JHB South East - April 2021

Live life to the fullest
She strikes you as an introvert but as soon as the conversation gets going, you realise
she is a woman with many passions and loads of compassion. We catch up with
Ashleigh Thomas in her Brackenhurst home to speak about her life and one
Ashleigh is the third of four children,
all girls, and grew up in the South
of Joburg, matriculated from the
National School of the Arts, where she
specialised in ballet.
Dancing was one of her passions since
the age of four, and she continued to
dance right up to her 30s.
After school she finished a diploma in
Pilates and became a flight attendant,
spending her 20s and 30s between
South Africa and the Middle East.
She described her life as nothing short
of an adventure, and an adventure that
is continuous.
Stepping up
Ashleigh owns a Pilates studio, runs a
biscuit business on the side and also
spends a few nights a week as
a trauma counseller at the Netcare
Union Hospital.
This is what led us to Ashleigh, her
work as a counsellor to many families
who lost loved ones due to Covid-19-
related deaths.
‘Trauma counselling is my calling. I was
introduced to it by my close friend and
Pilates client Dalena, who runs a trauma
counselling team. She saw potential
in me and got me into the world
of counselling.
‘In actual fact, I think trauma
counselling chose me because not
everyone will willingly give up their
sleep to be with a person who is in
need of some compassion, yet I will
gladly step right in and do whatever I
can for anyone who is hurting.
‘The best part of being a counsellor is
being that small voice of reason to a
hurting family, bringing comfort and
making them feel like they matter. I
also love seeing the staff who I’m so
blessed to work alongside. This is an
amazing team who have made our job
so rewarding.’
But the flip side to that coin is also the
hardest part of her job as a counsellor.
12 Get It Joburg South • Alberton • Bedfordview • Greenstone • Modderfontein April 2021
of her side hustles as a trauma counsellor.
‘It is incredibly hard to deliver devastating news to a family and watch their lives
crumble and not being able to take that pain and grief away,’ she said.
‘However, knowing I am fulfilling my duty on earth makes trauma counselling so
special. It may even be something like having a revelation of what my calling really
is. It makes me feel like I am able to be useful, being able to give of my time. It sure
is something God has blessed me with.’
Driving force
With three jobs, whether it be day or night, there has to be something that
drives you?
‘Ha ha, yes, Pilates is actually my main hustle. I get the opportunity to transform
lives through movement on a daily basis. Pilates is great for pain management,
depression, injury rehab and back pain. I have an incredible team of clients who
keep me going.
‘My second hustle is The Biscuiteer ... come have a look in my kitchen, I’ll show you
what I do all night.’
And let’s just say, her biscuits are something out of this world, beautifully decorated
and so worth a try.
That, of course, brings us to the question: What are the challenges running three
jobs side by side?
‘Getting enough sleep. My days and nights are filled with so many things!’
But she would not change any of this for the world and tells you that ‘wherever
God leads her, be it as a Pilates instructor, counsellor or biscuiteer, I will follow’.
‘Life has taught me that it is important to find your passion. Get out and move
more. Your body was designed to move. Have a healthy hobby that can be used
as a constructive stress outlet, find the beauty in the detail, give without wanting
anything back.
‘Life is so fragile and short. One day when we leave this earth, our status, bank
accounts, trophies, achievements, pride, ego and all of that is left behind. The only
thing you take with you is your belief system,’ she said.
QUICK FACTS
• What do you love about
the South?
The Klipriver Nature Reserve. It is
beautiful and tucked away.
• Married or single?
I am not married, I have two beautiful
Staffies, Chimo and Charlie. They are
my absolute joy. With the nature of
my work, it makes it difficult to share
more time with anyone, so I am quite
happy to be in the space I am in.
• Something very few people
know about you?
I worked for a VIP family in Egypt,
where I was their flight attendant.
I was the only crew on board and
responsible for all catering, cleaning,
stocking the aircraft and more.
Through that experience I discovered
what I was really capable of and that
I am able to function well under
intense pressure.
• Do you prefer food, travel or art?
Travel.
• Rain vs sunshine?
Sunshine but love rain at night.
• The word that best describes
you?
Determined.
• Your pet peeves?
Littering, loud noises and
animal abuse.
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