About me

I’ve been practising yoga for over fifteen years, and have trained as teacher in Trauma Informed Yoga and Somatics (200hrs), Chair Yoga, Restorative Yoga, Yoga Nidra and Understanding Neurodiversity for yoga teachers with Barefoot Body Training Yoga & Somatics. I’ve also studied with Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY), completing their foundational 20h training in trauma sensitive yoga, an intervention specifically designed for Complex Trauma/Complex PTSD and trauma related dissociation.

I’m deeply passionate about integrating all these strands by weaving sociology, somatics, authentic movement and trauma-informed approach into 1-1 and group anti-oppression work.

Hello, I’m Joanna, I’m a white cisgender woman with roots in Central Eastern Europe. I bring to my work my lived experience of white privilege and oppression as an immigrant and someone who identifies as neurodivergent.

My background is in the sociology of race and racism, trauma-informed yoga and somatics. I’ve trained in and practiced a modality called Authentic Movement which is rooted in Jungian heritage and the field of dance movement therapy. I’m currently studying towards a certificate in Mind-Body Coaching with Embody Lab.

I’ve done my PhD on ethnic relations at the University of Barcelona, and worked for many years in the field of ethnicity, race and migration at the intersection of academia and third sector. With my academic hat on, I published articles in highly regarded journals such as Ethnic and Racial Studies, International Sociology, and European Societies.

Just before founding ‘Move Rooted’, I was responsible for the University of Cambridge’s successful application for the Race Equality Charter (REC) Bronze recognition (2019), and I led the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Race and Ethnicity Unit. I currently support other Higher Education institutions applying for the REC as Advance HE Associate.