Joanna Puchala

International aerialist and contemporary dancer/choreographer. Founder of FlowMove Academy, where she is nurturing the next generation of strong and skilled performers as well as promoting well-being for all.

Overview

Joanna has over twenty years of experience in different mind-body practices such as Yoga (Hatha, Ashtanga, Vinyasa Flow), Pilates/Equipment/Barre and Contemporary dance. She teaches Vinyasa flow which focuses on core strength and flexibility and allows for self-expression, body toning, and a deep connection between body and mind.  As a Yoga Therapist for mental health, depression, and anxiety she trained with World Minded Institute, she has developed techniques to stimulate the body and mind, such as Pilates and Free/Flow/Improvised movement to release stress and calm down the nervous system. She promotes her unique yoga dance style which fuses yoga and contemporary dance.

Joanna was one of the best qualified yoga instructors in London when she came across Aerial Yoga ten years ago when she was already an experienced yoga/movement teacher.  She saw the potential to run an aerial teacher training course to develop the expertise of other yoga professionals.  She realized that regular mat yoga is becoming saturated with classes and courses.  Aerial yoga, however, is just emerging from a niche into a mainstream form of yoga.  Many find there are immense benefits associated with the inversions and suspensions of aerial/anti-gravity yoga and it helps make yoga practice deeply therapeutic and spiritual.

Puchala has created a unique form of aerial yoga flow practice which allows the experience of suspension while strengthening and opening the body and mind.  Her unique approach to aerial yoga with characteristic flow and smooth transitions between positions has made her greatly in demand for her teaching skills.   In recognition of this work Joanna has won the  Prestige award for  the Best Aerial instructor for the last three years.

Studies

  • Economics degree in Business Studies
  • Dance degree at  Birkbeck College, the University of London in association with The Place (Contemporary Dance School of London) and Matthew Bourne’s ‘New Adventures.
  • Dance at Lewisham College (LeSoCo) and won a BTEC National Award in Performing Arts-Dance
  • Further degree at Royal Holloway, College, University of London – Postgraduate Certificate in Physical Theatre for Dancers and Actors led by the Jasmin Vardimon Company
  • Professional qualifications in Aerial/Yoga/Therapy, Reformer/Pilates, Pole Dance, and Barre.

Developments

As a Contemporary dancer,  Joanna developed her own style of Yoga Dance and Aerial Yoga Dance which incorporates Yoga and Aerial Yoga principles in conjunction with Contemporary dance.  She is a founder, artistic director, choreographer, performer, and producer of the award-winning LCP Dance Theatre company which raises awareness of violated human rights using the performing arts. LCP Dance has been nominated several times by Amnesty International for the Freedom of Expression Performing Arts Award at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Social Arts

In 2018 Joanna decided to develop a platform that she could share with other artists to express a shared belief in promoting Human Rights and Social Justice by founding the Social Arts Festival. This is an annual event for artists to exhibit their talents by addressing sensitive human, political and social subjects through performance.   Both LCP and the Social Arts Festival not for profit organizations.  FlowMove is an official sponsor of both artistic companies.  Profits from FlowMove go towards supporting the two organizations to send a message highlighting human rights and social injustice through performance, movement, and art.   Flowmove intends to bring professional Aerial Yoga training to teachers of Yoga and through its sponsorships, it also provides an opportunity to perform on a public platform bringing together dance, aerial, other movement and arts forms.

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