Exploring Life & Business with Dr. Jason Han of HealthFit Physical Therapy and Chiropractic

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Jason Han.

Hi Dr. Jason, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in Southern California, and sports were a huge part of my life from an early age. Taekwondo, in particular, became my passion and ultimately shaped much of who I am today. I competed at the highest levels, making the U.S. National Team seven times, training at the Olympic Training Center, and traveling the world to represent my country.

Through that journey, I also experienced my fair share of injuries—and what I noticed was that the care athletes received at the professional level was completely different from what most people had access to. That realization stuck with me and guided me toward becoming a Doctor of Physical Therapy and later a Board-Certified Sports Clinical Specialist.

Along the way, I had the privilege of working with organizations like the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cirque du Soleil, and LAFC (Los Angeles Football Club), where I served as Head of Rehabilitation. At the same time, I felt called to bring that same level of care back home to my own community. In 2016, my wife, Dr. Kelli Han, and I opened HealthFit Physical Therapy & Chiropractic in Pasadena with the mission of giving everyday people the kind of one-on-one, personalized, professional sports-level care that truly helps them heal and thrive.

I’m also blessed to be happily married to Kelli for over 10 years, and together we’re raising our two amazing children, Mia and Maverick. They inspire me daily to not only pursue excellence in my work but to live with purpose, gratitude, and joy.

Most recently, my journey has also led me to write my book, The Martial Arts of Listening. It’s a blend of my personal story and the lessons I’ve learned both as an athlete and as a clinician. At its heart, the book is about communication—the idea that healing isn’t just about techniques or technology, but about really listening to people in a way that makes them feel heard, understood, and cared for.

So today, I find myself in a place where my passions have come full circle: using what I learned in athletics and in professional sports rehab to help my community, lead a growing practice, and hopefully inspire others through my book and speaking to approach health as both a science and an art.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. In athletics, although I was quite successful and had the honor of competing at the highest levels, I never reached my ultimate goal of becoming an Olympian. An injury was part of that struggle, and while it was a painful setback at the time, it continues to fuel me to this day. It gave me a deep empathy for people dealing with pain and limitations, and it’s one of the main reasons I’m so passionate about helping others recover and reach their potential.

From the business standpoint, being a clinician and being a business owner are two totally different skill sets. Early on, I had to face the reality that being a great physical therapist wasn’t enough—I needed to train myself all over again, this time in leadership, marketing, finances, and building a team. That was uncomfortable at times, but just like training as an athlete, I learned that consistent effort and humility to keep growing were the only way forward.

And on top of that, being an entrepreneur while also being a husband and father has required a whole other level of personal growth. I’ve had to, and continue to, work on myself constantly—whether that’s with time management, mindset, or simply learning how to be present—so I can be the best version of myself in the many roles I play.

Those struggles—athletic, professional, and personal—have all been connected. They’ve taught me resilience, perspective, and the importance of never seeing growth as “finished.” And in many ways, those lessons are the foundation of both my practice and my book, The Martial Arts of Listening.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
At HealthFit Physical Therapy & Chiropractic, we’re known for providing professional sports-level care to everyday people in Pasadena and the greater Los Angeles area. Our clinic was founded on the belief that people deserve more than cookie-cutter exercise sheets or being rushed through a system that doesn’t listen to them. Every session here is one-on-one with a doctor for 30 to 60 minutes, combining hands-on therapy, movement training, and advanced wellness services.

Our brand of physical therapy is based on movement and restoring function—not just temporarily easing pain. If someone comes in with knee pain, we don’t stop at just treating the knee. We look at the entire body, listen to the full story of their health history, and put the whole picture together to find the true root cause. That deeper level of care allows us to not only help people heal but also prevent future setbacks and give them the confidence to stay active long-term.

What truly sets us apart is our integration of advanced and innovative technology alongside this philosophy. In addition to physical therapy and chiropractic care, we offer hyperbaric oxygen therapy and non-invasive regenerative therapies like radial shockwave, focused shockwave, and EMTT (Electromagnetic Transduction Therapy). These powerful tools help people heal in ways they often thought weren’t possible—whether it’s finally recovering from a stubborn injury, overcoming chronic pain, or regaining function after years of frustration. We pride ourselves on advancing the envelope when it comes to healing and constantly seek out the most effective, evidence-based solutions available.

Our clients range from professional athletes to busy parents to retirees who simply want to move without pain and live with more freedom. What unites them all is the desire for something more—care that truly listens, innovates, and partners with them in their journey.

I’m most proud of the brand we’ve built because it reflects who we are at our core: compassionate, innovative, and committed. We’ve created a place where people feel heard and cared for while also gaining access to the kinds of therapies often reserved for elite athletes.

This same philosophy also inspired me to write my book, The Martial Arts of Listening. At its heart, it’s about how listening deeply—to patients, to ourselves, and to one another—is the foundation of real healing and meaningful connection.

What I want readers to know about HealthFit is this: we’re not just another clinic. We’re a team dedicated to helping people live their healthiest, most active lives by blending whole-body, movement-based rehab with cutting-edge technology and a listening-first approach.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up, I was actually pretty shy at first—slow to warm up in new situations—but once you got me going, I couldn’t stop talking. That’s funny to look back on now, because as a business owner I’ve really had to practice and train myself to improve my communication, especially when leading a team and working with patients.

My parents were incredibly loving and supportive, but structure and discipline were also huge parts of my upbringing. That balance really carried over into my sports career, giving me the foundation to push through the long hours of Taekwondo training, handle setbacks, and stay focused on my goals.

Personality-wise, I was a mix of studious, goofy, and silly. I loved to laugh and have fun, but I also took my commitments seriously. At the same time, I was very much a normal kid of the 80s and 90s—I loved watching the Lakers, collecting baseball and basketball cards (and even Garbage Pail Kids cards), and playing Nintendo. I was also hooked on 80s and 90s sitcoms, and my sister and I would memorize and sing the theme songs together like it was our own little ritual.

Looking back, I think that combination of discipline, curiosity, and playfulness shaped who I am today. It’s allowed me to connect with people on a human level while still holding myself accountable to constantly grow—both as a clinician and as a leader.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.healthfitinc.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjasonhan/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HEALTHFITLA/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-jason-han/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@healthfitla
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/healthfit-physical-therapy-and-chiropractic-pasadena?osq=healthfit
• Other: https://www.drjasonhan.com