Instructors

Staff

Kristina Borden

Co-owner |Yoga Instructor

My name is Kristine Borden and I am the Co-Founder of Elev8 Hot Yoga. I have always had a love of fitness prior to discovering Hot Yoga, I was a runner and even had the privileged of running the Boston Marathon three times. I fell in love with the benefits of Hot Yoga immediately upon taking my first Hot Yoga class and I was literally “hooked”. The benefits of Hot Yoga and working out in a hot room allow you to get a challenging workout improving your flexibility, strength, and cardio vascular system. In addition to the great physical work out Hot Yoga offers, it also facilitate a mind body connection that rapidly transforms your life allowing you to experience new levels of freedom, true happiness, and love. The vision when we created Elev8 Hot Yoga was to create a community not only where our fitness goals could be met, but also create a community where there is unconditional love for both teachers and students. Elev8 Hot Yoga will help you achieve your physical and personal goals and there is a community and love waiting for you once you join. Can’t wait to meet you! Namasté!

Our Team

Angela Papini

Co-owner |Yoga Instructor

Angela’s interest in movement and the body began as a child, studying dance, and eventually into a world of athletics and exploration of yoga. A world traveller and destination seeker, Angela has been on the path of exploring and mastering many careers as well, including a tour in the Army, in the marketing ‘trenches’, as a yoga instructor and finally, in the creation, nurturing and finally building Elev8 Hot Yoga, which she co-owns with Kristine Borden. Angela believes that Elev8 serves as a platform for growth, love and manifesting goodness, and she follows that by bringing new and wonderful ideas to the studio through her worldly and spiritual travels.

Suny Jacobus

Yoga Instructor

I started teaching yoga because I wanted to share my experience with yoga. Even though I was already running and exercising in other ways, it challenged me in new ways, physically and spiritually. When you are in a yoga class, all you can do is concentrate in that moment, try as hard as you again, and give it your best until the next movement. I like to think my students are also trying their hardest when they step into my classroom, leaving behind their life from before and after the class hour, to find a momentary peace.

I love working at Elev8 because we are a close-knit supportive family. We are always cheering each other on, whether we are a student or a teacher. I love all the classes that I teach and that I take, but I also enjoy the time before and after class, feeding each other goodies and chatting about our personal lives.

Linda Ramos-Collie

Yoga | Pilates Instructor

I have been practicing Pilates for 12 years and yoga for 5; I am a certified personal trainer with certifications in Pilates, Yoga, Barre, TRX, RIPPED and Cycling. I’ve been teaching since 2010—I started because I wanted to overcome my fear of speaking in front of people. Then it turned into wanted to help people. Once I found yoga, it completely changed my life. In 2012 I was injured while training for the NYC Marathon. Again, yoga saved my body. I feel like with yoga I can be the best me I can be for myself and my loved ones. Vinyasa is my favorite because of the creative sequencing. I love to teach because I want to help people reach their goals—the look on someone’s face when they achieve something they never thought was possible is priceless and makes my career choice so worthwhile. My only hobby is exercise! I used to weigh 200 pounds. I know the struggles of weight loss on your body and mind. I want to share my experience with as many people as I can reach. I want people to feel strong, physically and mentally, and know that whatever the goal, it is achievable! The simple reason I teach at Elev8 — it’s a family and I love my family. Everyone who teaches and works here cares about the students and each other!

Julia Draves

Yoga Instructor

Julie began her yoga journey with a mission to heal her many sports injuries from years of competitive softball as a pitcher. Tight hamstrings and a partially frozen shoulder were a daily struggle. Trying to avoid surgery, she found the hot room. After 3 months of Hatha yoga 5-6 days a week, her shoulder issue was completely resolved, her hamstrings cooperating and the 30 pounds she lost was an additional bonus! Seeing and feeling the results herself, led her to complete two separate 200 Hour Teacher Trainings, any many specialty workshops. “Yoga has been one of the best things I have ever done and I feel privileged and honored to share it with my students.” Julie has continued the journey to health and wholeness and has lost over 60 pounds over the past five years. More importantly, she has kept the weight off and is healthier today as she approaches her 50th birthday than she was in her thirties!

Piper Hogan

Yoga Instructor

Piper Hogan is the founder of Global Soul Yoga – a company that shares the blueprint of a yogic lifestyle through classes, workshops, Yoga Teacher Training programs and International Yoga Retreats. After discovering yoga in 2009 during a corporate career, her heart was pierced to not only incorporate yoga into her own life, but to become dedicated to sharing these tools of wholeness with as many people as possible. She determined to shift gears to live out her passion of sharing yoga – and fully changed careers shortly after. In the past 12 years she has aided many yoga studios to open their doors in the Pacific Northwest, certified over 400 teachers in her Registered Yoga School, and led more than 10 sold out international retreats. Moving with the times, she has also created a live online stream of daily morning classes in her 40-Day home-based led practice. Her heart is one of service and she believes in a natural abundance and inexhaustible joy and craves to share how the yogic technology and spiritual life acts as a set of tools to live in this mindset.

