We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ariel Johnson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ariel below.

Ariel , appreciate you joining us today. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?

I remember the moment when I realized that I was walking in my passion. I was interning at an inpatient rehabilitation hospital that also did outpatient physical therapy.
I helped a patient that had a stroke with using the bathroom. I remember he was humble and apologetic that I had to help him wipe because he was completely weak with one side of his body and even had trouble walking.
A few weeks lately he discharged from the hospital and I had the satisfaction of seeing him return to outpatient while walking on his cane and continuing to work to regain his independence.
It was that moment my heart warmed and I knew I had to keep chasing that feeling.

Ariel , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m a physical therapist, educator, and wellness advocate who’s passionate about helping people move and live with purpose. My path into physical therapy started with a deep fascination for movement—how the body works, adapts, and heals. Over time, that curiosity evolved into a calling to help others not just recover from pain, but truly understand their bodies and reclaim their confidence through movement.

After several years working in outpatient orthopedics and leadership roles, I founded Renaissance Rehab as a way to bridge the gap between rehabilitation and performance. My goal was to create something that went beyond traditional physical therapy—a space focused on injury prevention, education, and long-term wellness. Through Renaissance Rehab, I provide one-on-one physical therapy, recovery sessions for athletes, ergonomic and movement assessments, and educational resources for both patients and new grad PTs.

“What type of problems do you solve for your clients, and what sets your work apart?”

I help people break the cycle of recurring pain and injury by addressing the root cause—not just the symptoms. A lot of my work focuses on improving posture, movement efficiency, and strength so that clients can feel strong and capable in their everyday lives or performance goals.

I don’t just tell clients what to do—I teach them why it matters. That empowerment is what drives real, lasting change.

I also understand that physical wellness connects to lifestyle, stress, and mindset. So, whether I’m working with an athlete recovering from overtraining or a professional dealing with back pain from long work hours, my approach is holistic and tailored.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

While studying in grad school they tell you that the PT program is rigorous and not to work. Well, not only did I keep a part time but I had to help give care to my grandfather who had dementia.
Balancing studying, work, and the stress of an aging family member that I helped care for was not easy. PT school and that time of my life was the hardest era but I knew what I was working for and the motivation I had

Do you think you’d choose a different profession or specialty if you were starting now?

This is a good question because Physical Therapy is one field being effected by Medicare cuts and as the reimbursements go down for our services we only have more patients to see as the Boomer generation ages. The conversation about how expensive PT school is compared for the pay is another imbalance.
Sometimes I reflect on if I took a different path for these reasons but in the end I know my passion for what I do is what drives me and I’m blessed in that way that most people aren’t.

Contact Info:

• Website: MyRenaissance rehab.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theptbae?igsh=YjRsa3VvZjZnZDBq&utm_source=qr
• Yelp: https://yelp.to/rBHzXYzs-E