Let us amaze you!
At IMA Berlin we want to share our passion for Stretching, Contortion, Handstand and Acrobatics. After years of experience as artistic performers and coaches we have developed a unique concept in order to give your training an intention and therefore achieve optimum results.
Grow beyond yourself!
We believe that focused and challenging work with your own body is not only a wonderful way to increase your flexibility and strength, it can also give you a true physical experience of yourself. To go to your limits or even beyond, allows you to achieve seemingly unattainable goals and literally surpass yourself. The aesthetic aspect of this body art provides a wonderful and creative form of expression for your personality.
Well-being and encouraging!
Wir möchten einen schönen und kreativen Ort schaffen, an dem man sich wohl fühlt, gegenseitig unterstützt und inspiriert und wo wir unsere gemeinsame Leidenschaft für Artistik teilen. Alle Alter, Farben und Formen sind willkommen – vom Anfänger bis zum Profi wollen wir unserer familiären Community einen Raum zum sportlichen, künstlerischen und sozialen Austausch geben.
Our Team
CEO | Stretching | Handstand
Petra
Petra’s Liebe zum Turnen begann schon im Kindergarten. Seit ihrer Artistik-Ausbildung im National Centre for Circus Arts in London ist sie Vertikalseil-Artistin und Akrobatin aus Leidenschaft und performt seit über 20 Jahren international bei Companies, Varietés und auf Veranstaltungen, und ist für ihren authentischen und ausdrucksstarken Bewegungsstil bekannt. 2022 absolvierte sie einen Master of Arts in Zeitgenössischem Zirkus an der Stockholm University of the Arts.
When teaching handstands or yoga, Petra loves to empower people while accompanying them in expanding their skills.
CEO | Stretching | Contortion
Sherry
Sherry fühlt sich seit ihrer Kindheit stark mit Tanz verbunden und entdeckt Fusion Bellydance für sich. Bald darauf beginnt sie außerdem Akrobatikunterricht zu nehmen. Besonders Kontorsion und Flexibility Training hat es ihr angetan, was sie mit großer Begeisterung bei Nicole Gerstner, ehemalige Sportgymnastin und Artistin trainiert.
Since 2019 she has also been teaching and is pleased to be able to share her passion that way. In her classes she loves to respond and care for each participant's needs individually. Values that are particularly important to her are the development of a healthy posture and the correct execution of exercises in collaboration with her students.
Partner | Stretching | Contortion | Handstand | Acrobatics
Nicole
Nicole began her athletic career in rhythmic gymnastics at the Children- and Youth Sportschool in Leipzig. At the age of 14 she started her professional circus training at the Berlin State School of Ballet and Circus Arts. Following that, she performed her contortion show in cabaret theatres and television shows across the world for over 20 years
Besides being a performer, she started to teach early on. Nowadays she coaches children as well as grown ups from beginner to professional, and passes on her immense experience with great delight
Stretching | Contortion | Handstand
Rosa
Rosa, born and raised in Stuttgart, discovered her love for physical arts early on through the Youth Circus "Calibastra".
After graduating highschool, her passion for circus led Rosa to America, where she worked as a performer and trainer at "Circus Mojo" for one year. This was followed by several years of training in stage dance at "Balance1" in Berlin. Simultaneously she completed a training to become a circus performer at IVA International Variety Academy with former contortionist Nicole Gerstner.
Stretching | Contortion
Marie
Marie trainiert seit 2011 mit großer Begeisterung verschiedene artistische Disziplinen. Insbesondere Kontorsion, Pole Dance und Flexibility Training bieteen ihr ständig neue Herausforderungen und eröffnen ihr unzählige Möglichkeiten, sich sportlich und kreativ weiterzuentwickeln. Marie liebt es, an kniffligen neuen Tricks zu arbeiten und diese in den unterschiedlichsten Choreografien und Abfolgen zu verarbeiten.
Since 2016 Marie has also been teaching, which allowed her to discover her passion from a whole new perspective. She adores to inspire her students with contortion and stretching training and to support them in acquiring new techniques.
