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Writer's pictureMai-Lis Bahr

Joe Ray, social media influencer through yoga



There to here:

I was born and mostly raised in a small town near Philadelphia, PA. My family and I moved to North Carolina in late 2001, when my father got a job working at what was then Progress Energy. I currently reside in South Asheville.

Family stats?

I am married with a four year old son and a seven month old lab named Luna.


What would some people be surprised to learn about you?

I started out as a volunteer firefighter at a small local department in the fall of 2006. Since then, I've studied fire protection, emergency medical services, and am now studying fire safety engineering at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

What is your occupation?

I guess you could consider my job to be a social media influencer for lack of a better title. I promote yoga/athletic brands on social media and on an athletic review blog.


What is unique about your occupation?

I get to work 100% from where ever in the world I want to go, as long as I have an internet connection. With a small child not yet in school full time, it is nice to have such a flexible schedule and not miss out on time with him.

How did you get into your line of work?

I started practicing yoga in 2014 as a way to help myself cope with anxiety, after being inspired by yoga practitioners on Instagram. I started my own personal Instagram account dedicated to my yoga practice and things took off from there. My biggest platform is promoting a positive body image and truly loving yourself for who you are despite societal expectations.


What charities are you involved with?

Charity is probably my favorite part of being a social media influencer. It gives me countless chances to work with and promote brands with a charitable cause behind them. For example, we have donated trees and clean water for every purchase made. Most recently, I've collaborated with a graphic shirt company to create a shirt that gives 25% of each purchase to MAP international.

What do you love about the Carolinas?

The people, the places! There is so much diversity, especially within Asheville. Beautiful mountain views are just hours from beachy shores and busy cities.

What outdoor activities do you participate in and where?

Hiking, camping, and fishing within the Pisgah National Forest and all throughout the Blue Ridge Parkway.



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