Charlotte Nolan, Movement Specialist

I used to think helping people meant fixing things.

Now I think sometimes it just means helping someone feel a little more at home in themselves.

Movement has always been the place I’ve understood that best.

When I was little, I had one of those children’s books about the human body and I was completely obsessed with it. I’d sit reading about muscles and bones and organs for fun, fascinated by how bodies worked and all the tiny things happening underneath the surface.

Long before physiotherapy, before rehab language, before clinical ✨stuff✨, I was already watching what happened when people started trusting their bodies again. Shoulders dropping. Breathing changing. Someone laughing halfway through movement because they’d forgotten they still could.

That feeling never really left me.

I’ve always been interested in what movement can give back to a person 🩵

What a privilege 🩵

I’ve dreamt about becoming a physiotherapist for years. I've been working towards it on every course, every client session, every early morning and late night, every opportunity to shadow and learn, every moment of doubt and hope, frustration and break through.

So to say I’ve been offered a place on a fully funded Physiotherapy Degree Apprenticeship feels surreal.

It’s not just the next step.
It’s the result of every step so far.

I wouldn’t be here without the support and encouragement from the people around me, especially Fiona at , who has believed in me and supported me on this path more than I can say. The rest of the team have been my cheerleaders throughout the application process and I feel so surrounded with care and love.

I also wouldn't be here without 💖

Grateful doesn’t even cover it. I’m ready and I can’t wait to begin this Autumn. 🍂

Here's a simple mobility routine suitable for beginners to use alongside a strength training regime.

Video sped up x 2! Take it nice and slow and breathe into the positions. Keep these dynamic and active for a warm up or really slow down and hold the poses for 30secs for a post gym cool down.

1. Thoracic extension
Hands on a wall or a chair, walk the feet back and think about reaching the heart towards the floor. Extra points if you add in some spicy elephant walks

2. Thoracic rotation
Hands and knees in quadruped. Fingertips to temple, rotate the upper back to open the chest to the side. Aim to keep the hips still and neck long

Both of these thoracic movements are really important for your shoulder mobility, so think overhead press, single arm rows.

3.Lateral childs pose
Knees narrow or wide, your choice. Again, reach the heart down towards the floor, and walk both hands to one side. Extra stretch through the side body by adding one hand on top of the other. Open up the ribs for efficient breathing and a nice release through the QL too.

4.Shoulder and arm stretch
Pressing one arm across the chest, open up the posterior shoulder muscles, think rows, chest press.

5. Lateral cobra walks
Squeeze the glutes to keep the hips powering forward and feel a great opening through the abdominals and the hip flexors. Aim to resist the temptation to allow this movement to become passive and just fold in the low back.

6. Supine snow angel reach
Laying on the back, reach those arms up above your head, aiming the keep the elbows close to the floor. Keep the ribs soft and close to the floor to keep the work in the shoulders and not the spine. Great dissociation exercise for healthy shoulder movement.

7. Hip rotation
Get the joint fluid warm and spreading everywhere it needs to be by rotating that hip in all it's glorious directions. Great prep for squats, and side lunges.