Brazen Fitness | Our Team
Meet the coaches of Brazen Fitness who are dedicated to making your goals a reality.
No trendy advice and no false promises. Our focus is on the fundamentals of consistency, healthy habits and effective movement. We aim to execute the best functional fitness program in Arlington, Virginia and have a lot of fun doing it.
Mariela Atlas
Fitness Coach & Lens Queen
Mariela walked through Brazen Fitness' doors in late 2015, with no previous athletic experience and even less body awareness. She attributes the majority of her athletic and personal development, over the past five years, to the warm community and adept coaching staff within the walls of this gym.
Her goal as a coach is to help athletes evolve their confidence, master new skills, and ultimately do things they never believed they were capable of. She loves watching members grow, not only as athletes, but also as confident individuals. As a crossfitter and functional fitness enthusiast, now also turned dance enthusiast, movement has become an integral and beloved part of her life.
These days you can find her either: shoving a camera in your face, finding a new sport to play, or bragging about her new dance moves to the rest of the coaching staff.
Coaching Specialties:
Olympic Weightlifting, Pure Capacity/Conditioning
Elise Pérez
Fitness & Nutrition Coach, Gym Manager
Elise joined the fitness world after achieving her own health transformation. She specializes in nutrition, fat loss, and helping clients get out of pain. Elise’s coaching takes a whole-person approach; by teaching and empowering clients to significantly enhance their lifestyles. She lives for the moments of clients moving some heavy a** weight, realizing their true strength and seeing that strength manifest in other parts of their lives.
Coaching Specialties:
Getting you back to a pain & injury free active life, nutrition coaching with a focus on minority communities, weight loss
Gisele Nighswander
Fitness Coach
Gisele started training in 2017 and completed her L-1 certification 3 years later. She played most sports throughout childhood and spent 3 years rowing for two local teams. It wasn’t until she started CrossFit, however, when she redirected her focus towards body awareness, nutrition, and the various benefits of movement.
As a coach, Gisele aims to provide an inclusive, holistic, yet challenging experience for all of her athletes. She has always had a passion for teaching, learning, and helping others, and is excited to continue this journey at Brazen Fitness.
Michael Presley
Fitness Coach
As a personal trainer and sports nutritionist, Mike brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his clients. With a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from James Madison University and multiple certifications, he is well-equipped to help clients reach their health and fitness goals.
Throughout his 12+ year career, he has worked with various clients, including athletes, kids, and special populations. He started as a trainer for Olympic sports teams at James Madison University before transitioning to corporate gym management. After the pandemic hit, he focused solely on one-on-one, small-group, and team training.
His ultimate goal is to empower others and show them that it’s always possible to start their health and fitness journey. He supports and guides clients every step of the way, regardless of whether they’re starting for the first time, overcoming an injury, or trying again after setbacks. He takes great satisfaction in seeing clients reach their full potential and achieve their goals.
Coaching Specialties:
Sports Nutrition, Corrective Exercise, Online coaching
Luke Giglio
Fitness Coach
Eliza Sturgeon
Fitness Coach
I kicked off my CrossFit journey in the summer of 2018, during a summer internship in DC. I was a competitive swimmer for over a decade, but struggled to keep up with a fitness regime in college. I vividly remember walking back from my very first workout & calling my mom & saying “I have to keep doing this it’s so hard I’m so tired” (spoiler: I still feel that way all the time!). I found a gym in my hometown of Richmond, VA, & haven’t looked back. I started coaching in Richmond last year as a way to give back to the gym that had given me so much but also simply because I love to teach people. I have my USA Weightlifting L-1 certification and my true loves are 45 minute chipper workouts & emo pop punk music.
I grew up homeschooled in Richmond, VA. I’m super close with my family, but I have never convinced them to do CrossFit with me. I graduated from college in 2019 & spent a few years taking some time off before moving to the DC area for my current job. I love to read, cook, swim, & organize my closet like a crazy person.
Coaching Specialties:
Strength Training, Olympic Weightlifting, Gymnastics
“Do it again, but don’t suck this time.” - my Olympic lifting coach in RVA & friend Crowder
Our Values
Integrity
The rigor in performing a job to the best of one’s ability, the strength to do the right thing when no one is looking, the honesty to admit fault.
Humility
The understanding of one’s own limitations, the curiosity to learn different perspectives, the vulnerability to say “I don’t know”.
Empathy
The kindness to give a part of one’s self, the appreciation of a stranger’s struggle, the positivity to uplift others.
Drive
The will to keep moving forward, the initiative to start new things, the conscientiousness to follow through.