Maja Brickner

Yoga Instructor

I have a deep passion for the practice. Hatha, Vinyasa, Slow Flow, Barre, Yin, Yinyasa are just some of the classes I teach, guiding students on their journey towards physical, spiritual, and mental growth. I fell in love with the practice while recovering from knee surgery I strive to create an atmosphere of positivity and inspiration. Trained in various yoga styles and techniques, I offer a well-rounded and holistic approach to my teaching. Join me on the mat to experience the power of yoga and elevate your life. Elev8 Hot Yoga—together, we rise…

Janelle Trujillo

Yoga Instructor

I am originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico. My family and I moved to Washington in March of 2020. I have been in the health and wellness industry for over 20 years and have been a certified yoga instructor for 18. I have a B.S. in Kinesiology. In addition, I am a certified personal trainer and nutrition and health.

My passion for wellness started after overcoming from an eating disorder at a young age. There was so much physical and mental stress that I put on my body that I wanted to learn what it meant to be healthy both mentally and physically during and after I was healing from this disorder.

I embarked on a journey that would help me discover the power to help others find true wellness. Yoga has been a pivotal part of not only my healing but also my everyday life. The mindfulness of movement and connection with mind and body that yoga has provided me is why I am passionate about bringing this practice to others.

I use my Kinesiology background and my 18 years as a personal trainer to create specific class flows for target specific muscle groups, as well as fostering a safe and intentional class.

I hope that I can help others find true wellness and a connection to love and appreciate the movement and strength their bodies have through yoga.

Natassah Williams

Yoga Instructor

I love teaching yoga because it is conversation between hearts; it feeds my soul and nourishes my students. Yoga has strengthened my spirituality; it grounds me, challenges me, and presses me to grow. I love to teach any subject. I enjoy creating (food, crafts, etc.). I love to learn therefore I love books. I am an introvert. I was guided to teach at Elev8; an accidental phone call led to a conversation that led to teaching; Elev8 is a reflection of a community of souls that respect and love people; it feels like home.

Taunya Lady

Yoga Instructor

It probably all started in the dance studio at 5 years old. I was hooked right away and went on to teach and perform all formats: ballet, jazz tap and modern, all the way through college . After college I moved to Las Vegas and danced professionally in several shows. Then the children came……I have five amazing adult children and two beautiful grandchildren raised in several different states as my husband was military and we moved around frequently. Along the way I discovered yoga and it brought me back to that passion for movement power and breath that keeps us all in the present moment in a healthy sustaining format. I have been teaching and training yoga students for the past fifteen years and I have learned that yoga can bring health, wellness and community no matter where I have my home. My students in class are really my partners in breath and movement. I learn so much from each and every one. I hope to see you all in class! Namasté!

Michele Guillermo

Yoga Instructor

I took my first hot yoga class in 2008 and got hooked! My passion for yoga led me down the path to taking yoga teacher training. I got my RYT200 in May 2019 and started teaching classes only five days after graduation. I love helping and instructing students in all types of yoga practices: Power/Vinyasa yoga, Hatha/26postures, Fusion Yoga and Yoga Sculpt.

Anamaria Baralt

Yoga Instructor

I have had the great honor and opportunity to take advanced yoga training with some of the most accomplished ashtangis, all having studied personally with Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, including: David Swenson (author of Ashtanga Yoga: the Practice Manual), Annie Carpenter (creator of SMART Flow®), meditation with Richard Freeman (author of The Mirror of Yoga and co-author of The Art of Vinyasa), and hands-on assisting with both Maty Ezraty and Troy Lucero. I have also had the opportunity to attend many more workshops on anatomy, meditation, yoga philosophy, and asana. I completed my advanced training with Carmen Aguilar. Additionally, I have taught many workshops on alignment, arm balancing, and handstands.

Vanessa Simpson

Yoga Instructor

I stumbled upon yoga in college, the people I met in the class were incredible… and the resources the teacher recommended expanded my consciousness so much. I kept coming back each quarter in school and eventually started at a studio in Federal Way. I would go every day some times twice a day, it started changing my life as a place I can go to experience peace, while doing something that is benefiting every area of who I am, I just felt that down to my core. Who I was began to change and unravel. During my very difficult times, yoga was my safe place to find peace. During times of immense joy and blessings, it was my place to tune in and give gratitude for life.

Nataliya Onishchenko

Yoga Instructor

Nataliya is living her dream which is a life of passion for people, helping them grow physically, spiritually, and mentally. She started her Health & Wellness business in Hawaii, where she taught fitness classes, nutrition seminars and weight loss coaching. “I love my Elev8 family—this is a place where we transform together emotionally, physically and spiritually. Teaching Barre taught me to thrive in life no matter what and want to share that life passion with everyone who comes to class.” Nataliya graduated from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, one of the world’s largest nutrition schools. Nataliya is supporting clients to help make a step-by-step easily integrated food and lifestyle choice.

Toni Davis

Yoga Instructor

I have always played sports, enjoyed being in nature, and pushing myself physically and mentally. Yoga found me when I was 19 years old. As an athlete, I thought it would be some easy stretching, but my mind was quickly changed! Yoga has been a consistent grounding force in my life ever since. I became certified to teach yoga in 2012 and have since learned many different styles that I teach to this day. Being a yoga teacher has brought so much joy to my life. It has always kept me connected to my own practice, even when life is so full it’s hard to make time. I love sharing my experience and knowledge with others. I thrive from watching students grow and stretch themselves, both physically and mentally. I love the sense of connection that is constant throughout the yoga community and meeting other amazing people along the way.

Ready to Make a Change?

Come join us at Elev8 for a class by registering on our site, then let us help you find a class that’s right for you!

Become a Member

Take a Class