Eric Miller
CEO
1. What does it mean to be a coach?
A passionate, dedicated individual who unlocks hidden potential and maximizes a teams performance by believing, encouraging and developing. You have to LEAD. However, in the fitness industry you always have to revert back to some even broader ideas/issues in our current world/society and that is simply: 1) to get people moving 2) avoid the leading cause of death Coronary Heart Disease (i.e. CAD and many other accompanying diseases/health issues) 3) live a long, healthy, fulfilling life (decreasing the rate at which we age/atrophy/ decay).
2. How did you get into fitness and training?
I was an active kid, but with many ailments (allergies/asthma/sicknesses) and actually didn’t want to play any sports until my step-father threw me in. At age 11, I picked up Baseball & excelled into High School along with many other extreme sports and out grew all of my ailments. I was derailed through my adolescent years, got into trouble, and was considering Military or Police to straighten me up. I decided to stay near home due to the health of my mother and chose the latter. After a couple of failed department interviews and 2 years into Criminal Justice I changed my course completely stumbling across CSUN’s Kinesiology program. 12 years later it was the best decision I made.
3. Training Specialties:
CPT
Nutrition Coaching
Bodybuilding Competition Prep
4. A little about Eric:
Love lifting, my Family (wife & son 🥹), & my Harley Davidson. B.S. Kinesiology from CSUN. Grew up in Chatsworth (I haven’t strayed far). Entrepreneurship & Business is my only focus right now. What I want you to know is that I read people real quick and know if you're willing to ride. Ride with me and my team and we got your back for life.
5. Fun Fact:
No handouts my whole life. Just a bunch of hardships and shit you wouldn’t believe. Nobody likes a pity party...do the hard work and be of service to the world.
Josh Lin
Chief of Operations
1. What does it mean to be a coach?
Who you are is more important than what you do. Coaching is more about the person behind the coach than his/her skills. A good coach will help their clients reach and surpass their goals, while always improving themselves and continuing to learn so that they can provide a better service to their clients. Sometimes we are the clients’ friends, mentors, and even therapists on some days. It is our duty to be able to connect and relate with clients on a deeper level since we are more than just “coaches.” At the end of the day we must remember that fitness is the epicenter of people’s lives with a direct correlation to good physical, mental, and emotional health.
2. How did you get into fitness and training?
I’ve always played sports my entire life and always had an interest in functional training & bodybuilding. Growing up, I was always that skinny kid that had health issues and couldn’t gain weight no matter how much they ate. In my fitness journey, I was able to put on 60+ pounds and competed in a few Men’s Physique competitions with Eric. I quickly realized that fitness improved not only a person’s physical state, but also their mental state when I saw a huge improvement in my depression & anxiety the more I trained. I wanted to help as many people as possible so I became a trainer in college and 10+ years later, I no longer train clients as I’ve pursued other endeavors and focused on building Uplifted Athletics.
3. A little about me:
Born and raised in the San Gabriel Valley, I split time between San Gabriel and Sherman Oaks so my heart is in both the SFV and the SGV. I received my degree in Business from CSUN and am pursuing my Masters in Leadership & Public Admin. I love all sports, & anything music and art related. Cooking is also a huge passion of mine so you’ll often find me in the kitchen experimenting with different recipes with the hopes of opening up restaurants in the future.
4.Fun Fact:
I work full time as a Firefighter while also DJing on the side(I played the piano since I was 7 and danced all my life).
Janet Garcia
Customer Relations Manager
1. What does it mean to you to be a coach?
I get to meet/ talk with such beautiful people on the daily & I get to help people become the best versions of themselves. The most rewarding part is seeing their face light up when they do something they thought they could not. You show them that they can. My clients inspire me everyday and I am blessed to be a coach.
2. How did you get into fitness and training?
I never had the intention on becoming a coach as it was just a hobby I enjoyed doing and loved how it helped me gain confidence. Funny story I love sharing: I was a client here at Uplifted and I remember Eric would come up to me in class and say “You are going to work for me one day.” I would just look at him and laugh like “ya sure I am.” He planted that seed in me & he saw something that I couldn’t. Fast fwd today and I’m the operations manager here at Uplifted.
3. Training specialties:
CPT
Helping women gain confidence and love their bodies
Glute focused
Currently working towards my sports nutrition certification
4. A little about me:
Born and raised in the Valley. I enjoy spending time with my family, friends, & boyfriend. Making time for the people that keep me sane is so important to me.
5. Fun Fact:
I love food & I like to say I have a belly of a man.
Bryant Trieu
Fitness Manager
1. What does it mean to you to be a coach?
Being a coach means I can bridge the gap between research and application to educate others on how to apply evidence-based practice to gain tangible results.
2. How did you get into fitness and training?
I was influenced by my extremely fit Father from a young age that “motion is lotion.” The healthier you are, the easier it’ll be to handle what life throws at you.
3. Training specialties:
Kettlebell Kings Advanced Kettlebell Master Coach
TRX Functional Training Coach
Fusionetics Movement Efficiency L1
CITI Biomedical Researcher
Perform Better Learn-By-Doing Coach
US Army Master Fitness Trainer
Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu, Boxing, Muay Thai, and Tactical Fitness Training for Military, Police, & Fire.
