Malik Turley

Malik Turley is a passionate and highly capable woman who, when she does something, goes all in. Perhaps surprisingly, her first career was IT. The experience of attending the home-birth of her friend’s child led to her becoming a Doula, which led to the discovery of belly dancing as a beneficial pregnancy exercise. This changed the course of her life.

Belly dancing as exercise–and its impact on women–fully activated Malik’s interest in physical health. This propelled her through a procession of certifications and levels of instruction: Certified Datura Style™ Belly Dance Instructor (the only one in the Midwest); Licensed Zumba and Zumba Gold Instructor, Certified Group Fitness Instructor, Certified Personal Trainer and Certified Fitness Nutrition Coach. When we say your physical health is in good hands with Malik, you can believe it.  

Her fitness instruction took her to facilities all over Chicago and the suburbs. What she found was a lot of dissatisfied women: women who felt uncomfortable in the typical health club, who didn’t want a co-ed space, who wanted more personal attention and guidance. Essentially, women who wanted to be seen, heard, and celebrated for who they are. Hip Circle was created for those women.

As she worked closely with women and girls at Hip Circle, she observed a link between self-worth and body image that she didn’t herself have. She was compelled to unpack these two ideas and work with women to help them see that they ALL have worth above, beyond, and independent of their physical shape. She continues to explore and foster that philosophy at Hip Circle and has codified it in the Empowering through Movement™ teacher training program.