ABOUT
JO ANGWIN
[& NOONAH]

YOGA AND PILATES TEACHER AND MENTOR

Jo brings 25+ years of teaching experience combined with a unique background that bridges the worlds of movement artistry and mindfulness practices.

What drives your approach to movement?
I’ve owned and taught in yoga and Pilates studios for over 25 years, so it’s fair to say these practices have shaped much of my life and work. But I also know they’re not the whole story. People aren’t machines—you can’t just hand out movement and expect it to solve everything. True wellbeing runs deeper. It’s shaped by connection. How we live, what we think and what we’ve been through. Without taking the time to understand the person behind the body, most movement spaces simply miss the point. It’s just grunt and burn and mirrors. I am all too well aware of this as I watched it over and over again in the communities of students I have taught. People leave feeling like something’s still missing— judged, unseen, unheard, pushed and pulled and like, well there is something wrong with them, that they are not quite ‘right’. I want something else for you and for me.

How did your journey to Movement begin?
My path began in the martial arts world, where I developed a deep understanding of movement as both an art form and a means of expression and self defence. I wanted to understand the 'why' behind the physiology of exercise, movement patterns and how they affect our overall wellbeing. This curiosity led me to pursue 4 different Certifications in Yoga, study in India with the Iyengar Family and continue on to study Yogic philosophy, Yoga Therapy, Pilates and Mindfulness practices. My small intimate home based studio came about after years of running large studios that provided classes for 700+ students a week. I could see the massive gaps in learning, the generic nature of the classes delivered and the cookie cutter and ultra stylised design of the yoga and pilates teaching world. The message was just getting missed. I love to connect with community and create beautiful spaces. This one, this ‘online studio’, this one is special. A place for me and for you to slow down, breathe, heal, age and be smaller, steadier and sustainable. A place where understanding meets compassionate care, where movement becomes a pathway to reconnection rather than another fitness fad or source of judgement or pressure.

What's your approach to working with clients?
My aim is to support people in getting to know their bodies, their minds, and their own way of moving through the many layers of life. I offer care that’s personal, thoughtful, and goes beneath the surface. From that place, it becomes possible to build a sustainable relationship with movement—one guided by intuition and patience, not by rigid rules or external expectations or time/travel pressures.

What might surprise people about your teaching style?
I'm not interested in being the all-knowing expert who dictates every move—I'm much more passionate about creating opportunities through layers of understanding and building confidence through choice. A sustainable way to move where you can connect with your body, discover what works and what doesn't, and build the confidence to explore those discoveries and make choices for yourself.

What's your favourite thing about the Collingwood community?
Online communities have and can bring connections. They can be a wonderful blend of creative energy and community spirit that perfectly aligns with your values, your tribe so to speak. I love the diversity and the sense that everyone is welcome exactly as they are.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERTISE

• Level 2 Iyengar Yoga Teacher

• Comprehensive Classical Yoga Certification

• Specialisation in Yoga Therapy and prop use to support illness

• Extensive experience in Prenatal & Postnatal support

• Comprehensive Pilates Certification

• Size Inclusive Movement Advocate

• Former Sculpture, Painter and Art Therapist

Jo brings together her deep understanding of movement, yogic philosophy, and mindfulness to offer a compassionate, down-to-earth approach to practice. Her focus is on how you feel in your body—not how it looks or performs. Through her teaching, she supports the development of self-trust and personal agency, creating a foundation for movement and awareness that carries into all areas of life.

AND MEET NOONAH - STUDIO MANAGER & CHIEF WELCOMER

Noonah serves as the studios unofficial studio manager, chief welcomer, and emotional support companion. This very big and totally harmless hairy canine will often wander in and take over the entire screen, have a scratch then move on. Noon believes firmly that movement should be steady, free spirited and not for too long!