Rest Like an Olympian
In this episode of In Deep with Olivia Smoliga, we flip the script on what it really means to train like a high-performance athlete.
We spend so much time in the grind – colors sets, heavy lifts, early mornings – but the body doesn’t adapt in “go mode.” True growth happens when you shift into recovery: the nervous system state where your body repairs, your mind integrates, and all the work you’ve done actually lands.
Olivia explores recovery as more than just a cooldown: it’s a physical, mental, and energetic reset that keeps you aligned with the athlete you want to become. Drawing from her own routine (sauna, stretching, cold exposure, yoga, PT, mobility) and the science of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, she explains why rest isn’t optional – it’s part of the work.
Inside this episode, you’ll explore:
The link between tension in the mind and tension in the body
Why living in constant “fight or flight” leads to burnout, anxiety, and poor sleep
How recovery activates the parasympathetic “rest and digest” state where real adaptation happens
Practical recovery tools: sauna, cold plunge, stretching, yoga, massage, and mobility work
Cognitive dissonance: what happens when your habits don’t match your goals
How aligning your actions (like daily prehab/rehab) with your values builds trust in yourself
A simple humming technique to stimulate the vagus nerve and calm your nervous system
A journal prompt to help you define: Who do I need to become to manifest my dream goal?
This episode is an invitation to treat recovery with the same respect you give to main sets and race prep. Because the athlete you’re becoming isn’t built by effort alone – they’re built by how intentionally you rest.
Listen Below!
