Physical Therapist’s Making A Difference With A Mission To Keep Ravers Dancing For Until They’re 80 Or Beyond - AHN Media Group

Stories

June 23, 2023

SHARE:

Meet Joyce Ai, a woman with a passion for two seemingly different things – healing and raving. By day, she’s a physical therapist, helping patients recover from injuries and regain strength. But by night (and on weekends), she transforms into something of a superhero: ThePhysioRaver.

That’s right! Joyce is a hardcore raver, and she’s on a mission to help others in the raving community party safely, including DJs, shufflers, and ravers. With her extensive background in strength and conditioning, Joyce is uniquely qualified to help fellow ravers stay healthy, fit, and injury-free.

Her ultimate goal? To keep herself and other ravers stay in top shape so they can keep dancing until they’re 80, or beyond!

Read through as Joyce dives into her journey, explores her passion for both healing and dancing, and let’s learn how she’s using her skills to make a difference in the world as ThePhysioRaver. So turn up the volume, lace up your dancing shoes, and get ready to rave – Joyce-style!

THE STORY OF ‘THEPHYSIORAVER’

I was born and raised in Guangzhou, China, where I spent most of my childhood before my parents and I immigrated to Canada.

I got into physical therapy because I thought the human body was super interesting. I took a human anatomy dissection course in my first year of college. I was amazed by how all the tissues, fascias, tendons, and ligaments were connected.

I have also always enjoyed being active and staying fit, so physical therapy seemed like the natural pathway for me. As I continue to work in this field, I’ve also discovered that the more fulfilling part of this job is being able to help people and truly make a difference in their lives, which is super meaningful and rewarding. 

WORKING WITH THE RAVING COMMUNITY

What I love the most about working with the raving community is that we share a common culture and love for music. Music and live concerts are a big part of my life. Whenever I go to an event, I know everyone there comes to vibe out, enjoy the music, and take a break from their busy lives. Whenever I encounter a patient in the clinic who is also a raver, we always instantly hit it off and become best friends. Wouldn’t you want to be able to work with all of your best friends?

The most common injuries for ravers are back pain, knee pain, and foot pain. The most common injuries for shufflers are knee pain and ankle pain. The most common injuries for DJs are usually neck, shoulder, jaw, and back pain.

My treatment philosophy is that everything we do is goal oriented. There is a clear end goal in mind, and knowing these individuals’ goals helps me reverse engineer a solution to help them get there. In that way, my job is really cool because what it looks like for every patient is going to be different depending on their personality, their hobbies, their injury history, their demographics, and most importantly their goals and aspirations.

THE ROAD AHEAD FOR ‘THEPHYSIORAVER’

For now, this is a side hustle that I am doing that I eventually want to turn into a full-blown full-time business. I’m currently trying to produce consistent and high-quality educational content to bring more awareness to the importance of health and wellness in the raving community.

I have been connecting to some other accounts with a similar niche to potentially collaborate, and spread more awareness that way. I also plan on being more present in the local community, setting up booths at community events, and shuffle dance competitions to help broadcast my services.

FINDING HER CALLING

The most rewarding aspect of my work is making people feel heard. A lot of the time, the raving community tends to be an underserved community. 

People who get hurt in a mosh pit tend to cover up the real reason they got hurt and tell the doctor something else to save themselves from embarrassment. When asked about goals, people also tend to not list “being able to last through a whole festival” as one of their goals, because most of the time, they will be told off by their doctors or physical therapists to “just don’t go to these festivals”.

Moreover, since I am an avid shuffler myself and have gone through my fair share of shuffling-related aches and pains, I am uniquely equipped to help this community rehab and reach its goals, something that a traditional physical therapist with no shuffling experience is not quite prepared to do. This is why they are always very appreciative when talking to me because I actually listen to their stories, relate to their pain points, and genuinely want to help them get better so they can go raving and dancing all night long. 

The biggest lesson that I gleaned from this experience is to never stop trying and to always take consistent, uncertain action. I had a lot of doubts before launching this business. My inner critic kept telling me “but Joyce, you’re an academic, you’re not a businesswoman, and there is no way you’d be an entrepreneur.” Then, when I finally overcame that obstacle, my inner voice kept saying “you are creating a problem that does not exist. There is a reason why no one has done this yet because ravers, shufflers, and DJs do not need your services”.

