We had the good fortune of connecting with Tenaya Figueira and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tenaya, what is the most important factor behind your success?
Authenticity. We used to be a part of a franchise where we had to follow certain branding, marketing, and product guidelines. Now, our brand is 100% us. We spent a lot of time before launching Movement Co. figuring out what our core values were and we try to navigate every decision with those in mind.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Movement Co. is rooted in the belief that we are all meant to move. We believe your workout should be a celebration of your body and not a punishment. We bring a big-sister energy to every class, acting as a support system and recognizing the needs of our clients, as a big sister does. Most of our classes are designed for all levels, incorporating integrative tools and intelligent cuing. Our teachers bring a multi-disciplinary approach to their work, drawing from their expertise in Barre, Pilates, Dance, Cardio, Stretch, and Meditation. No two classes are alike, as we incorporate a broad spectrum of modalities, music, and choreography.

Movement Co. was born during the pandemic when our almost-ten-year-run on Abbot Kinney Blvd ended, and we needed to make some big changes. It wasn’t easy pivoting from an in-person business to an almost-all online business, but we did it, and I’m super proud of where we are now. I had so many moments where I wanted to throw in the towel, especially when I was trying to setup the camera and audio equipment for our virtual studio. I am not a tech person, but as a business owner, you have to be open to learning and doing new things that aren’t necessarily in your wheelhouse. I think the years of experience co-owning a studio prepared me for this, so although I was extremely frustrated at times, I knew it was all part of the process, and our business would be stronger because of it. One thing I did early on that has contributed monumentally to our success today, and the reason the “I” became a “we”, is that I asked for help. I brought on two partners who helped me rebrand, and get really focused on what our purpose was. We meet weekly to connect, inspire, and support each other, and I am so grateful for this.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Oooh I love this question! My favorite things to do with visitors in Venice are 1) grab a coffee at Minotti’s and take a walk on the beach and through the canals 2) Play paddle tennis down by the beach and then jump in the water afterwards 3) Eat dinner at Felix and then grab a drink at Tasting Kitchen.

Outside of Venice I love: going to Malibu, walking through the Lake Shrine in the Palisades, shopping around Melrose Place, hiking up to the Griffith Observatory, eating at lunch Sqirl, having a drink on the roof of the Ace Hotel (or any downtown rooftop bar really), eating dinner at Bavel (!!), doing a movie and picnic night at the Hollywood Cemetery, going to a show at the Hollywood Bowl, salsa dancing on the 3rd street promenade on Sunday nights, doing contrast therapy (cold plunge and infrared sauna) at Pause and then lunch at Mizlala…. I could go on and on as there is a lot to do in this amazing city that we live in but this feels like a good start!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to dedicate this to my husband and two sons. These boys are my biggest supporters and the reason I keep persevering on this bumpy career path!

Website: https://www.movementco.live/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/movement_co_/

Image Credits
Tamara Muth King Julia Yang

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