Who am I
My name is Ana Kutija, and I am an integrative medicine practitioner with a focus on pain and stress management, manual therapy, and the PNEI system(psychoneuroendocrinoimmunology).
With over 25 years of experience, I work at the intersection of science, clinical practice, and body-based therapies. As a registered nurse, manual therapist, physiotherapist, kinesiotherapist, DNS trainer, yoga teacher, and certified PNEI therapist, I have developed a holistic and highly personalized approach to working with individuals.
My deep understanding of the fascia, the nervous system, and the PNEI framework allows me to address not only symptoms, but the root causes of dysfunction.
I specialize in fascial therapy and scar rehabilitation and treatment (Scarwork therapy).
I regularly organize and deliver workshops, educational programs, professional lectures, conferences, and volunteer projects within healthcare and social institutions.
I actively participate in international scientific and professional conferences and am a member of the Executive Board of the Croatian Yoga Federation.
I am the founder of Wellbeing LAB™, an innovative wellbeing concept delivered in various settings, including the luxury yachting industry.
I also teach within the field of clinical medicine, focusing on Kinesiotherapy in the PNEI system and PNEI and fascia.
I am the author of the books:
“Everyday Stress – A Guide to Stress and Stress Management Techniques”
“Perimenopause – Clash of the Titans: A Guide Through the Hormonal Rollercoaster”
I am at your service with over 25 years of work experience, including more than 15 years of experience working with professional athletes, many years of experience working with managers on well-being and stress management.
I have many years of work experience working with patients with cancer, multiple sclerosis, depression, postural problems and spine problems.
I also have many years of experience as a pilates and corrective gymnastics instructor.
In my spare time I make various ceramic objects, travel, enjoy food and wine...
I look forward to helping you restore your psychophysical health!
Schooling:
- School for nurses - general course (passed professional exam and license to work independently)
- Sports-medical massage and therapy (master's degree)
- Faculty of Kinesiology - Professional study for the training of trainers (sports recreation)
Study of - Physiotherapy
Education in the field of therapy and massage:
- PNEI - psychoneuroendocrinology, clinical medicine (Orlando polyclinic)
- Bowen Therapy (Higeja Zagreb)
- MSTR®- McLoughlin Scar Tissue Release (Ad Manus)
- Scarwork Therapy
- Emmett technique (Emmett Croatia)
- Dry needling (Higeja)
- NKT - NeuroKinetic Therapy
- SEAS - Scientific Exercise Approach to Scoliosis
- Basics of knowing X-rays in physiotherapy
- Yumeiho – Japanese manual therapy
- MFR - Myofascial release therapy, special manual rehabilitation technique (HUOS)
- Neuroenergetic integrative therapy by Alqvimia
- Peter Hess® Sound Massage (Peter Hess® Academy)
- Tok Sen-Chi Nei Tsang III (Universal Healing Tao Master School, Chiang Mai, Thailand)
- Thai Massage (Thai Massage School of Chiang Mai)
- Functional and Cross friction massage (Ccombaj Therapy)
- Cupping Therapy (Ccombaj Therapy)
- Manual techniques in training - Trigger points, manipulation of the shoulder joint, acupressure (Physculture)
- Postural diagnostics and rehabilitation - neck and shoulder girdle (Vertebrae)
- Postural diagnostics and rehabilitation - trunk and pelvis (Vertebrae)
- Deep tissue massage
- Acupressure
- Kinesio taping
- Bandaging
- Energy massage along the meridians
- Dermalogica PRO skin treatments
Education in the field of kinesiology and sports and recreation programs:
- Medical exercises
- DNS- Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (Rehabilitation Prague School)
- Experiential Anatomy BMC
- Medical exercises for the spine
- Pilates
Education in the field of yoga and meditation:
- Iyengar Workshops for Teachers, ongoing (Slovenia)
- Yoga Therapy (EYF, Institute for Yoga and Ayurveda “SUN”)
- YogaPRO Teacher Training – multi-style, (OM yoga)
- Hatha yoga
- Yin yoga
- Functional vinyasa yoga
- Hormonal yoga
- Medical yoga
- Educational seminar on breathing and meditation techniques
- Yoga Nidra
- Transcendental Meditation
- Mindfulness
- Osho's dynamic meditation
- Basics of playing gongs
Education in the field of personal development:
- Neuroplasticity (how the brain develops and changes, neuroplasticity and personal change, Flow: the state of focus and creativity)
- Mental training for coaches (motivation, focus, emotion management, mindfulness, PMR-progressive muscle relaxation, body scan, relaxation methods, breathing exercises, control methods)
- Stress Management
- TRE® (Trauma Releasing Exercises)
- The Silva Method (BBD – Bicameral Brain Dynamics)
- Reiki
- International Arts Center, Zagreb (drama group)
Intensive Broadway Academy - Croatian Sign Language, 1st level (Association of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing)
- Quick reading seminarQuick reading seminar
I actively and frequently attend lectures at the Institute for the Brain, the Sports Physiology Section, and participate in international conventions and scientific-professional conferences (Sports for everyone in the function of improving the quality of life, Physical activity and public health, Professional seminars of healthcare professionals in basketball...), and sports and cosmetics fairs.