It wasn’t until I got my first client that finally these voices were getting smaller. They still pop up from time to time, but I know that I am staying true to myself and my mission. This is corny, but you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. If I never made the leap to put myself out there, I would have never had the opportunity to work with this population that I have been truly called to serve.

If I never made the leap to put myself out there, I would have never had the opportunity to work with this population that I have been truly called to serve.

-Joyce ai

Related Articles

1

Stories

A $38M Startup Exit That Rarely Happens in Vietnam: How Skinetiq Founder Hannah Nguyen Built a Trust-First Beauty Brand and Landed a Deal with Marico

Big exits in Vietnam’s startup scene are rare, but Hannah Nguyen proved they’re possible with the right foundation.

Long before Skinetiq became a multi-million-dollar brand, her journey started with a simple curiosity for beauty.

What followed was a business built not just on products, but on trust, community, and systems that scale.

Image Source: The Business Times

Starting With Trust

Hannah Nguyen’s story began on a rural coffee farm, where she experimented with making lipstick from berries using whatever she had on hand. That early curiosity grew into a strong passion for beauty, shaping how she approached products and people. It became the foundation of how she would later build her brand.

As she shared her journey online, she built a loyal community that trusted her voice. In a market like Vietnam where counterfeit products are common, that trust became her biggest edge. Instead of following trends, she focused on being real, which helped her turn followers into customers.

Image Source: Vietnam Investment Review

Growing Into a Real Business

Rather than continuing to sell other brands, Skinetiq chose to create its own skincare line. By solving real customer problems, the brand reached $16.5 million in revenue and proved strong demand. This step helped shift the business from content-driven sales to a product-focused company.

At the same time, Skinetiq built systems that allowed the business to run without relying on Hannah every day. This made the company more stable and easier to scale over time. That independence attracted Marico, leading to a majority stake deal at a $38 million valuation and showing how creators can build businesses that last.

1-jpg

Stories

How China’s Anta Became Puma’s Largest Shareholder and the World’s No. 3 Sportswear Giant Behind Nike and Adidas

China’s Anta Sports is making a bold global move, stepping beyond its home market with a major investment in Puma.

The company acquired a 29 percent stake in the German sportswear brand in a $1.8 billion deal, becoming Puma’s largest shareholder.

This signals Anta’s growing ambition to compete head-to-head with the biggest names in the global sportswear industry.

Image Source: Yicai Global

From Small Workshop to Global Brand

Anta’s journey began in 1986 when founder Ding Shizong, a high school dropout from Fujian, borrowed 10,000 yuan from his father to start reselling shoes. After quickly turning a profit, he reinvested his earnings and built a small manufacturing workshop. This early hustle laid the foundation for what would become one of China’s biggest sportswear companies.

By 1991, Anta had officially launched its own brand and began expanding across China. Over time, the company focused on scaling production, improving product quality, and building strong local distribution. These efforts helped Anta grow from a small business into a global brand with a strong foothold in the sportswear market.

Image Source: CGTN

Competing With the World’s Biggest Brands

Today, Anta controls around 23 percent of China’s sportswear market, surpassing both Nike and Adidas within the country. Its dominance at home has helped fuel its rise on the global stage, where it now ranks as the third-largest sportswear company. This growth reflects both strong local demand and strategic expansion beyond China.

Founder Ding Shizong has made it clear that Anta’s vision goes beyond being a regional leader. Rather than becoming the “Nike of China,” he aims to build what he calls the “Anta of the world.” With its recent investment in Puma, the company is taking a major step toward that goal and solidifying its place among the industry’s global giants.

image-png

News

Why Bhutan is the Smartest Place for Founders and Entrepreneurs to Reset in 2026

Most founders today are running on packed schedules but feeling mentally drained, and burnout is quietly becoming part of the routine.

When everything feels urgent, there is barely any space left to think — and decisions made from pressure rarely lead anywhere worth going.

