Mariam Sufi, a Los Angeles native, is a former dancer and now a passionate fitness instructor with over fifteen years of experience teaching belly dancing, barre, Pilates, Zumba, and both heated & non-heated yoga. Mariam started teaching group fitness classes in 2001 while a student at UC Irvine. She created a belly dance fitness class for the famed Anteater Recreational Center that is still taught to this day and has been awarded many times for its vast popularity. She then created her signature class, Belly Dance Core Conditioning, in 2010 - it has since been offered in Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington DC, & now, virtually!
Mariam discovered her love for yoga in high school when she took her first class alongside her father. She loved how it enhanced her flexibility, deepened her breath awareness, and how the practice helped her to focus on the present. She was hooked! Mariam continued to practice yoga throughout college, but it wasn't until she took a class at the renowned Hot 8 Yoga in 2013 that she decided to immerse herself in learning and growing among the hot yoga community with the goal of teaching. Mariam is now an E-RYT 200, and holds three additional specialty certifications: Yoga Barre, Yoga Sculpt, and Yoga Vibe. Before moving to Washington DC in 2018, Mariam served as the Director of Hot 8 Yoga in Los Angeles’ Koreatown, where she trained & mentored dozens of teachers and helped to build a thriving community. In Washington DC, she has led teacher trainings for Hot Pilates Barre HIIT and Hot Yoga Sculpt at Hot Yoga Capitol Hill.
Most recently, Mariam completed an 85 Hour Prenatal & Postnatal Yoga Teacher Training through Utah Prenatal Yoga. This training was especially close to her heart, as she had just become a new mother a few weeks prior to starting the program. Going through the training shortly after her pregnancy journey and labor experience provided a newfound respect and appreciation for the yoga practice and a deeper connection to her own story. Mariam hopes to continue connecting with others, spreading her love for yoga and community along the way.
Mariam also holds certifications in Group Exercise from NASM, Barre from Savvier Fitness's Barre Above Program & Barre3, and Mat Pilates from Connie Borho. She is also a certified Fitness Nutrition Specialist and had studied Nutrition and Bio Sciences. She currently splits her time between Washington DC and Los Angeles with her husband, baby girl, & mini Labradoodle. During the nationwide shutdown caused by COVID-19, Mariam started virtually teaching yoga to the Washington Wizards NBA basketball team, which inspired her to start offering weekly online classes open to all!
I understand that it takes passion, connection, and determination to put oneself out there and find a new tribe or community to be part of. My world is yoga and movement, and I thrive on helping others find confidence and strength within themselves, whether it is in a workout or in life. The reason I teach and the reason I teach the way I do is to help people, particularly women, feel strong in their bodies.
I do not want to promote “skinny.” I want to promote healthy and energized.
Workout with Mariam virtually seven days a week!
From Dance.Sculpt.Core. to Zumba to Yoga Flow and more…
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Mariam’s teaching style is simply unparalleled and her energy is unmatched - she can put a smile on anyone’s face and get them motivated to move their body, no matter what. She makes you feel comfortable in your own skin and feeling your best - mentally and physically. She is so creative with her approach, and her workouts feel like fun rather than something to dread. She is tough, though - don’t be fooled! Her classes will get you feeling strong and reaping the benefits of a good sweat - I notice an immediate improvement in my muscle tone, core strength, and my overall energy levels when I take her classes. I love her energy, her music, and the many different classes she offers, from Zumba to Pilates/Barre to Yoga Sculpt - she’s just the best and my favorite teacher that I’ve ever taken fitness classes from.
-Mia R.
Prenatal + postnatal training and support is here!
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I have taken Mariam’s Zumba, barre and dance classes over the past five years and she is the BEST! She has the best energy, great music, she is SO much fun, you will torch calories AND you will get the greatest workout ever and have a blast doing it!
-Mindy S.