We recently connected with Mariam Sufi and have shared our conversation below.

Mariam, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. If you had a defining moment that you feel really changed the trajectory of your career, we’d love to hear the story and details.

I feel blessed that over the 20 years I have worked in fitness, there have been quite a few pivotal, defining moments in my career that have changed the trajectory of my path. I find that evolution is constant and that we are given many opportunities in the chapters of our stories to do something uncomfortable, take a chance on ourselves, or even seek growth on a different path than we are on.

The most defining and pivotal moment in my career was having my daughter during the height of the pandemic. This was truly the first time in my career that I slowed down. I have been a workhorse my whole adult life, taking every job I could get in the fitness and yoga world. I always felt that I was blessed to be able to do what I love and that I should never miss an opportunity to continue to share my passion. I was teaching multiple classes per day every day, leading trainings, doing workshops, being a teacher mentor, and completely immersed in my career when, at 34 weeks pregnant, the world shut down. Initially, it felt like it was probably time to break from the go-go speed at which I was operating, as it gave me a chance to get my ducks in a row and “nest” as I waited for my daughter’s arrival. However, as I approached Donya’s arrival, I started getting nervous and asking myself, what would happen if I could not return to working in a studio? What would happen if I was not managing studios? Teaching daily? I even questioned my worth. On the one hand, here I am, preparing for the most incredible journey in my life, motherhood, and on the other hand, I felt like I was abruptly closing the door on my passion. I did not want the two to happen at the same time. It hit me hard after I gave birth to my daughter. I missed teaching. If the world hadn’t shut down, I probably would have been anxious to return to work as soon as possible and guilty for feeling that way. I realized I was feeling guilty because I was thinking about working when I was avoiding the feeling of complete and utter fear of being a new mom. I was scared of my vulnerability and completely unprepared. I missed the interactions with my clients more than anything.

I started thinking about some conversations I had with my clients over the years, especially the women. The things they would share, and I began to relate on a whole different level to those words and experiences. I realized that part of why I loved what I did was the community. I needed my clients and our interactions, our beautiful connections, just as much and (maybe) even more than they needed a workout or a yoga session with me. The feeling of community and a group of individuals you can show up for and share in your experiences, triumphs, setbacks, fears, and joy is necessary. I realized now, 16 years into my career after becoming a new mother, that the workouts were secondary. My passion for teaching came from a genuine love for connecting with others and meeting them right where they were; feeling that I could support them through movement was truly special. I started understanding the “why” behind many of my clients’ reasons for attending class every day. I, too, was in a season where I needed physical and emotional support through dialogue, movement, and community. It was also okay for me to be vulnerable; it was okay to feel unsure of what was next. If I felt this way, other women out there felt the same.

I wanted to use my passion and my background to support them. I wanted to use my experience navigating through my postpartum journey and my fears and anxiety as a new mom during the pandemic as a resource to support them on a whole new level. It was my ah-ha moment. Not everything about movement is physical. Not everyone who takes my classes comes because of the “burn.” How can I support all my clients and meet them right where they are in life?

I signed up for my pre/postnatal yoga training 2 weeks before I gave birth to my daughter, and I started the 85-hour 5-week Zoom program at 2 weeks postpartum. It was such a vulnerable moment in my life, and I had to learn to acknowledge it. I needed to sit in it and experience it. I felt encouraged, supported, and inspired by the women I trained within this program. It gave me a newfound respect and empathy for my clients. Sometimes, a yoga or dance class is a way to release our feelings in a safe space where we feel we are seen, heard, and understood. When we are allowed to do so, there is so much love, hope, and courage we experience. Going through postpartum anxiety, learning more about experiences of motherhood, and navigating through the new norm of a pandemic changed my perspective on my career. I leaned on my fellow program trainees and realized this is really what it is about. It was no longer about teaching as much as I could in a way that gave my clients the best “burn” or “physical challenge” that they could experience. I recognized my passion was for bringing people together to share their stories, connect with themselves and each other, and move their bodies in a way that made them feel strong and confident in their own skin. I wanted to give back to my clients what I was experiencing and to provide them with what support I could give as they navigated through the ever-changing and challenging journey of womanhood, motherhood, and life. That was when I immersed myself in studying, truly trying to do what I could to celebrate women and empower them through movement. At 5 weeks postpartum, I created BellyDanceCore by Mariam, an online membership group that promotes community, provides movement classes and wellness/nutrition support, and encourages creating relationships through dialogue. It was the scariest yet most fulfilling decision of my career. I am beyond grateful for every woman who has trusted me. I wake up every day excited to see my clients and learn from them as I teach them. They give me so much that I will forever be grateful for. I am truly blessed.v

