Sharmila Mitra, MA

A Career Built on Two Disciplines

Sharmila brings more than 30 years of dance experience to her work as a performer, choreographer and adjudicator. Dance was never separate from her Pilates practice; it was the lens through which she understood it. She has built her career around one fundamental question first posed by Joseph Pilates: What does it take for the body to move at peak performance?

To deepen her understanding of the dancer’s body, she trained at New York’s Westside Dance Physical Therapy, whose physical therapists oversee the health of the New York City Ballet and other premier professional dance companies. There, she earned a specialized certificate in Dance Medicine, studying alongside leaders in the field. She went on to complete her GYROTONIC certification under Master Trainer Suzie Lewis in 2016. In 2017, she added the Applications for Dancers concentration, further sharpening her ability to help dancers build strength, stability and expressive range of motion.

Founding Core Arts Pilates

Before moving to Orange County, Sharmila taught Pilates in West Hollywood, where her clients included several recognizable names in film and television: Academy Award nominee Toni Collette, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Mary-Louise Parker, Patricia Richardson, former Victoria’s Secret model Yasmeen Ghauri, and former Miss America Maryann Mobley. Crystal Lee, Miss California 2013, has spoken publicly about training with Sharmila as part of her Miss America preparation, crediting her with sharpening both her physical conditioning and her mental game.

BodyStrategies™ for Dancers

BodyStrategies™ for Dancers is Sharmila’s proprietary dance conditioning methodology. It is a year-round program that integrates classical Pilates principles with the latest advances in dance medicine and hands-on conditioning techniques. Built specifically for dancers, this method builds functional strength, sharpens balance and power, and protects against common injuries while deepening body awareness. The program is available exclusively at Core Arts Pilates. No other studio in Orange County offers anything like it.

Coaching with Grace

Sharmila’s work has always extended beyond the physical. In 2019, Mindbody invited her to host an exclusive Pilates masterclass for editors and influencers from Health Magazine, Fast Company, PopSugar, Dwell and The Huffington Post. That same year, she taught at Complexions Contemporary Ballet’s summer intensive at the USC Kaufman School of Dance, the company founded by Desmond Richardson and Dwight Rhoden. In fall 2021, she served as guest adjunct faculty at California State University, Long Beach, teaching Pilates to dance majors.

These experiences, combined with her master’s degree in spiritual psychology from the University of Santa Monica (emphasis: consciousness, health and healing), led to the development of Coaching with Grace. It is a premium performance coaching practice for dancers and anyone who performs under pressure. The practice is built on the Coaching with Grace Method: Intention, Focus, Trust, Resilience, Integration. Anchored by her book, “The Power of Intention for Dancers,” it supports clients in developing the inner architecture that great performance requires: confidence, focus under pressure and a stable sense of identity beyond outcomes

The Power of Intention for Dancers

Sharmila is the author of “The Power of Intention for Dancers: A Journal for Achieving Your Dreams,” a practical guide and reflective journal for dancers navigating the convergence of artistry, athleticism and personal growth. It is available on Amazon and serves as the philosophical foundation of the Coaching with Grace practice.

Credentials at a Glance

• Classical Pilates Certification — New York Pilates Guild (under Romana Kryzanowska, 1999)
• Classical Pilates Certification — Power Pilates
• Certificate in Dance Medicine — Westside Dance Physical Therapy, New York
• GYROTONIC Certification — certified under master trainer Suzie Lewis
• GYROTONIC Applications for Dancers — concentration certification (2017)
• Master of Arts, spiritual psychology — University of Santa Monica (emphasis: consciousness, health and healing)
• Bachelor of Arts, dance — California State University, Fullerton
• Bachelor of Arts, communication — California State University, Fullerton
• Creator, BodyStrategies for Dancers
• Founder, Coaching with Grace
• Author, “The Power of Intention for Dancers: A Journal for Achieving Your Dreams”
• Pilates teacher trainer — more than 25 years
• Studio owner — Core Arts Pilates, founded 2005

Selected Highlights

• Faculty, Complexions Contemporary Ballet Summer Intensive at USC Kaufman School of Dance (2019)
• Guest Adjunct Faculty, California State University, Long Beach — Dance Department (fall 2021)
• Master Class Instructor, Mindbody media event (2019) — featured in Health Magazine, Fast Company, PopSugar, Dwell and Huffington Post
• Master Class Instructor, Cal State Fullerton Dance Department (2023)