That is exactly where Bhutan comes in. Its slower pace and untouched stillness create the kind of environment that gives ambitious minds the room to pause, reflect, and return with sharper focus.

The Philosophy That Reframes Success

Bhutan approaches progress differently, placing equal importance on well-being and growth. Through its Gross National Happiness framework, the country measures success beyond economic output, and recent data shows that over 93% of the population falls within the happiness gradient. This perspective is not theoretical, it is reflected in how people live and make decisions every day.

You start to notice it in small but meaningful ways, like how conversations are not rushed and how people are fully present. There is a steady rhythm to daily life that feels intentional rather than pressured. That alone creates a different kind of mental space.

For founders and entrepreneurs, being in that environment naturally raises questions about what really drives their decisions. It becomes easier to see how much of leadership is shaped by urgency rather than purpose. That shift in awareness is often where real clarity begins.

The Travel Model That Guards Your Headspace

Bhutan keeps tourism at a manageable level, which helps protect both the experience and the environment. In 2025, the country welcomed nearly 210,000 visitors, a number that is intentionally kept low compared to other destinations. As a result, places feel calm and never overcrowded.

There is also a Sustainable Development Fee of about USD 100 per night, which supports conservation and local communities. This approach ensures that tourism grows in a way that does not take away from what makes Bhutan special. It also sets the tone for a more thoughtful way of traveling.

Because of this model, the pace of each trip feels more balanced and unhurried. Days are not tightly packed, which gives you time to take in each experience without feeling rushed. For founders and entrepreneurs, that space often becomes the most valuable part of the journey.

The Environment That Resets How You Think

Bhutan’s landscapes make it easy to slow down without trying too hard. In places like the Phobjikha Valley, the wide open views and quiet surroundings create a sense of calm that is hard to find elsewhere. Even visiting Tiger’s Nest requires a steady climb, which naturally shifts your pace and focus.

There is no constant noise pulling your attention in different directions. Instead, the stillness gives your mind room to settle and process things more clearly. It is often in these quiet moments that new ideas begin to form.

Over time, you notice a change in how you think and respond to things. Decisions feel less rushed and more intentional, which is something many founders and entrepreneurs struggle to achieve in their usual environment. By the end of the trip, the reset feels real and something you can carry with you.

If you are looking for a reset that goes beyond rest and actually changes how you think, explore Bhutan with Druk Asia here:

📍Website

unnamed-png

Stories

The Journey of 20-Year-Old Alex Eala to the WTA Top 50 After Taking Down the Biggest Names in Women’s Tenn

At just 20 years old, Alex Eala is emerging as one of the most exciting new forces in women’s tennis. The Filipina athlete has captured global attention after defeating some of the sport’s most established champions.

In a sport historically dominated by Western powers, Eala’s rapid climb is a major milestone for Asian representation in tennis. Her growing success signals a shift in the global landscape of the sport.

Image Source: SCMP

A Breakthrough That Turned Heads in Miami

Eala’s breakthrough moment came at the 2025 Miami Open, where she entered the tournament as a wildcard. Few expected the young Filipina to make a deep run, but she quickly stunned the field with a series of commanding victories.

During the tournament, Eala defeated multiple Grand Slam champions, including Iga Świątek, Madison Keys, and Jeļena Ostapenko. She later added a win over Coco Gauff, further proving she could compete against the very best in the sport.

Her run to the semifinals became one of the biggest stories of the tournament. It pushed her ranking into the WTA Top 100 and introduced her to a much wider global audience.

Image Source: DZRH

Climbing Into the WTA Top 50

Following her breakout performance, Eala continued to build momentum throughout the season. Strong results in several tournaments helped her steadily climb the rankings and establish herself among the sport’s rising contenders.

By the end of the year, Eala officially entered the WTA Top 50, becoming the first Filipina player to reach that milestone. The achievement marked a historic moment not only for Philippine tennis but also for Southeast Asian representation in the sport.

More than just a personal accomplishment, her rise is inspiring a new generation of young athletes across Asia. As she continues to compete on the world stage, Alex Eala’s journey shows how talent, discipline, and opportunity can reshape the future of global tennis.