Calexico Muse Of The Month: Charmion Grant-Thomson

“ Our Calexico Muse Of The Month is Charmion Grant-Thomson — physiotherapist, pilates clinician, mother, and founder of The Rehab Lab in Newstead. With a background in neurological rehabilitation and a role in groundbreaking research at Griffith University, Charmion brings both heart and science to her work. Her new space offers a nurturing, one-on-one approach to movement and recovery, designed for every stage of a woman’s life.” - Nicky Xx

Can you tell us about your journey combining physiotherapy and Pilates in neurological rehabilitation.

"Almost 20 years ago, I worked as a Registered Nurse, and a quadriplegic patient asked me to accompany him to America for a rehab program that wasn’t yet available in Australia. (This is now available here at Making Strides on the Gold Coast.)  When we arrived, they ‘pulled him out of his wheelchair’ and stood him up!  Seeing this young 24-year-old man, who used to work as a pro-golfer, stand again with assistance and get to exercise away from his wheelchair inspired me to then complete a Bachelor of Physiotherapy.  Still wanting to learn more about how to safely exercise people with musculoskeletal or neurological injuries, I also completed a two-year Polestar Pilates course to become a practitioner of Pilates for rehabilitation using traditional Pilates equipment.  Then, unexpectedly, I had a client with a rare neurological condition join a group Pilates class – it was at this precise moment I realised I could combine my passion for rehabilitating neurological conditions with my love of using Pilates for rehab." - Charmion.

What led you to open Rehab Lab?  Are there any moments with patients that have stayed with you or continue to fuel your heart and soul project?

I’ve worked in busy clinics where clients and staff have all had to share a room, juggling to take turns on Pilates equipment.  It’s hard to maintain patient-centred care and a calm environment in these settings.  This motivated me to create The Rehab Lab, as a space for someone to feel nurtured and focused on.  At the Rehab Lab, a client has an hour for themselves, away from the demands of daily life.  Here, they have one-to-one professional support and can talk over their health concerns and goals.  They also have great music to work out to, and can leave feeling energised and valued.

What challenges do you see women facing as their bodies and fitness goals evolve?  What barriers come up most often, and how do you guide them through these?

I love supporting women through different decades in their lives and the bodily changes that reflect life experiences.  I listen to how women feel, as they move through peri- and post-natal changes, hormonal variations of perimenopause and menopause, decreasing bone density, muscle mass changes, changes in balance, and other age-related or medical conditions.  Determining each woman’s unique needs, I help them achieve their fitness goals by making personal modifications and utilising Pilates equipment in a safe, comfortable environment.

We can modify our approach to fitness to suit the decade and circumstances.  I see women continually become the fittest version of themselves at different life stages, with age not being a barrier to feeling physically strong and confident.

Your days move between motherhood, physio, research, and now launching The Rehab Lab.  What’s one small ritual or habit that helps you feel grounded or like yourself again?

A daily ritual is setting my intentions for the day ahead.  Using a reminder on my phone for 8:00 am, I set 3 intentions for the day and how to achieve them, and then another for 8:00 pm where I reflect on the day.  Some days my intention is to be present as a mother and a wife for my family, and other days, to be present in my workspace.  Before doing this, I would feel daily activities spinning out of control.  This small ritual helps me feel grounded and focused on what matters for that day.

Fashion often helps us express different parts of our identity.  How has your personal style evolved since becoming a mum and stepping into this next phase of your professional life.

My fashion has evolved to now wanting to feel comfortable in what I’m wearing.  I find myself reaching for my favourite Philipe model shoes for all occasions (yes, even for dinner and drinks with the girls!).  I like to feel I can be active, move, play, run and pick up my son with ease, but at the same time be stylish in what I’m wearing.  Quality clothing, with a sporty casual style, reflects my identity and makes me feel confident at work, socialising and at home.

You wear a lot of hats, clinician, educator, researcher, founder, mother.  At time do you feel things feel stretched or chaotic, what’s your reminder to pause or reset.

I know things are feeling stretched when I feel like the wheels are spinning around me and I have no control.  I can feel this stress in my body, my chest and head.  Life is ever busy with my beautiful 16-month-old son and managing multiple roles prompted me to learn to navigate chaotic times.  One thing I do is ‘pause and rest’.  This means placing my hand on my chest, pausing, breathing and saying, ‘I am safe’, and to surrender to what is happening around me.  I strive to focus on my current moment, not think ahead or about the past.  By focusing only on ‘right now I'm doing A, B and C’ helps me reset and achieve what’s needed in the present.  This helps me embrace each day and manage both big and small moments of life…and often the small moments are the best!