I'm Olivia Daniell, founder and lead soft-tissue therapist at Bristol Soft Tissue Therapy (BSTT). My focus is on dancers, athletes and movement-based clients who need expert rehab, performance support and pain resolution. I trained with a BSc (Hons) in Exercise & Sport Science and a Level 5 Diploma in Soft Tissue Therapy, but honestly, what really shapes my approach is my background as a former competitive gymnast and professional b-girl. I've been in your shoes. I understand high-performance bodies because I've lived in one.
At BSTT, our work goes way beyond massage or quick fixes. We combine a holistic mindset approach with expert soft-tissue skills and proper rehab pathways (including physiotherapy and acupuncture). The goal? Getting you back to your craft, sport or movement practice with real strength, clarity and confidence.
From my early years in gymnastics and breakdancing, I dealt with injuries, frustrations and those maddening plateaus where nothing seems to improve. That's when it hit me: movement-artists and sports people often get standard therapy when what they actually need is something far more tailored. Something movement-specific, performance-aware, and mindset-sensitive. That realisation shaped the foundation of BSTT when I launched it in 2014.
I launched BSTT in 2014, bringing together my sport-science background and therapy training to create a practice that truly gets movement-oriented clients. We started with soft tissue therapy and rehab work, then expanded to include physiotherapy and acupuncture so we could provide more comprehensive care under one roof.
Over the years we've refined how we work: assessing not just the injury but the movement patterns behind it, the mindset challenges, and the return-to-play goals that actually matter to you. We've built structures, integrated our services properly, and learned to communicate in ways that resonate with performers and everyday movers alike.
Our client base is dancers, athletes, gymnasts, movement-practitioners and active people who know they need more than standard therapy. Because we're so niche, word-of-mouth has been incredibly strong. People talk to each other in these communities. I also run workshops, create online resources and stay connected with performance networks. For anyone whose body is literally their practice, we bring tailored support that gets what you're trying to achieve.
Looking back, I'd invest much earlier in capturing client video-stories and movement transformation footage. Showing the actual journey from injury to performance is so much more powerful than just talking about it. I'd also build an online "movement-therapy for performers" module sooner to reach people beyond Bristol. And I'd definitely develop partnerships with dance schools, performance academies and gyms earlier. Those referral relationships take time to build, so starting sooner would've accelerated everything.
I'm expanding our online resources and remote support options for movement-clients who can't make it to Bristol physically. I'm also working on more advanced performance-rehab programmes and planning to mentor newer therapists who want to enter this niche. It's such a specific area, and there aren't many of us doing it well.
My vision is simple: when a mover, performer or athlete thinks "I need rehab that actually understands what I do and what I need", Bristol Soft Tissue Therapy should be the first name that comes to mind.
Your experience with us is highly specialised. Unlike standard therapy, we focus specifically on the needs of dancers, athletes, and other movers. My background as a competitive gymnast and b-girl means I understand the unique physical and mental demands you face. We integrate soft tissue therapy, physiotherapy, and acupuncture with a mindset-first approach to get you back to your craft with confidence.
This rehab is for high-performance individuals. If you're a dancer, athlete, gymnast, or any kind of movement artist who feels that standard therapy doesn't quite grasp your needs, you're in the right place. We support active people who know their body is their craft and require a deeper level of understanding and care to resolve pain and improve performance.
We provide a comprehensive and integrated service under one roof. Alongside expert soft tissue therapy, we offer in-house physiotherapy and acupuncture. This allows us to create a complete and cohesive rehab plan for you, addressing everything from the initial injury to your movement patterns and mental readiness, without you needing to visit multiple practitioners.
My history as a competitive gymnast and professional b-girl is central to how I help you. I've experienced the injuries, the frustration of plateaus, and the pressure to return to form. This lived experience creates a level of empathy and genuine understanding that goes beyond textbooks. I know what 'return-to-play' truly means for a performer, and that insight shapes every tailored plan we create.