Aerial Hammock | Stretching
Olena
Olena Yakymenko ist Absolventin der renommierten Zirkusschule in Kiew und begeisterte bei Zirkusfestivals in Großbritannien, Holland und China (Bronze Medaille), beim „Traumtänzer- Best of Variete“ TV- Festival und Zirkusfestival in Wiesbaden (Beste Performance). Mit ihrer Solodarbietung am Ring glänzte sie in zahlreichen Variete-, Gala- und TV-Shows in Europa. Im Juni 2003 bezauberte sie in Monte Carlo den Fürsten Rainier III von Monaco zu seinem 80-jährigen Jubiläum.
Seit vielen Jahren unterrichtet Olena Luft- und Pole-Akrobatik, z.B. an der ehemaligen IVA Berlin. Zu ihren berühmtesten Schülerinnen gehört z.B. auch Helene Fischer.
History of Origin of IMA Intentional Movement Academy
IMA was created at the end of 2022 by former trainers, students and staff of IVA Berlin, which had been a place for training, teaching and exchange for hundreds of people over the course of ten years from 2011 to 2021. Due to an expiring lease, in 2021 IVA had to close ist doors forever. But many students and trainers were missing a place for creative exchange and professional training, thus the idea for a refoundation was born.
Noch einmal ganz klein von vorn zu beginnen gibt uns die Möglichkeit, aus Vergangenem zu lernen. Was sich bewährt hat, können wir ausbauen – anderes können wir verbessern. Und so beginnen wir mit einer Intention: Wir haben definiert, was uns an der Artistik inspiriert und motiviert, und wie wir damit etwas Wertvolles an andere weitergeben können. Aus diesem Ansatz heraus haben wir klare Ziele für unsere zukünftigen Trainingsprojekte formuliert: With our programme we want to make a change and support people in their personal development.. Durch unseren fokussierten und herausfordernden Trainingsansatz bietet die intensive Arbeit mit dem eigenen Körper vielfältige Möglichkeiten. Von der Verbesserung der Gesundheit, Beweglichkeit und des Selbstbewusstseins, über körperliche Selbsterfahrung und Persönlichkeitsentwicklung, als ästhetische und kreative Ausdrucksform, bis hin zum Profi-Training für Artistik – Wir werden spezialisierte Angebote für all diese Bedürfnisse entwickeln.
Therefore, the name was easily found: IMA: Intentional Movement Academy in alignment with IVA International Varieté Academy, and read backwards: AIM: Acadamy (of) Intentional Movement. IMA: Intentional Movement Academy in Anlehnung an die IVA Internationale Varieté Akademie und anders gelesen AIM: Academy (of) Intentional Movement.
IMA – trainiere mit einer Intention und einem Ziel – AIM higher!
Our Values
1. Experience
We are professionals: Some of us have been training since early childhood, have performed as circus artists, or have accumulated knowledge and experience through first class trainings. Our teaching experience ranges from 4 years to over 20 years.
2. Quality
We offer high-value training in small groups with a lot of time for individual support and targeted corrections for anything from basics to advanced tricks.
3. Creativity
We apply our knowledge with flexiblilty, we customize each of our classes according to the participants and give creative suggestions for improvement and execution.
4. Safety
All trainers are specifically trained to teach with a focus on injury prevention. We will support ambitious trainings goals, but safety is our priority. We will evaluate when students are ready to progress to the next step or level.
3. Trust
We are aware that learning is a process of ups and downs. It can bring you to your limits, you may feel insecure and fragile. We will give you the stability you need to feel protected and provide a safe space for your process.
6. Support
Your success is our biggest joy and we will support your progress with all means. Are you stuck in your training or are you looking for advice with a creative idea? Just contact us!
Impressions from our classes
What our customers say
For me, it's not just the professionalism that matters, but the way I interact with people. I feel like a million bucks and even if my muscles are burning - I walk out with a smile every time.
Professional-Valuable-Recommendable