An Inspired Chat with Ashley Taylor of Upper Westside

Ashley Taylor shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Ashley, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. Are you walking a path—or wandering?
Ooh this is a fun question. I want to say I’m wandering. Wandering, but with purpose. I might not know exactly where I’ll end up with my business, but I trust that this journey is leading me somewhere meaningful,

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Ashley Taylor. A physical therapist, strength coach, and lifelong athlete based in Atlanta. I help runners, weightlifters, and active individuals recover from injuries, build strength, and perform at their best without having to stop doing what they love.

After years of working in traditional clinics, I saw how rushed care and cookie-cutter treatment plans were holding people back. So I started my own performance-based practice where every plan is personalized, every visit is one-on-one, and the goal is always long-term strength and resilience.

As a former Division 1 runner and current marathoner, I know what it’s like to train hard, deal with injuries, and want to feel like your body can keep up with your goals. That’s why my work is so personal to me, I’ve lived it.. many times.

Right now, I’m focused on growing a community of strong, empowered athletes in Atlanta, creating resources for injury prevention and recovery, and continuing to push the conversation forward around what great care should look like.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
I felt powerful the first time I treated a patient on my own and saw them walk out pain-free. It wasn’t my knowledge that made me feel powerful, it was the realization that I had the ability to help someone trust their body again. That stuck with me.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Absolutely. There was actually a point where I almost walked away from this career completely. I was working in a high-volume insurance clinic, burnt out, seeing 20 patients a day, and barely scratching the surface of what they really needed. I felt like I wasn’t actually helping people and I was mentally and emotionally drained at the end of every day. I seriously considered leaving the field altogether. But instead of giving up, I took a leap. I started my own business where I could treat people the right way. I could see them one-on-one, with personalized care, without insurance dictating what I could or couldn’t do. It was terrifying and still is sometimes, but it completely reignited my passion. I went from surviving in a broken system to building something that actually works… for me and for my patients.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
Wow, this is a strong question.. especially in the physical therapy world.

One of the biggest lies the physical therapy industry tells itself is that you can provide great value even when you are seeing high volume. That seeing 20+ patients a day somehow makes you a successful or effective clinician. I remember going through my residency program being taught that I could see 3-4 patients an hour and still provide high quality care. And the worst part, I believed it. Until I didn’t.

In reality, that model burns out providers and shortchanges patients.

We also lie to ourselves when we say insurance-based care is ‘accessible’, when really, it often limits the quality, personalization, and speed of recovery.

And maybe the biggest lie? That healing has to be passive, just lying on a table. Movement is medicine. Strength is the goal. And people deserve care that sees them as athletes, not just insurance codes.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Are you tap dancing to work? Have you been that level of excited at any point in your career? If so, please tell us about those days. 
I love this question! We all deserve to see this spark in our work!

There have absolutely been days when I was tap dancing to work! Especially when I first started my own business.

After years of feeling stuck in a high-volume clinic, it was life changing to finally have the freedom to create a space where I could help people the way I wanted. Every client felt like a win, and I was energized by the possibility of making a real difference. Those early days were a mix of adrenaline, hope, and purpose! And they still make an appearance!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.yourmovephysicaltherapy.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourmove.pt/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574807849470