Hi everyone, and thank you for taking the time to visit my page. My name is Mariam Sufi, and I am a mother, wife, friend, empath, movement instructor, Belly.Dance.Core and The Goddess Retreat founder.
I am a Los Angeles native and started teaching group fitness classes in 2001 at the tender age of 18 while I was a student at the University of California, Irvine. I created a belly dance fitness class for the famed Anteater Recreational Center at UCI, and incredibly, it is still taught to this day (by one of my former students). However, my love for integrating belly dancing into fitness group exercise classes did not end there. I created my signature class: Belly Dance Core Conditioning, in 2010, and it has since been offered in Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington DC., and now virtually!
I discovered my love for yoga in high school when I took my first class alongside my father. I loved how it enhanced my flexibility, deepened my breath awareness, and helped me focus on the present. From that moment on, I was hooked! I continued to practice yoga throughout college, but it was not until I took a class at the renowned Hot 8 Yoga studio in 2013 that I decided to immerse myself in learning and growing among the hot yoga community with the goal of teaching. Since then, I have embraced being a student of yoga and movement as well as a leader and educator. I am an E-RYT 200 and hold additional specialty certifications in Yoga Barre, Yoga Sculpt, and Yoga Vibe. In addition, I served as a Director of Hot 8 Yoga in Los Angeles' Koreatown, where I trained and mentored dozens of teachers and helped build a thriving community.
In 2018, I moved to Washington DC with my husband, and I fell in love with the yoga community there. I was fortunate enough to lead teacher trainings for Hot Pilates Barre HIIT and Hot Yoga Sculpt at Hot Yoga Capitol Hill. I was also blessed to be a manager.
In 2020 I had my baby girl, Donya, during the pandemic's peak, and my perspective on movement and fitness changed. I was inspired to help women further and provide them a space to explore, understand, and appreciate their bodies freely. I was focused on learning more about how I could lead soon-to-be and new mothers safely through movement. I completed 85 Hours of Prenatal & Postnatal Yoga Teacher Training through Utah Prenatal Yoga. This training was incredibly close to my heart, as I was a new mother experiencing the physical, emotional, and hormonal changes during the postpartum journey. Going through the training shortly after my pregnancy journey and labor experience gave me a newfound respect and appreciation for yoga and a deeper connection to my own story. I was determined to continue connecting with others, spreading my love for yoga and community along the way.
Over my 20 years of teaching, I have studied various styles and disciplines of yoga, dance, and fitness. I hold certifications from NASM and completed teaching programs in Above Barre and Barre 3. I love being a student and have continued my education in various fields, obtaining my MBA and becoming a certified Fitness Nutrition Specialist in 2019.
During the nationwide shutdown caused by COVID-19, I started teaching yoga virtually, initially to members of the NBA team, the Washington Wizards. Soon I recognized the need and importance of providing movement classes for women during the pandemic. Thus, I created my virtual studio, Belly.Dance.Core in July 2020.
I used to define my success in fitness by how many classes I taught per day, what companies I worked for, how many people I packed into my in-person classes, and how challenging I could make my sequences. My perspective shifted due to motherhood and the Covid pandemic's impact on the fitness industry. I realized my "why" was more significant than just external factors. I recognized that fitness was more than just a job for me. My relationship with my clients and their stories is more important than ever.
Now I define success as creating a safe space for women to connect judgment-free; to learn about, embrace, and honor their bodies through core connection and low-impact movement; and to feel empowered, supported, and seen. I love helping women connect back to themselves; celebrate their journeys; trust their efforts; be proud of their bodies.
As a certified Fitness Nutrition Specialist (FNS) through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) and a dedicated health coach currently completing my training at the Institute of Integrative Nutrition, I have a strong passion for holistic wellness. With my comprehensive understanding of nutrition and my commitment to ongoing education, I am well-equipped to guide individuals on their unique health journeys.