Meet Cecilia Wen | Dance Instructor, Mentor & Founder of Move In Touch

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

Hi Cecilia, what is the most important factor behind your success?
Before i tap into this question, i would like to say that the definition of success is a very personal yet broad. Success can mean so many different things for every individual and is definitely not a one-dimensional idea. I do consider myself successful because what i do is aligned with my purpose and passion in life–i built my brand by taking a leap of faith and really following my vision and i can see it steadily growing and making a difference in people’s lives, no matter how big or small, While i celebrate what i have built so far, i know this really just the beginning and the best is yet to come, which i personally think is another important defining aspect for success–longevity/room for growth.

There are several elements that contribute to the success of my brand “Move in Touch” that came to my mind. But the number 1 factor from my experience is knowing how to keep on believing in yourself. I would be lying if i tell you that it was not terrifying to start my own brand for so many reasons. The truth is, fear is always going to come with decisions that push you out of your comfort zone and elevate you to the next level. Everyone has that voice who is always saying no and casting doubts in your head. But it is up to us to not let it drive our decision-makings and actions. I always remind myself to move without fear and act without ego. It is definitely a process and a habit that I had to form—it takes practices for sure and I am still practicing every chance I get— believing in what i have to offer and my vision becomes way more powerful than anything else in my head.

The stronger you believe in yourself and in “it”, whatever that is for you, the more elevated your mindset will be. I start focusing on the process and the bigger picture rather than focusing on the numbers, outcomes and things I cannot control. I shift my focus onto how I can gain more knowledge and be better at what I do with pure motivation rather than stress/pressure. I learned to be more patient because I believe that it is a matter of time for my vision to come to life. I stop myself from comparing (this is a hard one) me and my brand to/with others so that I stick to my vision and purpose and remember that being authentically myself is enough. I remind myself not to lose sight of why I started and my end goal instead of getting lost in the sauce in a fast-paced industry.

With that being said, I would like to be clear on one thing: How strong you believe in yourself have to come from strong self-knowledge and self-awareness. It is not blind faith, to say the least, but it is based on the understandings of what you excel at, what you are meant to do and who you are as a person. The more specific and more sure you are of the “why”s, the easier the “what”s and “how”s will come, making it easier also for you to believe in it with full confidence. Know that this in itself is a process and journey —it takes time and it can change as you grow. Embrace it, be open and be patient.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My brand Move In Touch is really created how much I believe one’s mind and body are connected, especially for a woman, and the power of a tight-knit community with like-minded people. There is a lot of healing, exploring, and nourishment that comes with moving your body, whether it is through dance or yoga, or breathwork, etc.

Dance happens to be my way of self-expression and I take pride in building and leading a community and a safe environment for women to find their individuality, explore their own femininity and build confidence and self-appreciation through the dance experience. I think my classes are one-of-a-kind simply because I teach a class that I personally would want to take and I am guiding with the mindset of “Dance is for EVERYONE, not just for professional dancers”. My classes are all about finding yourself, being yourself, celebrating yourself, and tell your own story and that is one of the biggest that sets my class apart from the rest. Teaching and mentoring is truly my purpose and my passion and it shows when I am in the room–I find so much joy when I see my students embracing, sharing, growing as women and dancers as well as connecting with one another.

I am currently teaching a heels class consistently in Los Angeles as well as the bay area and am taking my Move In Touch out of California next year ( Arizona and Texas to be exact). In addition, as Move in Touch is all about mind-body growth, I am excited to expand on the type of classes being offered and am planning on organizing an inclusive workshop, which is the ultimate vision for my brand. This will be a workshop where women can focus on their growth both physically and mentally and build a community that is supportive and geniune.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Los Angeles has a lot to offer as a big city! Activity and places wise, as much of tourist I would sound, I definitely would be taking him/her to the Getty for their beautiful architecture and art gallery and Griffith Observatory during sunset for a beautiful view of the city. There are a couple of areas/neighborhoods that are cool to explore and hang out that came to mind: Art District in downtown LA (great food options like Urth Cafe, amazing graffitis and fun stores) and Abbot Kinney Blvd in Venice ( great graffitis again and so many unique boutique stores for some shopping) Since we cannot leave LA without a beach trip, my top 2 beaches are Malibu and Hermosa Beach, both are not too busy with an amazing view and a nice area around to have fun and eat after a beach day.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Shoutout to my parents for obvious reasons, my friends Ewelina, Steph, Elisa & Carolina who have been there for me at my worst moments, my spiritual guide Jerome who always keep me grounded, my mentor Liana for a life-changing workshop

Website: https://www.instagram.com/moveintouch/

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

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Nl8io5OTolDXHdS3a6Yfw

Image Credits
Elisa Pittella Ewelina Polnicka