Meet Jo Taylor
Sports Massage Therapist & McTimoney Animal Chiropractor
Jo Taylor is a Sports Massage Therapist at The Wellness Centre in St Helier, Jersey, with a unique professional background combining sports science, veterinary nursing, animal rehabilitation and McTimoney animal chiropractic.
Originally from Guernsey, Jo left the island in 2005 to study Sports Science at undergraduate level in the Midlands. Following her degree, her career developed around the care, training and rehabilitation of horses with a wide range of backgrounds and needs.
Jo subsequently worked as a veterinary nurse at a renowned veterinary hospital and referral centre in Berkshire. During this time, she continued to expand her knowledge and developed a particular interest in animal movement, biomechanics and hands-on care.
Her experience working with animals has strongly influenced the way she approaches her work with people. Jo is interested in understanding the factors contributing to a problem rather than simply focusing on the area where symptoms are being experienced.
Qualifications & Training
- Undergraduate degree in Sports Science
- Level 3 Sports Massage
- MSc / postgraduate degree in Animal Chiropractic – McTimoney College of Chiropractic
- Veterinary Nursing experience within a specialist veterinary hospital and referral centre
Jo gained her postgraduate qualification in McTimoney Animal Chiropractic in 2014 and has worked with animals of different sizes and backgrounds ever since.
In 2022, Jo returned to working with people alongside her animal practice and completed her Level 3 Sports Massage qualification under the supervision of Ciara Ahern.
Areas of Interest
Jo’s areas of interest include:
- Sports massage
- Muscular tension and discomfort
- Movement and mobility
- Sports and exercise-related muscular demands
- Supporting physical recovery
- Postural and movement assessment
- Injury prevention and ongoing physical maintenance
- Supporting active lifestyles
- Understanding contributing factors behind movement and muscular problems
Her extensive experience working with horses has given Jo a particular appreciation of the relationship between movement, posture, physical function and performance.
Jo’s Approach
Jo takes an assessment-led and individualised approach to sports massage.
Rather than concentrating solely on where a person feels discomfort, she aims to understand the wider picture and identify factors that may be contributing to the problem. Her background in animal rehabilitation has taught her the importance of observing movement, considering the whole body and looking for the connections between different areas.
Jo describes this process as putting the “pieces of the puzzle” together — combining the history provided by the client with observation, assessment and hands-on experience to build a clearer understanding of their individual needs. This approach was also reflected in the clinic’s previous introduction to Jo and her work.
From Animal Rehabilitation to Sports Massage
Jo’s professional journey has given her an unusual perspective on movement and rehabilitation.
After completing her Sports Science degree, she spent many years working with horses, including training and rehabilitating animals with different physical demands and backgrounds. Her veterinary nursing experience further developed her understanding of anatomy, assessment and the importance of looking beyond an isolated symptom.
Jo went on to complete her postgraduate qualification in McTimoney Animal Chiropractic in 2014 and has continued to work with animals of different sizes ever since.
In 2022, she decided to broaden her professional practice by returning to working with people and completing her Level 3 Sports Massage qualification.
She now brings together her sports science background, experience in animal movement and rehabilitation, and sports massage training in her work with human clients.
Continuing Professional Development
Jo is committed to continuing her education and plans to undertake further training in more advanced remedial therapies and related areas.
Her aim is to continue developing her knowledge and practical skills so that she can broaden the range of ways in which she supports clients with their movement, recovery and physical wellbeing.
Jo at The Wellness Centre
Jo is a Sports Massage Therapist at The Wellness Centre, based at Castle Quay in St Helier, Jersey.
Her background in Sports Science, veterinary nursing, animal rehabilitation and McTimoney Animal Chiropractic brings a distinctive perspective to the Centre’s multidisciplinary team.
Jo works with clients from a range of backgrounds, including people who exercise regularly, athletes and those experiencing muscular tension or physical discomfort associated with everyday activities.
Her focus is on understanding each person’s individual needs and using sports massage as part of a considered approach to movement, recovery and physical wellbeing.