Mariam, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I began teaching belly dance fitness at 18 while attending UC Irvine in January 2002. Some context on how I was equipped to teach belly dance fitness at 18… My whole life, my mother surrounded me with music and dancing. As an Iranian-American born in the 1980s, I grew up listening to so many different styles of music: Motown, Rock, Pop, Arabic, and old-school classic Persian music from artists like Googoosh. I was blessed that I grew up surrounded by music. Unfortunately, I did not really connect with most of the dance classes my mom enrolled me. In all truth, I struggled to learn most of the styles of dance I tried. I had flat feet and not the greatest turnout. I was insecure about this for years. I loved to dance and excelled in ice skating, but it did not translate to mastering the dance styles my mom enrolled me in.

At one point, my mom wanted me to take traditional Iranian dance classes to learn more about my culture, but I also think she wanted me to take these classes because she secretly wished she learned when she was young. She found a studio that had good reviews in the Chatsworth area. We would drive that long trek after school Mondays from Pasadena to deep in the valley every week. One week, the class fell on a holiday, and the freeway was empty. We arrived at the studio almost 45 minutes early. Walking in, we saw my dance teacher finishing a private with the most gorgeous woman I have ever seen. She had long, dark, curly hair, this incredible energy, and was completely immersed in her movements. She was belly dancing. I looked at my mother with big, bright eyes, and she immediately knew this was what I connected with. From that day on, my mom drove me 4 times a week for years that drive so I could learn belly dancing. I started right before I turned 11. I essentially went through my transition from a girl into a young lady during this time period.

As I got stronger in my technique, I changed studios and began taking classes from Anisa and Mesmera, two well-respected incredible belly dance teachers in Los Angeles. I was the youngest girl by far in the classes I was taking, and there was a sense of belonging I felt among the women that I was surrounded by in each class. Going through puberty surrounded by strong, creative, older, and encouraging women in this type of dance world was a blessing. I was an awkward kid with a unibrow, buck teeth, and puffy hair when I began training in belly dancing. There were not many Iranian Americans at my Catholic all-girls school, and I felt a little odd in the mix. I was insecure and talkative but still shy about my background and looking different from the other girls. However, I shed all that when I entered my belly dance classes. I felt like I was celebrated for me and that I could fully express myself through movement and be exactly how I am without judgment. Those women were my big sisters, mentors, and inspirations. They helped me feel comfortable in my own skin. I felt like I could navigate through those awkward years with a lot of support and a true feeling of a community. It stuck with me, and when I started teaching belly dance as a young woman at UC Irvine, I leaned into that. I wanted to help others feel as though belly dancing was accessible, enjoyable, and a source of community and connection to others and themselves. I stand by that in all that I teach. Over the years, I have become trained and certified in other areas of movement: yoga, barre, and Zumba, but I always go back to my roots and foundation, belly dance. The connection you learn to have with your pelvis and hips, as well as the celebration of self-expression and release, is universally needed.

I use my training in belly dancing as a way of helping others loosen their hips, activate their core, and find a connection with their inner goddess. I try to create an atmosphere where my clients learn proper technique, functional movement for their day-to-day life, musicality, and, of course, are given a space to feel free to explore moving their bodies freely without judgment. I hold this mindset in all yoga, fitness, and dance styles I teach. I want everyone to feel empowered when they leave a class, workshop, or retreat with me. I remind my clients that the most challenging part of class is showing up. Showing up is the most challenging; allowing oneself to be in the moment, embrace your body, and explore its capabilities is empowering. If I can help my clients have an hour out of their day to enjoy themselves, connect, and strengthen their bodies in the process, then I am living the dream.

