Katina McCulloch

Katina McCulloch (co-founder and director of Waves) is an Accredited Execise Physiologist (what is an AEP?) and comprehensively certified Pilates instructor and Educator with Polestar Pilates. She has almost 20 years experience in the industry within her native Australia and also in Belgium. She is the Director of Polestar Pilates Benelux, and co-found of Bloom VZW.

KEY DESCRIPTIONS

EMPOWERMENT — INTUITION — MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS

KATINA’S BACKGROUND

Katina moved to Leuven to study in 2013, and after a short time in the Czech Republic and Spain she decided Leuven was where she would call home. She has always been very active and a lover of movement, however, also comes from a complex health/pain background. At age 14 she started Pilates at a fully-equipped clinical studio and never looked back. Over the following years she developed more in other exercise forms (strength training, running etc.). She began to really appreciate the balance between the focus and holistic nature of Pilates, then the raw strength and technique required for weight lifting, and the determination and mental strength of running.

WHY SHE DOES WHAT SHE DOES

Katina has experienced first hand the transfortative effective positive movement experiences can have on everyday life and well-being, which now looking back was the catalyst to her love of movement, the body, the mind, and the power these elements can bring.

Her mantra is ‘variety is the spice of life’, and her love and belief in exercise, balance and mental calmness is a pillar of who she is. Through her extensive clinical education and experience in Pilates/physiotherapy clinics, hospitals and Universities in Australia and Belgium, she has seen first hand how targeted Pilates and exercise interventions can empower, leaving a lasting impact on well-being and quality of life for all. Katina is also a firm believer in evidence-based practice, with critical evaluation of best practice an important element in her work.

KATINA’S FUN FACTS

• Big beer and whiskey fan
• Loves the mountains, both Summer and Winter

When Katina is not working you will find her running after two full of life little human monkey’s and one very calm and patient feline monkey. She also loves to travel, live music and the performing arts. One of her motivations to move to Belgium was the proximity to the Nederlands Dans Theater, one of her favourite contemporary ballet companies. In addition to Pilates and weight lifting, Katina also runs regularly (when the sleep will kids allow) and likes to try different activities and things that keep her energised. She will also be happy to chat your ear off about cricket (hands down the worlds best sport) and expect her to look a bit tired when the Olympics and Paralympics are on as she watches as much of it as possible.