X8 Team

X8 emerges from a rich history as a professional athlete

and a distinguished role operating within the esteemed

Royal Marines. This evolution harnesses insights gained

from a dynamic blend of high-performance athleticism

and the meticulous world of injury prevention,

rehabilitation and recovery.

 

John Jackson

I’m Carl, the founder of X8 Health. My journey began as a professional rugby player before serving as a Royal Marines Physical Training and Exercise Rehabilitation Instructor. Along the way, I faced my own challenges with serious injuries, which gave me a real appreciation for the importance of recovery and long-term performance. Over the years, I’ve trained and rehabilitated everyone from elite athletes to those recovering from surgery or managing chronic pain. To bring everything together, I completed a master’s in Osteopathic Medicine, allowing me to provide a complete approach—covering diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and performance. X8 Health is the result of that journey: a place where I can help people from all walks of life recover, rebuild, and perform at their best.

X8 prides itself in delivering the highest level of treatment, encompassed with a strong evidence based practise studied at the highest level, for all patients from all aspects of life.

Now come and meet the rest of the team.

As a Double Olympian and Olympic Bronze Medallist, John know first-hand the importance of recovery, resilience, and peak performance. Whether working with international athletes or clients with everyday aches and pains, he has had the privilege of supporting both — always applying the same principles of precision and care to every treatment.
Alongside his sporting career, he served 27 years in the Royal Marines, gaining over 20 years of experience in physical training and injury rehabilitation. This unique combination of elite sport and military expertise underpins my professional practice today.
John is a Clinical Soft Tissue Therapist, Exercise Referral Practitioner, and Oxygen Advantage Advanced Instructor. His treatments combine massage, manual therapy, movement, and breath work — all tailored to your goals. My areas of focus include:
Pain management - Stress management - Injury rehabilitation - Long-term condition support - Sports performance and recovery.

Everyone deserves the same high standard of support, whether you’re aiming for the highest levels of performance or simply want to live pain-free. Together, we’ll create a clear plan that optimises your recovery, restores movement, and supports your overall wellbeing

“Mens sana in corpore sano” – A healthy mind in a healthy body.

CARL SAUNDERS (FOUNDER)

Sorrell Rawlings

With over 22 years of experience as a Personal Trainer and Sports Masseuse, Sorrell has worked with a huge range of clients — from people recovering after surgery to international athletes competing at the highest level. She has played international rugby 7s herself, and her career has taken her across the world, working in Australia, Germany, Abu Dhabi and Dubai, where she co-ran an award-winning fitness business for 8 years. Sports is her one true love and if she can’t play, she’ll watch with the enthusiasm of someone who still can!

Now based in Exmouth, Sorrell offers Personal Training, Group Exercise and Remedial Massage alongside running one of the largest outdoor bootcamps in the South West. Combining the wealth of knowledge she has accrued over two decades with a very friendly, down-to-earth approach, she has built a vibrant community where every session is effective, time-efficient and super fun!! No two sessions are likely to be the same! 

Making exercise accessible and appealing to all is her number one goal, paired with injury prevention, using up to date techniques, keeping the basics of training at the forefront of her style and keeping the quality uber high. 

Come down and give her popular classes a go. You will be guaranteed to have great fun and to Sorrell, that is what life is all about!