Ana-Marija Jagodić Rukavina, Ph.D.

Ana-Marija Jagodić Rukavina, born in 1976 in Karachi, Pakistan, completed the XI Gymnasium in Zagreb in 1995. She graduated from the Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb in 2000, and in 2005 she obtained a Master’s degree in Kinesiology.

Her narrow specialty and area of ​​interest is the pelvic area, where she completed her doctorate on the topic "Comparison of efficiency of the kinesiology program body technique and pelvic floor muscle strenghtening exercises in women with stress urinary incontinence”.

Between 2000 and 2003, she served as the wellness and fitness center director at the Intercontinental Hotel Zagreb, where she was responsible for managing the center’s operations and enhancing its health and recreation services.

In 2003, she founded the PBS Center for Sports Excellence, where she is responsible for defining the company’s strategic direction, innovating the Body technique, and developing new products and services—ensuring the growth and expansion of this holistic kinesio therapeutic exercise method. In 2006, she began working as the educational and pedagogical director and instructor at the Adult Education Institution – Kinesiological Institute of Body Technique in Zagreb. There, she is dedicated to developing and implementing curricula for workshops, seminars, and congresses, focusing on holistic kinesiology under the name Body technique, which forms the foundation of her innovative professional practice.

In addition, Ana-Marija Jagodić Rukavina, Ph.D. is an external collaborator at the Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb, and a member of the Kinesiologists Association of the City of Zagreb.

Throughout her career, Ana-Marija has participated in numerous international scientific conferences, delivering lectures and workshops. She has also been involved in organizing numerous professional and scientific events, including assemblies and initiatives on public health, obesity, and physical inactivity, as well as congresses dedicated to stress adaptability. Notably, she received the award for the best scientific paper in the field of kinesiology recreation at the 30th Kinesiologists’ Summer School in 2022 for her research on the acute effects of Body technique exercises on selected vital indicators.  

Her dedication to developing a holistic kinesiology exercise method has resulted in numerous publications, including books, manuals, and scientific papers enriched with empirical research and practical outcomes. She has published a total of five books and 12 scientific papers.

Ana-Marija Jagodić Rukavina, Ph.D. continuously enhances her knowledge and skills, with a special focus on imparting that knowledge through education and practical work—leaving a lasting mark on the field of kinesiology.