am)
    • Saturday: Tread + Tone (11:30am)

Kit

Kit Angeles

Instructor

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Kit’s passion for movement started with cheerleading and street dance in high school and college. She fell in love with the structure and discipline of training, which had her looking for a new outlet after graduating. Kit soon fell in love with running and strength training, thinking exercise would only remain a hobby in the long run. Fast forward to 2020 — she took the leap and started teaching boxing group classes as a side-hustle. Creating workouts, curating playlists, and motivating students made Kit realize that it was her calling to help people build healthier relationships with movement. In 2023, Kit took on a career shift to teach fitness full-time.

Elev8 introduced Kit to SRT: a very unique, challenging, and addicting form of exercise. The physical and mental push was completely different from what she knew. She was definitely more than excited by the challenge, and knew right away that she wanted to join the Elev8 team.

Schedule

  • BGC
    • Monday: Full Body (4pm)
    • Monday: Tone + Tread (5:30pm)
  • Podium
    • Wednesday: Full Body (6pm, 7pm)
    • Saturday: Tread Class (10am)
    • Saturday: Tread + Tone (11:30am)

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Mae Evangelista

Instructor

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Mae was always active in dancing and sports growing up, as her love for movement started at a young age. When she discovered yoga, she left the comfort and security of her corporate job to teach full time. She became certified for different disciplines of yoga and also taught the barre technique. Mae is certified in Slow Resistance Training (SRT), Advanced SRT, and Lagree FitnessTM.

It wasn’t long before Mae heard about the Elev8 Method. Not one to shy away from a challenge, she decided to attend a class and it was love at first shake. She enjoyed how each class challenged both her body and mind. Mae was hooked and when the opportunity to train for Elev8 presented itself, she knew she couldn’t pass it up.

Learning to use the breath, to focus, and to have proper alignment are three of the things Mae hopes to teach her students. “Start strong, finish stronger.”

Schedule

  • BGC
    • Saturday: Full Body (10am, 11am)
  • Podium
    • Monday: Full Body (8am, 9am, 10am, 11am)

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Margaux Lim

Instructor

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A business graduate and former corporate manager, Margaux always found herself immersed in spreadsheets and presentations. To balance out corporate life, she found the love for fitness and saw how exercise had a positive impact in her work and life in general. Fast forward to years later, she is now a full time movement coach who finds the most fulfillment in helping others understand their bodies and training them to move better. Seeing her clients and students get better with each class inspires her to keep training and deliver the most effective classes. Margaux is certified in Slow Resistance Training, YogaWorks 200-Hour Teacher Training, Neurokinetic Therapy, and Functional Range Conditioning. She continues her educational pursuits in rehab, sports conditioning, and movement therapy.

Get ready to work (and know!) muscles you never thought you had in her classes!

Schedule

  • Podium
    • Thursday: Pre-Natal (9am) and Full Body (10am, 11am, 12pm)
    • Friday: Full Body (5:30pm, 6:30pm)

Tin

Tin Padilla

Instructor

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Tin started her fitness journey by practicing Muay Thai and attending indoor cycling classes. She became an Indoor Cycling Instructor in 2018 and has grown into the role of Program Director and Head Instructor. 

It was in 2022 when she attended a class in Elev8 that she fell in love with the workout. The slow movement is a complete contrast to all other workouts she teaches — this served as a perfect balance she needed not only as an Instructor but also as a student.  

Tin stayed active through completing duathlons, triathlons, and obstacle courses. Having an outlet outside of work and going beyond ones comfort zone allows us to learn new things and grow as a person. Tin shares her mantra in every class: we are capable of doing anything so long as we set our heart and mind to it. No shake can break us!

Schedule

  • BGC
    • Wednesdays: Tone + Tread (5:30pm)

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Tin Lacuesta

Instructor

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Tin started working out at home to transform her life after giving birth to her two daughters, wanting to keep up with their endless energy and to be healthy for her family. Discovering her new passion, she soon formed fitness challenge groups with her mom friends, and eventually made the big leap and took a Fitness Instructors Course in order to have solid foundations for teaching. Tin is an ISSA – Certified Personal Trainer and Stott Pilates Trainer Matwork Instructor.

After trying many different workouts from various leading studios in the metro, Tin quickly fell in love with Elev8 after her first session. Walking out of the class feeling stronger but also challenged, she knew that she had to come back for more. When Elev8 announced their instructor certification program, Tin challenged herself and went for it, knowing how tough the program would be. She did it to share her passion and to inspire people with her message: You’re never too weak, and it’s never too late to start your own fitness journey!