Experience in work as a med. nurse, therapist/masseur, educator, organizer and yoga teacher:
- Lecturer in clinical medicine: Kinesitherapy in the PNEI system, the importance of fascia (Psychoneuroedocrinoimmunology)
- Lecturer at the Mystic Fair - Stress Management and breathing and relaxation techniques
- Lecturer at conferences: Yoga and Women's Health, Pink October, HSY Yoga conference at KIF
- External associate at MultiSport, I hold workshops, lectures and office massage
- EU project: ANIMA SANA IN CORPORE SANO
- Chair massages at congresses and conferences: Game Changer, Meetex Cro,...
- I provide corporate (office) massage in companies: Stožer (advertising agency), Sapun d.o.o., Q agency (software company)
- I conduct corporate (office) yoga in the company: I want health by Ro.Ra.Natura, Strabag
- I am a teacher and educator at the YogaPRO school, I teach Basics of Yoga, Therapeutic Yoga, Hatha Yoga and hold Restorative Yoga and yoga with props workshops, and regularly lead Yoga Nidra and guided sound aroma meditation, relaxation and visualization techniques along with weekly classes of classic Hatha yoga and Basics of yoga.
- 7 seasons on yachts, as a professional therapist and instructor with my Wellneing LAB program
- I am the organizer of yoga retreats: in Gorski Kotar, Bali, Sailing Yoga Retreats
- I am the co-organizer of the Iyengar yoga workshop in Zagreb (Paulina Stroz, Carole Baillargeon)
- Participated in the project (as a yoga leader) of a doctoral dissertation entitled: "The influence of high and moderate intensity physical exercise on the reduction of subcutaneous fat and visceral fat in women".
- I have collaborated with numerous athletes as their official sports therapist and masseur, and at exchanges, tournaments and competitions. As an external associate, I also implemented a Yoga program for athletes in some clubs.
- With the program of guided meditations, I collaborated with the women's water polo team, on the project Abstraction through Meditation at the Atelier Sellier School of Painting and Drawing, and I collaborate with certified dental therapists Zoran and Karmen on guided meditations with the Gong.
- As nurse, I worked at KB "Sveti Duh" (surgery), DZ "Novi Zagreb", Health Care Institutions ("Zorica", "Domnius", "Čorluka"), Polyclinic Orlando, Private Neurology Practice of Dr. Maja Roja Novak
Croatian clubs with which I worked and collaborated:
- Swimming club Medveščak
- Swimming club Dubrava
- Croatian women's basketball team
- Handball club Lokomotiva
- ZPK water polo club
- Croatian women's water polo representation
- Bowling club: Zagreb-Zaboky
- Athletes from individual sports - tennis, running, cycling, Jiujitsu...
Foreign athletes who received massages and therapies:
- Nathan Adrian – Olympic gold medalist in swimming
- G.R. L. Bovell – Olympic bronze medalist in swimmingRandall Bal – World record holder in the 50-meter backstroke
- Darren Mew – Olympic swimmer
- Mark Foster – The most successful British swimmer of all time
By working on myself through many workshops for personal development, following a holistic approach, I created a unique treatment concept. Combining several techniques of massage, therapy and exercise and emphasizing the importance of the psychological aspect, I completed the treatments with meditation methods and breathing techniques.
Volunteer work:
- Zagreb Diabetic Society - breathing and relaxation techniques
- I am participating in a volunteering project - Teaching pre-operative oncology patients techniques for stress reduction, better lung ventilation and easier falling asleep
- Association Nismo Same - I give lectures and workshops
- SOS Children's Village Lekenik - I hold exercises and breathing and relaxation techniques for children
- Zaklada Solidarna - I hold exercises and breathing and relaxation techniques
- Work with the homeless in the City of Zagreb Library
- Volunteering in the "Smell of Memories" project, kindergarten visit to nursing home, therapeutic painting and flower planting
- Organizing an exhibition, collecting funds for the homeless
- Help with therapeutic riding and horse care - Don Quixote
- Project Pepperthon (fundraising for Noah's Ark) – yoga marathon
- Velvethon project (fundraising for Noah's Ark) - massage marathon
- Organization of a humanitarian sales exhibition of ceramics for the homeless From the heart - With love
- Organization of a humanitarian exhibition of ceramics for the Association for the Protection and Promotion of Animal Rights RINA