4. A little about me:
My degrees include M.S. Kinesiology- Biomechanics and Physiology, B.S. Kinesiology- Exercise Science, and A.S. Military Science and Operational Studies. My hobbies include Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu, Kayaking, Rucking/Hiking, and Firearms Training. I grew up in the 626 (Pasadena area) and considered myself a boba connoisseur. I’m a foodie who will direct you to the best KBBQ, Shabu, and boba spots in the LA and Orange counties.
5. Fun Fact:
A) I recently brought Coach Brandyn to his first Jiu-Jitsu practice, which led to him “accidentally” dislocating my pinky finger during the first exercise.
B) I also created a boba tier list of the best to worst boba shops in the LA, OC, Rowland Heights, San Francisco, and San Jose areas based on the quality of boba, milk teas, fruit teas, pricing, and parking.🧋
Brandyn Victorio
Coach/Marketing Assistant
1. What does it mean to you to be a coach?
Being a coach means bridging the gap between your client's current perception of themselves and their ideal version. It means being there for them not only physically but also emotionally. It means constantly pushing yourself to grow to not only better yourself but also provide massive value to those around you.
2. How did you get into fitness and training?
I got heavily into fitness and training after I met my good friend Coach Bryant. He was one of my first trainers and he taught me a lot about working out and being consistent. During that time he also pushed me to attend a KIN internship called Commit to be Fit as a participant so I can further my knowledge. I attended for a semester and met the director, who encouraged me to interview for an intern position. I got the position and my life forever changed. This internship became the foundation for my coaching style and really set my foundation as a trainer. My time in this internship solidified my way to be a coach and after completing the internship I went on to get my CPT which led me to Uplifted Athletics.
3. Training specialties:
CPT
Mobility & Recovery
4. A little about me:
Outside of training I enjoy playing the guitar and hanging out with my close friends. Recently I picked up photography and I’ve been having a blast learning how to take Instagram-worthy photos. I also enjoy learning new things because I believe it broadens my perspective on the world and helps me serve my clients better. I grew up in a town called La Verne and graduated from CSUN with a Bachelor of Art Breadth Studies Degree.
5. Fun Fact:
I can play 5 instruments.
Annysa Cruz
Lead Coach
1. What does it mean to you to be a coach?
Being a coach means everything to me! It’s what keeps me passionate about my career. The energy I receive from these members is undefeated. Even on my hardest days, I know that when I walk into that gym my mood is going to get better because of those members. I’ve always wanted to help people, but I never knew how and becoming a coach exceeded my expectations. I’m super grateful to get to do what I love in a daily basis.
2. How did you get into fitness and training?
Randomly! I was 20 years old kind of working out inconsistently. I was lost, I didn’t want to go back to school, working 3 different jobs and my mom got me a job at a private gym she was at, as a front desk girl. I fell in love with lifting there and people noticed. One day someone asked my boss at the time if I was a trainer and he told her yes and basically forced me to become one ! Lol best thing that could have ever happened to me.
3. Training specialties:
CPT.
Helping women break the mold and stigma with lifting weights & gain confidence.
Working towards a mobility and stretching cert.
4. A little about me:
Outside of fitness I love self development, growth anything of that nature. Podcast are my It’s what’s sparked my passion for other ventures in my life. I’m also a life coach! I create programs and work one on one with women to help them create healthy sustainable habits to lead them to their goals and dreams. I love the community of San Fernando and the people I met here have inspired me to continue to help as many people as I can to live a happier, healthier life!
5. Fun Fact:
I’m a huge fan of ROMCOMS, my favorite thing to do is to curl up with a cup of tea and fresh baked cookies and watch a cheesy movie that makes me cry lol my zodiac sign is cancer sooo that’s says it all. I also enjoy spending time with my family, boyfriend, and friends eating good food, dancing/singing, and just laughing! Quality time is everything to me.
Anthony Cruz
Coach\Admin
1. What does it mean to you to be a coach?
What it means for me to be a coach is to fill the gap between you and your goal and come up with a plan that is achievable, as well as sustainable. Alongside that, I want to be able to create an environment that allows you to feel comfortable whether it is your first time lifting a barbell or you have been a veteran in the fitness game. With so much information around the world, I hope to be able to provide up-to-date research and information to my clients and members to achieve their goals.
2. How did you get into fitness and training?
The first time I can remember participating in a fitness-related environment was a wet dry ball, mud walls, and playing soccer with all my cousins. The feeling of being able to forget about what may be going on, working on my health, and having fun is my first recollection of fitness. From then on it went into soccer, football, and mixed martial arts! Becoming an educator/coach was also a ride of its own as when I first arrived at college I majored in computer science with an emphasis on internet technology. I quickly realized that it did not represent what I wanted to do for my career. Fast forward I realized the world of movement was my true passion from a rehabilitation perspective to helping someone achieve a new personal record.
3. Training specialties:
B.S. Kinesiology Exercise Science.
Strength & Conditioning for Dancers.
Boxing instructor.
4. A little about me:
Outside of Uplifted Athletics, you can also catch me trying to find the best pizzas in town and rating them on my Instagram story. Going to the beach in the early morning or catching a beautiful sunset. Exploring places outside of California and being a homebody as well, best of both worlds! I was born and raised in East Hollywood-Ktown and have lived throughout various parts of Los Angeles so if you need good recommendations let me know!
5. Fun Fact:
I go by my last name, Cruz! I train Muay Thai and hope to be able to compete in the near future.