Today we’d like to introduce you to Anastasia Antonova.
Anastasia, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I grew up in Russia and moved to the United States when I was 18. Shortly after, I settled in New York City, where I spent the next 12 years building my career in creative industries. I worked as a graphic designer, photographer, and high-end retoucher, collaborating with brands such as Mercedes, Nike, Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Laura Mercier and many others.
Outside of my professional career, movement became a major part of my life. I was always drawn to different ways of training, exploring what the body is capable of, and expressing myself through movement. Over the years, I experimented with everything from kickboxing, Pilates, and yoga to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, calisthenics, aerial silks, and pole. What started as curiosity evolved into a lifelong passion for movement and personal growth.
While pole eventually became my primary focus, I also spent years training Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at Renzo Gracie Academy in New York, where I earned my blue belt in BJJ. Those experiences taught me discipline, resilience, and the value of consistent practice, lessons that continue to influence both my teaching philosophy and approach to business today.
Three years ago, I moved to Austin looking for a different pace of life and new opportunities. As I became more involved in the local movement community, I started envisioning a space that combined high-quality instruction, creativity, and a supportive atmosphere where people could challenge themselves, build confidence, and connect with others.
In 2025, I launched Muvmet as a movement-focused platform built around education, community, and creative expression. The vision continued to evolve, and in March 2026, I opened the doors to Muvmet Studio in Austin. Building the studio while maintaining a full-time career meant learning everything from leasing and renovations to marketing, operations, and community building. It was both challenging and incredibly rewarding.
Today, Muvmet Studio is a growing movement space offering pole, dance, flexibility, and specialty movement classes for students of all experience levels. What I’m most proud of is the community we’ve built. Watching students gain confidence, discover strengths they never knew they had, and form meaningful connections through movement has been the most rewarding part of the journey.
Looking ahead, my goal is to continue growing Muvmet into a multidisciplinary movement hub, expand educational opportunities both in person and online, and help more people discover the confidence, creativity, and empowerment that movement can provide.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
One thing I’ve learned throughout my life is that growth rarely happens inside your comfort zone. Moving to New York from Russia as a teenager with limited English and very few resources taught me early on how to adapt, solve problems, and keep moving forward even when the path wasn’t clear. That mindset became invaluable later when I decided to start a business.
One of the biggest surprises about opening a studio was realizing how different it is from teaching. Teaching is what people see, but behind the scenes there are countless responsibilities. On any given day, I might be planning classes, marketing the business, managing finances, coordinating instructors, troubleshooting problems, cleaning the studio, or helping a student feel welcome on their first visit. Running a business requires wearing many hats and constantly learning new skills.
Another challenge has been learning to trust my own vision. When you’re building something from the ground up, there is no roadmap and everyone has an opinion. I’ve had to learn how to listen to feedback while also staying true to the kind of community and experience I want Muvmet to provide.
Building a community has also taught me patience. You can’t force trust, relationships, or culture. Those things are built one interaction at a time. Every student who walks through the door is looking for something a little different, whether it’s fitness, confidence, friendship, creative expression, or simply a place where they feel they belong. Creating an environment where people feel supported and inspired takes consistency and genuine care.
The challenges are ongoing, but that’s part of what makes entrepreneurship rewarding. Some of my proudest moments have been watching students accomplish things they once thought were impossible, seeing friendships form inside the studio, and watching Muvmet gradually develop its own identity. Those moments remind me that the most meaningful things in life often take time, persistence, and a willingness to embrace uncertainty.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Muvmet is a dance studio and growing education platform based in Austin, Texas. We specialize in pole, heels, flexibility, strength, and movement-based training, with a focus on helping people build confidence, creativity, and body awareness.
Although many people discover us through pole, Muvmet was never intended to be just a pole studio. My vision is to create a space where people can explore movement in different forms, challenge themselves physically and creatively, and find a supportive community along the way.
I opened Muvmet Studio in March 2026 and offer classes for all experience levels, from complete beginners to advanced students. What sets us apart is our emphasis on both athletic development and artistic expression. We believe movement should be empowering, accessible, and enjoyable.
What I’m most proud of is the community we’re building. Seeing students gain confidence, celebrate milestones, and support one another has been the most rewarding part of the journey. As we continue to grow, our goal is to expand into new movement disciplines and create more opportunities for people to learn, connect, and discover what they’re capable of.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
One of my favorite childhood memories is playing outside with my older brother and our German Shepherd. We spent hours running around, exploring, and making up games. I’ve always loved animals. As a kid, I filled entire notebooks with animal drawings and was convinced I would have a pony one day. That never happened, but dogs were always a big part of my childhood. Now that I live in Texas, maybe that childhood dream still has a chance after all!
When I think back on those years, what I remember most is the sense of freedom, curiosity, and adventure. Those are qualities I’ve tried to hold onto as an adult as well.
Pricing:
- Intro Offer: 3 Classes for $79 (Best Way to Get Started)
- Single Class Drop-In: $35
- Flexible Class Packages Available
- Unlimited Membership: $229/month
- Private Lessons & Special Events Available
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Muvmet.com
- Instagram: @muvmetstudio
- Other: https://momence.com/u/muvmet-GC2yeM
