Meet Gretchen McLennan

Meet Gretchen McLennan, Clinical Director at Myo (previously Myodetox). A former Canadian National Team rhythmic gymnast, Gretchen brings her dedication, leadership, and athlete mindset to her role supporting both clinicians and clients to thrive.

Tell us more about who you are and what you do.

I’ve been the Clinical Director at our North Shore location for five years, and more recently, I took on the role at Park Royal to help start up that location, which is our eighth in the region and the 21st overall (now 22nd with our NYC clinic). When I first became Clinical Director at North Shore, it was during COVID. There was no playbook and nobody really knew what they were doing at that point – we all had to figure it out as we went, trying our best to implement practices that supported the team. It was really challenging.

What helped me get through it was drawing on my past experiences as an athlete. Having been through stressful events and competitions that really challenged me, I found myself using strategies and tools I had learned as an athlete to navigate the uncertainty. This role has also given me a chance to think more about my legacy and how I can elevate someone else to take my position.

Everything was going well at North Shore, and I wanted to challenge myself in a new way while also giving the clinic a fresh perspective. I’d been there for five years and felt it was time for new leadership. It felt like a full-circle moment with Shanna Graham stepping into the role. I remember when she first started as one of my first hires – she was brand new as a physio, and I’ve seen her grow and evolve as a person, taking on different challenges. I’ve been able to mentor her through that, and now she’s taking the torch from here, which is really cool to see.

Tell us more about the new Myo location at Park Royal.

One of the coolest things about the Park Royal team is its diversity. There’s a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and education among the clinicians. We have team members who have worked in Australia, India, and Iran, and one who is moving from Toronto. One of our team members is also a trained nutritionist, so there’s a lot to offer in terms of education and perspective. I’m really excited to share this team with the West Van community.

What does community mean to you personally, and how has it shaped your approach to leadership and care?

Community, to me, is about having a reliable network. It’s about welcoming people in from wherever they’re at, meeting them there, and being able to provide what they need – or referring them to others who can support them on their journey.

Historically, physiotherapy has been very siloed, and clinicians can be a bit proprietary about their clients. I look at it more from a community perspective. Sure, I can help from a physical and exercise point of view, but what about sleep, nutrition, mental health, and stress? Community means being holistic and having trusted referral sources so clients can live their best lives from a whole-person perspective. And it’s okay if I’m not the answer for every single person.

Myo is known for its strong focus on movement and proactive wellness. How do you see Myo building community beyond the treatment table?

The unique thing about Myo is that we have so many locations, and each has its own uniqueness based on the community it’s in. For example, on the North Shore and in West Van, we’ve got a huge cycling and hiking community. We spend time up on Cypress and Grouse, and people really love to live in the mountains.

We’re doing the Cypress Challenge to support BC Cancer, and we’re going to be involved in the Gran Fondo throughout the event. On a smaller scale, with the new clinic opening, we’re getting clinicians out into local gyms like F45 Ambleside, Innovative Fitness in West Van and North Van, and connecting with individual personal trainers to build those referral relationships. It’s both hyperlocal and bigger-picture. We’re also involved in a lot of run clubs this summer, including Hummingbird, Lululemon Park Royal, and Cove Sports and Recovery.

We’ve loved partnering with you for workshops that bring people together to move, reflect, and connect. Why do you think experiences like these are important for your clients and team?

For clients, we’re still coming off COVID, and so much of our lives are lived virtually now – virtual meetings, social media interactions – and in-person connection is more important than ever. Even with AI becoming so prevalent, people crave real-life connection. There’s also a growing focus on health and longevity, with a resurgence of education around things like menopause and perimenopause. Clients want to feel empowered in their health journeys.

For the team, people want to come to work and feel valued and connected to those around them. As clinicians – whether you’re a physio or massage therapist – you end up giving a lot to your clients, and that can lead to caring fatigue. These experiences are also important for the team to recharge and connect.

We’ve partnered through She Summits to deliver workshops, and we also collaborate via Two Rivers Meats on Hike and Happy Hour. Why is it important for you to build partnerships like these that support people’s wellbeing from different angles?

It just feels more authentic. I was chatting with Sarah (a fellow physiotherapist) about it – she’s done a number of them and has made genuine connections, even made some friends through these experiences. There are added benefits to these things that we don’t always think about. Sure, there are obvious business benefits to partnering, but there are also these intangibles – like the couple that met at Hike and Happy Hour.

What’s one moment in your role that made you pause and feel proud of the community you’re creating at Myodetox?

Just last week, we did a job fair, and I’ve been involved in it for the last three or four years. It’s for students graduating from physiotherapy programs who will be ready to work in January. This year, for the first time, we had every single time slot booked at the fair. People wanted to know more about the company.

Our big thing is mentorship, and it’s gaining traction. We can provide new clinicians the support they need – not just to be good clinicians but to grow and thrive in this environment. I’m really proud to work for a company that has changed the way things are done. A brand-new clinician can come into our ecosystem and receive the support and mentorship they need to become an excellent clinician right from the start.

As you look to the months ahead with new locations and continued growth, what is your hope for how Myodetox continues to impact people’s lives and the communities you’re part of?

Our big motto is to elevate the world’s body IQ, which is a pretty lofty quote, but ultimately, we want to educate and empower people to learn about their bodies – how they move, how to take care of them, and how to prioritize longevity.

In this new role, with Shanna stepping in, I feel super proud to pass the torch to such a strong woman. That’s also something this company does really well – empowering women in meaningful ways. We have so much in store here.