We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tenaya Figueira a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Tenaya, thanks for joining us today. Is there a heartwarming story from your career that you look back on?

Inspiring and heartwarming stories are why I do what I do! Over the years I’ve had countless women tell me they feel stronger, more empowered, and happier because of our classes. New moms have cried saying that our short virtual classes have been their only form of self-care at times and life-saving for them! One of our clients is 80 years old and after being a member for about a year was taken off of her cholesterol and bone density medications because her numbers dropped down to healthy levels. Being able to encourage women to get to know their bodies better through movement and practice self-care is truly such a gift and I’m very grateful to call this my work.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

In late 2020 I co-founded Movement Co., an online and outdoor fitness company. After having co-owned a barre studio for nearly a decade on Abbot Kinney Blvd in Venice, and being the mom of a newborn and 3 year old, I was happy and relieved to start a business that would work around my schedule. I miss the daily in-person interactions that I used to have with our community, but now that the online platform is running smoothly we’re working on some exciting in-person events, retreats, and classes, and I’m super excited about the future!

Movement Co. is rooted in the belief that we are all meant to move. We make our classes accessible to as many people as possible by offering different class formats, intensity levels, and durations. We encourage clients to get to know their bodies better through movement and educational cuing during class. I think our education and cuing really set us apart from every other workout out there.

Our hope is that members use our platform as the backbone of their fitness regimen. Maybe they like to play tennis or hike or take spin classes, but they complement whatever else they’re doing with our classes. Knowing the right skeletal alignment and which muscles should be engaged in what positions, help our clients make the most out of their time on our platform AND out in the world when they’re running or picking up a kid, or skiing down a mountain.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

Authenticity – When I see other fitness brands that are being real out there, I find it very inspiring

Inclusivity – think it’s important to recognize that everyone is different and what works for you may not work for others. We leaders need to be open-minded, flexible, and encourage our clients to do whats best for their unique self

Data – I think it’s so important to be educated and to backup your wellness work with real scientific data

How’d you meet your business partner?

We met through mutual friends right after college!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.movementco.live/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/movement_co_/

Image Credits
Aleksandra Zagozda & Muth King