our team

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 over 15 years experience in the industry within her native Australia and also in Belgium.

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 sport and exercise. She also herself has chronic pain experience due to multiple sporting injuries and juvenile idiopathic scoliosis. At age 14 she started Pilates at a fully-equipped clinical studio and never looked back. By age 21 (after years of going to regular gyms) she also began Crossfit. From there she fell in love with the balance between the focus and holistic nature of Pilates, and then the raw strength and technique required for weight lifting.

WHY SHE DOES WHAT SHE DOES

Through her experience with chronic pain, and the frustrations that came with it, she saw from a young age how quality Pilates and exercise interventions could dramatically improve one’s well-being and quality of life. 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 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 DOWN TIME

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 her Pilates and weight lifting workouts 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.

EducationGymHealthPilates

Specialty areas:

Chronic PainNeurologyWomen's Health

Bookings:

PRIVATE SESSIONS

Katina’s agenda for private sessions is currently closed on the booking system. If you would like an appointment please contact us at hello@wavesleuven.be. Please be aware there is a 3-4 month waiting list. Chronic pain patients will often be seen by her for an intake and 3-4 follow-up sessions, after which they get referred off to one of the colleagues for continued guidance.

Katina does not work under prescriptions from the doctor as she is not registered in the Belgian RIZIV system.

GROUP CLASSES