Schedule

  • BGC
    • Thursday: Tone + Tread (5:30pm) and Full Body (6pm, 7pm)

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Tot Tangco

Instructor

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Tot has been on the move since she started ballet at 3 years old! She’s gone from pliés to boutique group fitness Instructor, fitness buff, hair and make-up artist, and rockstar mom to three daughters and a number of pets.

Her fun playlists will have you vibing while her infectious, good, happy energy in class will have you conquering your workout.
Tot motivates her students through moving and working out, a true inspiration through perspiration!

Schedule

  • BGC
    • Sunday: Full Body (9am, 10am, 11am)
    • Saturday: Full Body (8am, 9am)
  • Podium
    • Tuesday: Full Body (6pm, 7pm)
    • Thursday: Full Body (6pm, 7pm)

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Viella Galvez-Cui

Instructor

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Viella’s passion for movement stems from having spent almost two decades as a professional ballet dancer with Ballet Manila. She has performed and competed on stages across the Philippines, Scotland, Russia, United States, Korea, Cambodia, China, and Japan. She hung up her pointe shoes at the age of 22 to work on her degree in Biochemistry and prepare for a career in medicine, but fate had other plans.

Upon graduating in 2011, Viella instead entered the fitness industry by becoming a pioneering barre instructor and has never looked back. Over the years she has trained and earned certifications in Stott Pilates (Mat), the MELT Method, GFit, Schwinn Cycling, Slow Resistance Training (SRT), and Advanced SRT to supplement her ever-growing experience teaching group fitness workouts.

She currently teaches a variety of disciplines including Barre, group boxing, cycling, and HIIT Pilates in addition to Slow Resistance Training. Known for her calm, collected energy, light-hearted one-liners, fun playlists, and well-rounded sequences, Viella is excited to share the shake with the Elev8 community!

Schedule

  • BGC
    • Monday: Full Body (6pm, 7pm)
    • Friday: Full Body (5:30pm, 6:30pm)

Yael Umali

Instructor

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Yael has been an athlete practically her whole life, playing varsity football throughout her high school and university years. After graduating, she still craved that endorphin high; however, after tearing her ACL a second time, she knew something had to change. That’s when she turned to various group fitness classes alongside her strength and conditioning therapy.

Having briefly taught young kids football in 2015, she decided to take a gamble on group fitness in 2018 and never looked back. In March 2019, she decided to leave her corporate job as Operations Manager for a retail company to pursue a career in fitness to help others find their passion and find an escape in her classes. Fitness is something she is very passionate about and she makes sure that all the modalities she teaches are ones she believes in and compliment each other so she and her students benefit from them both physically and mentally.

She is currently certified in Slow Resistance Training (SRT), indoor rowing, mat-based SLT resistance, indoor climbing utilizing the VersaClimber™, and is an ACE Certified Personal Trainer.

Schedule

  • BGC
    • Friday: Full Body (9am, 10am, 11am)
  • Podium
    • Wednesday: Full Body (8am, 10am, 11am) and Tread + Tone (12pm)

Yso

Yso Eufemio

Instructor

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Pursuing fitness is in Yso’s DNA. Raised by a Doctor specializing in Sports Medicine, Yso got into competitive sports at an early age, becoming a member of her high school and university badminton teams.

Yso discovered group fitness classes and the sense of community it provides while living in Berkeley, California. After trying a variety of workouts when she moved back to Manila, Yso fell in love with SRT and knew it was what she was looking for, outside of competitive sports.

Striving for a balance between mind and body, this Marketing Manager knows how exercise helps with overall wellness, while keeping stress at bay.

Whether you are a weekend warrior or an elite player, Yso’s fun and energizing classes will push you outside your comfort zone, get you stronger and allow you to achieve your fitness goals.

Schedule

  • Podium
    • Saturday: Full Body (1pm, 2pm, 3pm)

Piper Michelle

Elev8 Master Trainer

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It was love at first lunge when Piper discovered Slow Resistance Training in 2007. A former fashion designer and Cincinnati, Ohio, native, Piper brings high-energy and the motivation to move. Piper quickly realized that the method is more than just a workout, but also something that can inspire change in every aspect of your life. As an instructor, she wants to support and create the opportunities for you to shine and uncover what you can do, in and out of the studio.

As a Master Trainer, she has been lucky to share her passion with studios, trainers and clients all over the world, including the USA, Europe, Africa, Australia, and the Philippines!