Currently, I teach privates online via Zoom and in person in Pasadena/LA. I teach an outdoor Zumba and toning class every Sunday (for the past 2 1/2 years in Pasadena). I also teach for studios: Yoga Rebel Studio in La Canada and YogaSix in Pasadena. I recently began teaching at Caltech both as a physical education teacher in their undergraduate program, as well as a dance teacher for their recreational facility. I love every second I am with my clients. They are the best!

My website is Bellydancecore.com.

I offer support in pre/postnatal yoga and fitness as well as in yoga, barre, dance, and HIIT training. I work with couples and women and men of all ages. I am also halfway through my Institute of Integrative Nutrition program to become a certified Health Coach and will offer nutrition and wellness services in 2024. I genuinely love what I do. I appreciate and value the journey that got me here. I look at my daughter; she is my motivation for everything. I want her to grow up seeing her momma follow her passion, and it isn’t always easy, but it is my way of instilling in her the courage to believe in herself and know she is capable of anything she wants to do.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

In 2022, I began leading luxury retreats to support women as they navigate their life’s journey. It was a passion project into which my husband and I poured all our savings into to make happen. I wanted to provide further resources and a safe space for women to connect, move their bodies, and practice self-care.

I presented/led 4 retreats (2 international) in less than a year. I planned each of them from the ground up and brought on some of the industry’s most amazing and well-rounded professionals to lead classes and workshops. It was truly magical. I was so inspired by the women I met.

I was so green about running a business and being an entrepreneur. My goal was to touch as many women as possible and support them in any way I could. As a business, I did not know how to create a sustainable situation where I could continue putting on the caliber of retreats and make enough profit to offset the costs. I learned a tough lesson on business ownership, financial management, and creating boundaries. I needed to go through that to understand that being a creator and making a business work do not always hand-in-hand. I take full responsibility for the losses my husband and I financially took from these retreats. It was not something I would ever want to put my husband through again. I felt a lot of sadness when I ultimately had to accept it was over. It also gave me a life lesson I needed to learn. It is okay to fail at something. It is part of the growth process. I didn’t think that I was enough for my clients, and I realized that if I lead with my passion, my knowledge, and my empathy and I set boundaries that support not just myself but everyone, what I have to share is truly enough for those on the receiving end. I am forever grateful for the connections that I gained from these retreats. The clients and professionals who were part of these retreats touched my heart in ways I never thought possible. I left the experience stronger in myself, my relationship with my clients, and my relationship with my husband. Sometimes, things don’t work out, and that’s okay. We are meant to go through them to learn and grow, and I grew as a business owner, teacher, friend, wife, mother, and individual.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I come from the old school group exercise era- 24-Hour Fitness and Crunch Fitness era, where to get prime class times and substantial hours, you had to prove yourself by filling up whichever classes and time slots were given to you. You build your reputation by building consistency, dedication to your craft, connecting with clients, reliability, and willingness to go above and beyond to support your peers and clients. It takes time and a desire to put in effort in all areas. I feel blessed that I learned from the old-school way, as putting in the work in all these areas will help build your clientele. It is important to never stop learning. I love connecting with other trainers/teachers and showing up for my peers. We can learn a lot from each other and our clients. There is room for everyone to succeed in this industry. I have been given some of my most incredible opportunities in these moments.

I get to know everyone who comes to a class, whether it is their name and why they showed up, how their day went, or whatever they want to share. I acknowledge every person that shows up. I am grateful. When they show up, it gives me a chance to support them. They allow me to share my passion; I never want to take that for granted. Every day I walk into a session or class I am showing up for someone who might have gone through a lot of difficulty and sacrifice to be there for one hour to attend to their own self-care and health. I never take that lightly. It is a blessing to be here.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bellydancecore.com/
• Instagram: @bellydancecore @bellydancecorestudio @bdc_thegoddessretreat
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariamsufi/
• Other: vimeo: https://vimeo.com/user117368077

Image Credits
My photographers for credits: Natalie Costello, Kimberly Pena, Ryan Castaneda