I warmly welcome you to
Move Rooted.

My name is Joanna Jasiewicz. I’m a somatics-informed race equity educator, specialising in supporting folks in becoming grounded and rooted in the body, in order to move towards connection and social justice. I’m also a sociologist (PhD), trauma-informed yoga teacher, and founder of Move Rooted.

I believe that when we feel rooted in our bodily experience, attuned to emotions and sensations as they arise in charged contexts, we grow our capacity to let ourselves be vulnerable and take action to interrupt racism and other forms of oppression with integrity and purpose.

Racism is entrenched within our bodies, just as much as in wider society. That’s why we cannot simply talk ourselves out of it by intellectualising or suppressing emotions and sensations - we need to reconnect with the language of the body.

I invite you to explore the strands of my work
that can help you and your organisation

Move Rooted works with individuals and organisations in deep, no-tick-box work to notice and address racism and oppression in our minds and bodies, and in the world around us.

  • Race equity through the lens of somatics

    Bespoke workshops and 1-1 sessions inviting somatic awareness to grow capacities to show up in the world with integrity and purpose.

  • Movement and Anti-Oppression

    Sessions that interweave elements of somatics-informed race equity workshop with movement practice as a different way-in to foster embodied, grounded and mindful anti-racism skills.

  • Practical support for organisations

    I partner with organisations to create meaningful and lasting change by embedding race equity and antiracism into policies, culture and behaviours.

  • Trauma-informed yoga

    Accessible, slower-paced and trauma-informed group and 1-1 sessions, encouraging body-mind connection and feeling of belonging for all folks.

— Dr Victoria Avery, Keeper, European Sculpture & Decorative Arts, The Fitzwilliam Museum, University of Cambridge. Co-Curator of Black Atlantic: Power, People, Resistance (Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, 8 September 2023 – 7 January 2024) and Lead Curator of the follow-on exhibition (21 February – 1 June 2025)

“I attended one of Joanna’s sessions on race and racism, and was really impressed by the compassion, expertise, and care with which she facilitated it.

The session covered a lot of complex and contested ground with great honesty and sensitivity. Joanna created a space that was welcoming, non-judgmental, and thought-provoking; this meant that everyone felt able to open up and speak out. I appreciated being given some minutes of silence to pause and self-reflect, as this is rarely done in any training session and is vital when talking about issues as complex and challenging as race and racism. I really valued her message that it's OK to feel uncomfortable when talking about race, and that embracing that discomfort is an important step in the right direction. 

Joanna’s session was incredibly helpful in making me aware of my white privilege, and helping me feel empowered to challenge racism. Joanna’s discussions around white allyship were transformational for me, and I went away determined to speak and act differently; and I am still acting daily on what I learnt from Joanna some time ago!”

— Ceren Kaser, Project Co-ordinator, Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge

“I attended Joanna's anti-racism session in spring 2024 and it was incredibly engaging—I couldn't believe how quickly 90 minutes passed. During the session, I stopped (instead of choosing to ignore), and noticed how discussions about race affected my body. I tried my best to embrace all the emotions such as embarrassment, sadness and hopelessness. I really appreciated how Joanna connected emotions, body, and race together. I was also glad to see that half of the participants were white, as I believe it's crucial for us to engage in this work and play our part in creating a more just and equitable world.”

— Karen Langford, Human Resources Manager, Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology,
University of Cambridge

“Joanna’s  insight and sensitivity in explaining and delivering race awareness sessions is exemplary. She takes time and care to create a safe space to discuss areas that could affect you and others in the sessions. You leave her sessions empowered, reflective and more knowledgeable, able to input and challenge any difficult behaviour you meet in others. Joanna delivered a race awareness session for my department and then I attended her session at the University of Cambridge’s West Hub in April 2024 – they left a life changing and profound effect on me in terms of what I learnt and what I took forward in my personal and professional life.”

— Participants in the ‘Understanding Whiteness: A Somatic Approach to Anti-Oppression’ session at the ‘Thinking Us’ Festival, Global Racisms and Social Transformation Research Institute, University of Cambridge

“Really excellent, completely immersive session”

“Connecting to the feeling of whiteness was new and interesting”

— Participants in the ‘Embodied Narratives: A Somatic Approach to Unpacking Privilege and Oppression’ session at the ‘Thinking Us’ Festival, Global Racisms and Social Transformation Research Institute, University of Cambridge

“Loved it! Different way of making life more visible”

“A safe and protective space to be body aware”