Today we’d like to introduce you to Joyia Wilder.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was born and raised in Neptune, New Jersey. After graduating high school my family and I moved to Georgia. It was definitely a bit of a culture shock for me. I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do in life-pursue a career or possibly college. I had no idea what I wanted to be or what I wanted to do, but I knew I wanted to do something that would help people. My family comprise of a lot of medical professionals -NPs, CNA, MAs and RNs-which includes my mother. She has her Masters in Nursing and has been a dialysis nurse for most of my life. I knew I didn’t want to go down that pathway-I wanted to do something different. I was raised in a devout Christian home, and prayer was my foundation. As I got older I was coming into my own understanding about God and His plan. Talking to Him more had become very dear to me. One day as I was praying, asking God what direction should I take and the answer He gave me was massage therapy. He also directed me to which school to attend. Immediately I was enrolled in the massage therapy program. I graduated in March of 2010 and began my career. In 2017, I stepped out on faith and opened my business here in Fayetteville, GA called Activate Massage Clinic. It is now 2026 and by the grace of God I’m still here!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Yes, there were definitely some struggles along the way! It’s learning curve-starting your own business for sure. The once steady income I had through working for other businesses was definitely missed at times. However, I knew that in order for me to succeed in this industry I had to step out on faith and follow the leading of the Lord. Massage Therapy is a highly competitive industry but the beauty of it is that everybody is different. People have preferences when it comes to choosing someone to be their therapist. I know I’m not for everybody but I am for somebody. And this belief was the motivation that kept me going. And this advice I give to every massage therapist out there. I believe I’m in this industry for a reason-I don’t believe in coincidences. Throughout all of the financial struggles and inconsistencies; with gaining as well as keeping clientele, all I can say is I’m glad I didn’t give up when things got really challenging. Is it still challenging at times? Yes. But the road has gotten a bit smoother compared to the beginning, and I have learned a lot on this beautiful journey!
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Activate Massage Clinic?
Activate Massage Clinic focuses on improving mobility, circulation, and muscle tone. Many people unfortunately, neglect their self care until their bodies start to slow down and they find themselves in pain more than usual. Our bodies have a way to adapt to muscular dysfunctions, but more often than not, it’ll cause an issue somewhere else which can lead to mistreatment of the problem area. For example, someone who has a desk job, sitting for 8 hours or more a day with limited time standing or stretching, may notice that every time they are standing or walking their lower back hurts. The issue isn’t just the lower back; the problem is that the muscles that help the body to stand or walk which are located in the thigh and hip area, haven’t been properly used because of prolonged sitting. As a result, it loses its mobility and the lower back muscles are working harder to keep the body in a standing position, Using my skills, I locate the issue and fix it rather than just soothe the area where the pain is felt. I offer different modalities or methods/services as well, such as cupping therapy and hot stones. What I want people to know, is that massage therapy is no longer just a luxury- it’s a necessity. Some of the other benefits massage therapy has is reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. It can also increase your circulation, enhance your sleep quality and increase your flexibility.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
That’s a good question! I’m not sure, I feel like I’m an open book. However, some of my clients may not know this but I do like to cook as a hobby. In fact, my parents were very shocked I decided to go to school for massage therapy and not culinary arts. I think I’m pretty good at it and I love it! But I didn’t want to turn something like that into work, I felt that I wouldn’t enjoy it as much.
Pricing:
- 30 minute Focus massage $45 (Targeted towards specific areas of pain or discomfort)
- Foundation Foot Massage $45 (One hour foot massage)
- Active Session $100 (One hour massage session)
- Activate Power Session $115 (90 minute session)
- Activate Power Plus $140 (2 hr session)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.activatemassage.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/activatelife
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ActivateMassage/
- Other: https://activatemassageclinic.clinicsense.com
Image Credits
Jonathon Gardner
