Team HGX – Group Exercise Instructors

Brittany Tate is a Certified Zumba® Instructor and Integrative Health Coach. She has been in the health & wellness industry for 7 years and enjoys inspiring others and educating people through fitness and encouragement. She began teaching Zumba® in 2012 after she took her first group fitness class. Her first love is dance, and fitness is a way of maintaining the healthy lifestyle she wants, so, for Brittany, it was amazing to be able to tie both of her loves into one. Brittany teaches Zumba® at Houston Gym on Saturdays from 11am to 2:15pm and throughout the week with BT FitLyfe, a health and wellness brand founded by Brittany! You will always have a sweaty, good time. Brittany’s classes are full of energy and a mix of mid-to-high intensity fun!

Hi! My name is Kim. I have been in the fitness industry for over 20 years. I am AFAA and CPR certified. I teach a variety of formats including TaeBo® , Yoga, Pilates, Strength Training, and Boot Camp. I look forward to seeing you in class!!

Hi, my name is Lisa Valdez. I received my Zumba certification in 2012 and I have enjoyed teaching group fitness classes since then. I teach every other Wednesday evening at 6:30pm. I love the outdoors, music, dancing, reading, learning, all things fitness, and I love finding fun new places to eat here in Houston. I am vegan, and of course, I am an animal lover. I have three cats and three dogs. All but one of my pets were rescues. More than anything, spending quality time with my family is a must; I am married and I have three children. Busy is my middle name! I am greatly blessed, to say the least.

Damira Bley graduated from the University of Houston with degrees in Psychology and Sociology and later went on to receive fitness certifications from the National Federation of Personal Trainers, the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America, and the Yoga Institute. Damira has worked for Houston Gym for the last ten years teaching and subbing in a variety of formats. Currently, she is teaching a different format of Yoga and Pilates from those created for relaxation, deep stretching, and beginner-friendly classes, such as Power Yoga that would be challenging to even a seasoned athlete. Her focus in all her classes is functionality; combining all the main components of fitness such as stamina, strength, endurance, and flexibility to improve overall health and to maintain a full range of motion in the body.

Hi, my name is Angie Nichols, I have been teaching for 16 years. The formats I teach, including Kickboxing, TaeBo®, HIIT, Strength Training, Body Combat, Pound Fit, and Aqua Fit are all effective exercises for any body composition. I teach TaeBo® on Mondays at 5:30pm and Saturday mornings at 8:30am.

I am an experienced personal trainer but determined several years ago that my passion is leading group classes. I teach several exercise formats including Strength, Kickboxing, and Senior Fitness, and I also coach Weight-Loss and Diabetes-Prevention classes. I started my fitness journey exercising at home for many years, then joined a gym in 2005 where I was encouraged to become a fitness professional. I enjoy researching human evolution, the science of walking, foot fitness, and why our bodies develop physical issues. Before my fitness career, I worked as a petroleum engineer and computer application developer.

Shannon has been practicing yoga for 6 years and teaching for 3 years, and she received her 200RYT through Joy Yoga. Shannon started her practice to counteract the HIIT workouts she enjoyed in the past, and still occasionally enjoys now. Realizing the benefits of yoga, Shannon became more interested in teaching and received her certification in May of 2017. Shannon’s approach to yoga is slow, meditative, and mindfully aware, promoting form over function. Shannon also feels that what happens on your mat is between you and your mat; it is a judgment-free space, and everyone is different. Shannon does not teach any one form of yoga; she leads, and if you prefer, she can power it up or she can slow it down. Shannon can lead Restorative, Power, Yin, Pre/Post Natal yoga, and has a special place in her heart for children’s yoga as well. Shannon also instructs Barre and Core Strength/Flexibility training. When Shannon is not teaching, she enjoys time with her husband, kids, and 3 granddaughters. Hiking and having her hands in the dirt makes her soul happy, and so do her 3 dogs and super-chunky cat. Shannon welcomes every heartbeat in her class, and on the mat, with a smile, open arms, and open heart.

Amanda first embarked on her yoga journey in 2010, seeking more relaxation and peace. After completing a 4- Day Yoga Challenge at BIG Power Yoga, she felt transformed through yoga, both mentally and physically. As she practiced breathing through difficult sensations and challenges on the mat, Amanda felt empowered off the mat in her personal life. In June of 2019, Amanda felt a strong inner call to enroll in yoga teacher training to share the gift of yoga with others. Yoga training with Andrew and Andria Dugas provided her with knowledge as to how yoga can help you feel better in both body and mind. As a yoga sub at the Houston Gym, she feels honored to share the gift of yoga with you, striving to help you feel stronger and more relaxed both physically and mentally, both on and off the mat. As a former competitive figure skater and coach, she believes the flow and sequencing of yoga postures is much like crafting a skating routine on ice. In her class, she seeks to create a space of peace, acceptance, curiosity, joy, and exploration as you show up on your yoga mat.

Kristine McCluskey is originally from New Orleans and has a background in competitive dance. She has been a fitness instructor with Houston Gym since 2007. She teaches Zumba® on alternating Wednesdays at 6:30pm, and BootyBarre every fourth Sunday of the month at 6pm. Kristine offers a high-cardio experience where you can challenge yourself and dance your worries away! She also offers virtual classes for Zumba®, POP Pilates®, and BootyBarre. You can find her on Facebook at “Kris MC’s” virtual fitness private group. While not in the gym, Kristine works in the Texas Medical Center as an assistant professor of the pathology department at Baylor College of Medicine, and is a graduate student for the second time at the University of Houston, slated to receive her doctorate in May 2021. She is an aspiring organizational psychologist for medical education programs. Kristine lives in The Heights with her husband and two children.

Melinda uses her extensive dance and Pilates training from Alvin Ailey School of Dance dating back to 1994, as well as her teaching experience and the various methods of Pilates to help her fitness students with subsiding pain, increasing/managing mobility, improving body awareness, strength, stability, balance, core strength, and flexibility — all to allow students to live a better life. Melinda’s teaching methods are unique to each person’s individual needs, and she likes to develop a relationship with her student. This is so she can make sure that she is always listening to her client’s body and teaching them how to listen to their body as well. Melinda is trained with experience in teaching Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern, Hip Hop, Gymnastics, Ballroom, Contemporary, Graham, Stott, Peak, and MEST. She substitutes at Houston Gym as a Pilates, Barre, Yoga, and Fit Fusion instructor.

Hi I’m Cathy and I love teaching Zumba®️ because every class feels like an international dance party! I have been part of the Zumba®️ community for 10 years and have been involved in fitness all my life. Moving and changing lives through fitness is my passion! Let’s shake, shimmy, and sweat together!

Tina is an IFBB Professional Bodybuilder who specializes in adaptive movement, injury prevention, flexibility, weight loss, and wellness coaching. She placed 8th in the world in competition, but that doesn’t mean she only trains bodybuilders. Her experience and expertise span all age groups and levels of fitness. She also feels her background as a gymnast and lifetime athlete help her excel and she has dedicated her life to helping empower others by passing on her expertise, discipline, and drive for excellence. Tina also created a new motto and brand called NORMAL TO BE FIT® which outlines the fit lifestyle as ‘normal' for a healthier future for everyone! It’s NORMAL TO BE FIT®!