Samira Shuruk

Raised around many cultures and in a home that valued nature, science, arts, and the richness of humanity, it shouldn’t be surprising that Samira’s career and life path has included the passionate pursuit of diverse and challenging fields.Exploration and expression through movement has always been an integral part of Samira’s journey. From the age of 14 to 17, while in high school, she completed all of the University of Connecticut’s undergrad and graduate-level courses in jazz dance and movement for actors.The program, under the direction of Jean Sabatine, incorporated the disciplines & practices of jazz dance, modern dance, mindful meditation techniques, improvisational movement, and Pilates in exercises structured to engage the mind, body, and spirit in explorations of alignment, breath, emotion, values, intentions, and dynamic expression.Jean Sabatine was taught by Jerome Robbins, who studied Pilates with Joseph and Clara Pilates in NYC.Through these studies she developed a great love and respect of tradition, balanced with the value of flexibility, creativity, and growth guided by knowledge and experience.While still a dance major in college, Samira started teaching fitness and movement in 1986 and further refined her pedagogy skills in the classroom as a middle and high school teacher.She also worked in her BA field in theater costume shops for several years.For the last two decades, her teaching focus has centered on Pilates and mobility work with an emphasis on cultivating vitality and prolonged quality of life for all of her students.During this time, she has also distinguished herself among a broad range of audiences as an accomplished cultural dance performer, specializing in MENAHT (Middle Eastern and North African) and Indian dance forms.Most recently, she has expanded her teaching and wellness repertoire and regularly leads mindfulness meditation classes.Starting in 2017, Samira began organizing international wellness retreats where she delights in sharing cultural enrichment and educational experiences with her guests.She’s led retreats in Potomac, Morocco, Kenya, Costa Rica, and more.The focus is unique for each location, and carefully curated to combine wellness, culture, nature, support of indigenous peoples, relaxation, introspective learning, and exhilarating joy.Believing in the tide that raises all boats, since 2016 she has been actively involved in awareness and funds raising for charities and organizations that center on important social issues including helping victims of domestic and sexual violence, alleviating hunger, and empowering minority populations to home-ownership.Most of this work is done through The Yoga Center of Columbia.